British Academy Film Awards — 2 wins, 1 nominationAcademy Awards — 1 nominationKids' Choice Award — 1 nominationSaturn Award — 1 nominationAll 2 wins · 4 nominations on record
British Academy Film Awards: Best Special Visual Effects
Scholarship
Named in the title of 1 peer-reviewed work
Examples
Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex · Library of Congress. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Released by Universal Pictures in 1989, Back to the Future Part II arrived as the immediate sequel to one of the previous year's most beloved hits, pushing Robert Zemeckis's time travel saga into bolder territory with visions of 2015, an alternate 1985, and a return to 1955. It expanded the mythology established by its predecessor while deepening the stakes for Marty McFly and Doc Brown, cementing the trilogy's place as a defining piece of late twentieth century blockbuster filmmaking. Its ambition and technical achievements made it a touchstone for an entire generation raised on VHS repeat viewings.
This cell preserves the opening title card, the frame where the film formally announces itself before the story unfolds. Such cells hold particular appeal for collectors because they mark the threshold moment of a franchise entry, the transition from anticipation to narrative. As a piece of 35mm celluloid, it represents the physical presentation format audiences encountered in theaters upon release, a tangible link to the film's original theatrical run and its place in cinema history.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Back to the Future Part II (1989).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three complete frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no torn or deformed holes visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a single-track format.
Edge print
Edge print reads 'EASTMAN' along the lower edge; additional alphanumeric key numbers are present but not fully legible at this size.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly warm; dye image shows strong, saturated colour with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
Light longitudinal scratches are visible running parallel to the film length, consistent with a print that has passed through a projector gate.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames show the same title-card composition, indicating a title sequence held on consecutive frames, consistent with Back to the Future Part II.
Era check
A single variable-area optical track and Eastman colour stock are consistent with a 1989 theatrical release print; no digital soundtrack formats are present, which is expected for that release year.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000064106
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
