Top 10 Unusual Facts About Back to the Future

#10: The Film Was Inspired by a Yearbook

Picture this: You’re going through your parents’ basement full of old relics and stumble upon a high school yearbook. You learn that your father was the president of his class. Now you wonder what it would be like to be friends with him as a teenager. This is precisely what happened to “Back to the Future” co-screenwriter Bob Gale. This is how he got the idea for the film. Who wouldn’t want to go back in time, seeing your old school and how your parents were in their adolescence? Everyone was just a kid once, even our parents. We’re all nostalgic for that time, and that is a feeling that this movie really encapsulates.

#9: Bob Gale & Robert Zemeckis Faced a Lot of Rejection

“Back to the Future” is a legendary movie that has stood the test of time – past, present, and we’re sure, future – but it wasn’t an easy film to get made. While it’s not uncommon for writers to have to pitch their scripts to a few different studios before landing a deal, this movie was really put through the wringer. According to Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, who wrote the script together, they were rejected over 40 times until Universal Pictures finally gave it the green light. We’re pretty sure those other studios are having some major regrets. If only you could go back and change the past, right?

#8: The DeLorean Wasn’t the Original Time Machine

The DeLorean was the perfect choice for the time machine in “Back to the Future.” Like Doc Brown said, if you’re going to build a car into a time machine, why not do it with some style? yet, the original plan was to have a refrigerator. Clearly that’s nowhere near as theatrical as the DeLorean, and thanks to this film, generations of viewers are now obsessed with this niche car. John DeLorean even wrote letters to thank the film’s writers because he was so thrilled that his car was featured so prominently. We’re not so sure Frigidaire would’ve expressed such gratitude, but we’ll never know!

#7: There Was a Chimp in the Script

The original time machine wasn’t the only thing that needed tweaking. We all know and love Doc’s dog, Einstein, and we can’t imagine any other animal as the world’s first time traveller. However, Doc’s animal sidekick was supposed to be a chimp named Shemp in the original script. The reason he was cut was because the president of Universal Studios at the time didn’t believe the film would make any money with a chimpanzee in it. We’re not so sure his logic is sound, but we think this change was a good one. Can you imagine Doc sending a chimp into the future in a fridge? That’s a totally different movie.

#6: Thomas F. Wilson Has Answers

Biff Tannen is the antagonist we love to hate. Thomas F. Wilson played him flawlessly in all three installments of this film series. This role is his most iconic to date. Apparently, when people approach him about it, he’s ready. When fans interact with him, he has a card for them that answers their FAQs. Some of the questions include whether Michael J. Fox is nice (spoiler alert, he is) and whether the manure was real, which it wasn't. He even has a song version where he answers various questions. We think this whole concept is both genius and hilarious.

#5: Michael J. Fox Didn’t Sing

Michael J. Fox shines in this role. His comedic timing is impeccable, and his physical comedy steals the scenes. There’s just one thing that he did in the film that we really can’t give him any credit for. During the “Johnny B. Goode” scene at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance, Fox as Marty really is playing the guitar, but his singing is not his own. Instead, Mark Campbell from the band “Jack Mack and the Heart Attack” is the voice behind this tune. They could’ve fooled us, and even though he wasn’t credited, we’re giving him credit here, since we think it’s very due.

#4: The Cast Almost Included Melora Hardin

“Back to the Future” is infamous for having initially cast Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly, before switching him out for Michael J. Fox. That wasn’t the only cast member who got the boot. After Gale and Zemeckis decided that Stoltz wasn’t the right pick, they had to decide what to do with Melora Hardin, who was cast as Marty’s girlfriend, Jennifer. Hardin is taller than Michael J. Fox, which ultimately led to her being replaced by Claudia Wells. We don’t think we could have watched Jan Levinson the same way had she appeared in this film.

#3: Michael J. Fox’s Filming Schedule Was Crazy

Speaking of replacing Eric Stoltz, that decision led to a lot of chaos in Fox’s schedule. While working on the film, he had to keep his commitment to “Family Ties,” which he starred in as Alex P. Keaton from 1982 to 1989. So, he worked on “Family Ties" from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. Then he’d work on “Back to the Future” until 2:30 in the morning. This grueling schedule lasted for two months, and we’re not sure how he pulled it off. When you watch the TV series or the film, there’s no indication of any sleep deprivation. That’s a nod to Fox’s incredible acting ability and dedication to his craft.

#2: There Was Supposed to Be a Nuclear Explosion Scene

The most memorable and iconic moment of this movie is inarguably the scene in which Marty is sent back to the future. We still hold our breath when Marty can’t get the car started and Doc is hanging from the top of the clock tower. Can you believe that the clock tower wasn’t originally going to be part of the film? The ending was supposed to include a nuclear explosion. Marty was supposed to drive through a test site as a way to obtain the nuclear fuel he needed to get back to the future, but this whole sequence was too pricey. Thus, the lightning hitting the clock tower idea was born.

#1: The Movie’s Title Was Almost Vastly Different

“Back to the Future” – it seems like a paradoxical title, but it’s actually brilliant, encompassing the entire mission of the film. Bizarrely, the movie’s title was almost “Space Man from Pluto.” We admit that this title is more clever than it originally seems, as Marty is basically an alien in his own hometown. He also uses the space man trope to his advantage while getting George and Lorraine together. We even see mention of space later when George publishes a novel. However, it certainly doesn’t tell you much about the film and could even be seen as misleading for a story about time travel. So, they definitely made the right call in changing it.

Which of these fun facts had you saying “Great Scott!?” Let us know in the comments.