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
Universal Pictures released Back to the Future Part II in 1989, reuniting director Robert Zemeckis and producer Bob Gale for the immediate sequel to their 1985 blockbuster. Following Marty McFly and Doc Brown into a speculative 2015, a reimagined 1955, and a dystopian alternate 1985, the film expanded the trilogy's time travel mythology while doubling down on the humor and heart that made the original a cultural touchstone. It remains a fixture of American film history and a favorite among collectors of science fiction and eighties cinema alike.
This cell centers on George and Lorraine McFly, the parents whose romance across timelines drives much of the trilogy's tension. Jeffrey Weissman stepped into the role of George after Crispin Glover's departure, while Lea Thompson returned as Lorraine and Michael J. Fox appears here as Marty Sr., underscoring the film's layered casting choices. Collectors prize material featuring this family unit for its connection to the saga's core emotional throughline, the fragile stability of the McFly household across shifting timelines.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour release print of Back to the Future Part II.
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on each edge, evenly spaced; punched holes appear clean and rectangular with rounded corners.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual-stripe variable-area format.
Edge print
Text is present along the edge but is not fully legible in this capture; partial characters resembling 'MASTER-COOR' or similar are visible on the print face within the frame area, not confirmed as edge key numbers.
Base & colour
Base appears clear with a slight warm-neutral tint; dye image shows full colour saturation with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No visible splices, cue marks, or heavy scratching are apparent; the surface appears consistent with a projected release print.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with a release print of Back to the Future Part II.
Era check
The dual variable-area optical soundtrack, colour positive stock, and clear safety base are all consistent with a 1989 theatrical release print era.
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 000064246
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
