Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
One of the Greatest Sci-Fi Westerns of the ’90s Is Officially Taking Over the World
A new book, Back to the Future: The Complete Screenplay, has been confirmed by franchise co-creator Bob Gale, who has drawn on the series' archive to mark the 40th anniversary of the original 1985 film. Gale says the book will serve as an instructional look at how movies are made and scripts are written, including mistakes, deleted scenes and material that was changed or abandoned during production. The article uses this news as a springboard to reflect on the enduring popularity of the trilogy, and notably on the resurgence of its least-favoured instalment.
Back to the Future Part III, the 1990 threequel that shifts the time-travel story into a Western setting, is now enjoying a streaming revival, officially ranking among the ten most-streamed films worldwide on HBO Max some 36 years after its release. The original film, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, is now 41 years old. The 1989 sequel earned $332 million globally against a reported $40 million budget, while Part III took a comparatively modest $244 million on the same budget.
In short
- Bob Gale confirms a new Back to the Future screenplay book for the 40th anniversary.
- Part III, the Western-set threequel, is now a global HBO Max streaming hit.
- Part III earned $244m, below the 1989 sequel's $332m.
Explained simply
Back to the Future is a trilogy of science-fiction films that began with the 1985 original, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd. The original became one of cinema's most beloved franchises, following a teenager transported through time who must fix the consequences of his journey. The franchise expanded with sequels in 1989 and 1990, with the final instalment shifting the time-travel narrative into a Western setting.
The original and second films were major commercial successes, whilst the 1990 third instalment has historically been viewed as the weakest of the trilogy. Despite this reputation, Back to the Future Part III has recently experienced an unexpected revival, now among the ten most-streamed films globally on HBO Max despite being released over three decades ago. This demonstrates the franchise's remarkable cultural longevity and continuing appeal to both nostalgic audiences and new viewers discovering it for the first time.
The enduring popularity of these films explains why the franchise continues to attract new projects. A new book drawing from the original film's archives is being released to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1985 film, offering insights into the filmmaking and screenwriting process behind the series.