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
Back to the Future Part II arrived from Universal Pictures in 1989, a rare sequel that dared to follow its beloved predecessor into stranger territory, chasing its heroes across decades and timelines. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and reuniting the core cast, it expanded the franchise's mythology while pushing visual effects and time travel logic further than audiences expected. Its ambition and complexity have made it a touchstone of late eighties blockbuster filmmaking, prized by collectors for its place in a beloved trilogy.
This cell brings together Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and Jennifer Parker, the three figures whose entangled fates drive the story's opening stretch before the timeline fractures further. Marty and Doc remain the franchise's enduring pair, while Jennifer's inclusion here marks one of her more prominent appearances in the series, a character often overshadowed in merchandise and memorabilia. A 35mm cell featuring all three together is a scarce find, capturing a shared moment from the reel itself rather than a promotional still, offering physical continuity with the actual theatrical print.
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 frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on each edge, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no visible torn or deformed holes.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical soundtrack track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area track.
Edge print
Top edge reads '18' and partially '84' and '623'; bottom edge reads mirrored 'M3 28 63', consistent with edge codes printed on the base side.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly warm; dye image shows strong, saturated colour with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No visible splices, cue marks, or heavy scratching are apparent; the image surface appears clean.
Picture
Positive colour image; three consecutive frames appear to show the same shot with no cut between them, consistent with a theatrical release print.
Era check
The dual bilateral variable-area optical soundtrack, saturated Eastmancolor-type dye image, and safety base stock are all consistent with a late-1980s to early-1990s theatrical release print.
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 000064236
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
