Back to the Future remains a staple of 1980s pop culture for good reason. From the iconic DeLorean to the casting choices that defined Marty McFly, the production history is as interesting as the film itself.
This quiz looks at the technical hurdles, the original vision for the time machine, and the famous stunts that brought the clock tower scene to life. Expect some questions to be straightforward, while others ask you to recall small pieces of trivia.
When you finish this, check out our stunt coordination page, brush up on classic sci-fi, or view our collection on famously difficult film shoots.
In the original script drafts for Back to the Future, what object was used as the time machine?
A steam locomotive
A steam locomotive
A sports car
A sports car
A telephone booth
A telephone booth
A lead-lined refrigerator
A lead-lined refrigerator
Which specific model of vehicle was chosen to be the time machine in the final film?
The Bricklin SV-1
The Bricklin SV-1
The Vector W8
The Vector W8
The DMC-12
The DMC-12
The Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit
What was the primary concern that led the studio to change the time machine from a refrigerator to a car?
The Producers thought a car would look faster on screen
The Producers thought a car would look faster on screen
The filmmakers worried children might lock themselves in real refrigerators
The filmmakers worried children might lock themselves in real refrigerators
The budget did not allow for a refrigerator set piece
The budget did not allow for a refrigerator set piece
The refrigerator looked too much like a prop from a horror movie
The refrigerator looked too much like a prop from a horror movie
Who was the original actor cast as Marty McFly before the role was recast?
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Eric Stoltz
Eric Stoltz
C. Thomas Howell
C. Thomas Howell
Ralph Macchio
Ralph Macchio
Which description best characterizes the acting style of the original Marty McFly footage compared to Michael J. Fox’s performance?
More intense and dramatic
More intense and dramatic
More reserved and shy
More reserved and shy
Larger than life and heroic
Larger than life and heroic
More comedic and manic
More comedic and manic
At what point in the production was the decision made to replace the original lead actor?
Eight weeks into production
Eight weeks into production
Four weeks into production
Four weeks into production
Six weeks into production
Six weeks into production
Two weeks into production
Two weeks into production
In the climax of the film, which building does Doc Brown climb to harness the power of the lightning bolt?
Hill Valley Police Station
Hill Valley Police Station
Hill Valley Clock Tower
Hill Valley Clock Tower
Hill Valley High School
Hill Valley High School
Hill Valley Train Station
Hill Valley Train Station
How were the shots of the flying DeLorean in ‘Back to the Future Part II’ primarily achieved?
Using a full-sized car suspended from a crane
Using a full-sized car suspended from a crane
Using entirely computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Using entirely computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Using a miniature model and motion-control photography
Using a miniature model and motion-control photography
Using hand-drawn cell animation
Using hand-drawn cell animation
What is true about the stunt where Doc Brown hangs from the minute hand of the clock?
It was created entirely with computer-generated imagery
It was created entirely with computer-generated imagery
It was a hand-drawn animated overlay
It was a hand-drawn animated overlay
It was performed by a professional stuntman on a physical set
It was performed by a professional stuntman on a physical set
It was achieved using a miniature puppet and stop-motion
It was achieved using a miniature puppet and stop-motion
In ‘Back to the Future Part II’, to what year does Marty travel to meet his future family?
2025
2025
2005
2005
2015
2015
2035
2035
Which of the following was NOT a technology depicted in the film’s vision of 2015?
Personal flying automobiles
Personal flying automobiles
Hydrated pizza ovens
Hydrated pizza ovens
Hoverboards
Hoverboards
Instant global telepathy devices
Instant global telepathy devices
Which baseball championship prediction from the film actually came to fruition, albeit within a year of the film’s 2015 date?
The New York Yankees winning the World Series
The New York Yankees winning the World Series
The Miami Marlins winning the World Series
The Miami Marlins winning the World Series
The Boston Red Sox winning the World Series
The Boston Red Sox winning the World Series
The Chicago Cubs winning the World Series
The Chicago Cubs winning the World Series
Which element of the 2015 vision was a surprisingly accurate portrayal of 1980s business trends, despite being outdated by 2015?
Flying cars were everywhere in 2015 cities
Flying cars were everywhere in 2015 cities
The internet as we know it today was a central part of daily life in 2015 Hill Valley
The internet as we know it today was a central part of daily life in 2015 Hill Valley
Lawn care was performed by autonomous robots
Lawn care was performed by autonomous robots
Fax machines were used for almost all business communication
Fax machines were used for almost all business communication
What was the physical nature of the ‘Hill Valley Square’ set used in the trilogy?
It stayed the same as the 1985 version, just with different actors
It stayed the same as the 1985 version, just with different actors
It was built on a massive permanent outdoor set on the Universal backlot
It was built on a massive permanent outdoor set on the Universal backlot
It was shot on location in a real town in Oregon
It was shot on location in a real town in Oregon
It was created entirely in a studio using blue-screen technology
It was created entirely in a studio using blue-screen technology
Who was the actress originally cast as Jennifer Parker opposite the original Marty McFly?
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Claudia Wells
Claudia Wells
Lea Thompson
Lea Thompson
Melora Hardin
Melora Hardin
Why is the flying sequence at the end of the original Back to the Future a historical curiosity regarding the franchise’s development?
The director initially hated the flying car idea
The director initially hated the flying car idea
The first film was only written as a standalone project
The first film was only written as a standalone project
The studio didn’t have enough money for special effects in the first film
The studio didn’t have enough money for special effects in the first film
The car was not meant to fly at the end of the first film
The car was not meant to fly at the end of the first film
Which of these features was NOT a real-world characteristic of the production DeLorean car used in the film?
Stainless steel body panels
Stainless steel body panels
The rear-mounted V6 engine
The rear-mounted V6 engine
The gull-wing doors
The gull-wing doors
The bulletproof glass windows
The bulletproof glass windows
What was the primary artistic reasoning behind the appearance of the external wires and pipes on the time machine?
To reflect the lightning strike energy safely away from the driver
To reflect the lightning strike energy safely away from the driver
To help the car reach 88 mph faster by improving aerodynamics
To help the car reach 88 mph faster by improving aerodynamics
To make the car look more like a laboratory on wheels
To make the car look more like a laboratory on wheels
To emphasize the “home-made” aesthetic of Doc Brown’s invention
To emphasize the “home-made” aesthetic of Doc Brown’s invention
What did director Robert Zemeckis cite as the main tension point with the original choice for the lead role?
He struggled to learn how to drive a manual transmission car for the film
He struggled to learn how to drive a manual transmission car for the film
He fell out with the screenwriter over the script’s dialogue
He fell out with the screenwriter over the script’s dialogue
He was constantly late for set calls specifically during night shoots
He was constantly late for set calls specifically during night shoots
His intense method acting approach clashed with the lighter, comedic tone the director wanted
His intense method acting approach clashed with the lighter, comedic tone the director wanted
Which is considered a common cultural misconception regarding the hoverboards shown in Back to the Future Part II?
They were filmed entirely using CGI rather than practical wire rigs
They were filmed entirely using CGI rather than practical wire rigs
They were real, functioning devices that parent groups banned from being sold
They were real, functioning devices that parent groups banned from being sold
They were powered by hidden combustion engines concealed in the decks
They were powered by hidden combustion engines concealed in the decks
They were built using repurposed plastic skateboards from Mattel
They were built using repurposed plastic skateboards from Mattel
How many minutes of footage had to be re-shot for ‘Back to the Future’ (1985) due to the recasting of the lead actor?
About 60-70 minutes
About 60-70 minutes
About 20-30 minutes
About 20-30 minutes
About 80-90 minutes
About 80-90 minutes
About 40-50 minutes
About 40-50 minutes
In ‘Back to the Future’ (1985), what technical safety measure was used to secure Christopher Lloyd during the clock tower stunt?
A mechanical crane
A mechanical crane
A hidden harness system
A hidden harness system
A giant safety net
A giant safety net
A mattress platform
A mattress platform
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Think you know the trilogy well? This quiz might still catch you off guard with its behind-the-scenes focus. Once done, browse our franchise history, look at cinematography techniques, or see our most memorable quotes.
