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 decade's defining blockbusters, pushing Robert Zemeckis's time travel saga into the future, an alternate 1985, and back to 1955. Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson, it expanded the mythology with hoverboards, flying cars, and a darker Biff Tannen timeline, cementing the trilogy's place in science fiction cinema history.
This cell brings together Jennifer Parker, Marty McFly, and Doc Brown, the trio whose fates drive the film's opening stretch as they depart 1985 for the future. Jennifer's presence alongside Marty and Doc marks her larger role in this installment compared to the original film, making frames featuring her especially sought after by collectors tracing her expanded arc. Together the three represent the heart of the franchise's central partnership and family stakes, a shared scene capturing the trio before the timeline complications that define the story ahead.
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; punched edges appear clean with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual-band variable-area format.
Edge print
Text reading 'SAFETY F' (remainder cut off) is visible along the top edge, printed in the edge margin.
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight blue-teal tint typical of safety acetate stock; the colour dye image reads as warm and well-saturated with no visible fading.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are apparent in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with a theatrical release print of the film on record.
Era check
The variable-area optical soundtrack, acetate safety base, and colour stock are all consistent with a 1989–early 1990s theatrical release print, matching the production era of Back to the Future Part II.
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 000064238
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
