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, the immediate sequel to one of the decade's defining hits. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and again starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, it pushed the franchise into bold new territory with time travel that folded back on its own timeline, a dystopian alternate 1985, and a vision of 2015 that became a pop culture touchstone in its own right. Its ambition and technical craft cemented the trilogy's place in blockbuster history.
This cell preserves a piece of 35mm film centered on Marty McFly, the character whose journey anchors the entire trilogy. Fox's performance as the affable, quick-thinking teenager thrown across decades made him one of the most recognizable protagonists of 1980s cinema, and collectors prize material tied directly to him above nearly anything else from these films. A cell such as this represents an actual frame excised from a theatrical print, a tangible fragment of the physical reel that once passed through projectors, offering a direct link to Marty's continuing adventure in this second chapter.
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 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; Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks are not clearly distinguishable at this size
Edge print
Edge print reads partially as 'E10' and '2E10' with additional numeric codes; full sequence not fully legible in this capture
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight warm-neutral tint; dye image shows good colour saturation with no obvious fading or red shift
Projection history
Light vertical scratching is visible across the frame area, consistent with a print that has passed through a projector gate
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with the film on record
Era check
The single variable-area optical soundtrack, Eastman-type colour stock base tint, and key-number format are all consistent with a theatrical release print from the late 1980s to early 1990s, matching the 1989 release date of the film on record
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 000064263
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
