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 in 1989, a Robert Zemeckis production riding the momentum of one of the previous decade's most beloved hits. As a rare sequel that expanded its predecessor's scope rather than repeating it, sending its heroes forward and sideways through time, it holds a distinct place in blockbuster history. The film pushed special effects and dual-role performance techniques of the era, and it remains a touchstone for how a franchise can deepen its mythology while keeping its core cast intact, particularly the ongoing rivalry at its center.
This cell pairs Marty McFly with Griff, the antagonist descended from the Tannen family line that has dogged Marty across timelines. Their pairing on film represents the franchise's throughline of intimidation and defiance passed between generations, a dynamic collectors prize for its continuity with the original. A cell like this, drawn directly from release printing stock, offers a physical fragment of that confrontation, the kind of matchup that anchors a trilogy's tension and gives the character pairing lasting recognition among fans of the series.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical 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 edges appear clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a single bilateral variable-area track.
Edge print
Partial text visible along the top edge reads '13' and '33' or similar numeric key numbers; full text is partially obscured by the strip's angle.
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight blue-cyan tint consistent with a safety acetate or polyester base; dye image appears warm and well-saturated with no visible fading.
Projection history
No obvious deep scratches or splices are visible; faint longitudinal lines consistent with a projected print are present along the base side.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be from the same continuous shot, and the visible set dressing and costuming are consistent with Back to the Future Part II.
Era check
The single bilateral variable-area optical soundtrack, warm-toned dye image, and safety base stock are all consistent with a theatrical release print from the late 1980s to early 1990s.
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 000064255
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
