Back to the Future Trilogy Gets 4K Ultra HD Upgrade

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox, in Back to The Future. Courtesy of Universal.

Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy features new bonus features and is currently available for fans to bring home on 4K Ultra HD.

There are a few franchises where every film is a classic.  This is one of them.  From the opening frames of the first film to the closing minutes of the final installment, everyone will have a good time.  This isn’t to say that the franchise doesn’t have its flaws because it does.  I’m going to get into the one that has always bothered me very soon.

Last Wednesday, I decided to make it a Back to the Future day.  I needed this especially with my anxiety where it is these days between both the election and the pandemic.  These films are even more beautiful in 4K.  I haven’t had time to really dive into the hours upon hours of bonus content.  The films account for a combined six hours if you’re watching until the end of the credits.  Throw in the bonus features and you’re looking at another day or two of just watching extra content.

Bob Gale and Neil Canton produce all three films.  Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Kathleen Kennedy executive produce for Amblin Entertainment.

Before I dive into what is included with each film, let’s discuss the third film.  Michael J. Fox plays Marty McFly in all three films.  However, come Part III, Fox is playing dual roles as both Marty and ancestor Seamus McFly.  Lea Thompson not only reprises her role as Lorraine Baines McFly but also portrays Maggie McFly.  For as much as we love these films, it also shows that Marty is the product of an incestuous relationship.  I think Lea Thompson is a great actress but it just feels inherently wrong in having her portray an ancestor on George McFly’s side of the family.  Am I alone in this line of thinking?

Back to the Future (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

DIRECTOR:  Robert Zemeckis
SCREENWRITERS:  Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale
CAST:  Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover

  • Deleted Scenes (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • Peanut Brittle
    • “Pinch Me”
    • Doc’s Personal Belongings
    • “She’s Cheating”
    • Darth Vader (Extended Version)
    • “Hit Me George”
    • “You Got a Permit?”
    • The Phone Booth
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: In the Beginning…
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Time to Go
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Keeping Time
  • Archival Featurettes
    • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE
    • Making the Trilogy: Chapter One
    • BACK TO THE FUTURE Night
  • Michael J. Fox Q&A
    • How He Got the Role
    • The Character of Doc
    • Working on a Film and TV Series at the Same Time
    • Shooting BACK TO THE FUTURE II and III Together
    • DeLoreans
    • Special FX and Stunts
    • The Appeal of BACK TO THE FUTURE
    • Shooting BACK TO THE FUTURE
  • Behind the Scenes
    • Original Makeup Tests
    • Outtakes
    • Nuclear Test Site Sequence (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • Photo Galleries (Blu-ray exclusive)
      • Production Art
      • Storyboards
      • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
      • Marketing Materials
      • Character Portraits
  • Huey Lewis and the News “The Power of Love” Music Video
  • Theatrical Teaser Trailer
  • Join Team Fox
  • Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
  • Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton

Back to the Future: Part II (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

DIRECTOR:  Robert Zemeckis
SCREENWRITERS:  Bob Gale
CAST:  Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson

  • Deleted Scenes (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • Old Terry and Old Biff
    • “Dad’s Home” (Extended Version)
    • Pizza Scene
    • Jennifer Faints (Extended Version)
    • Old Biff Vanishes from Car
    • Burned Out High School
    • Marty Meets Dave
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Time Flies
  • The Physics of BACK TO THE FUTURE with Dr. Michio Kaku
  • Archival Featurettes
    • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II
    • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Two
  • Behind the Scenes
    • Outtakes
    • Production Design
    • Storyboarding
    • Designing the DeLorean
    • Designing Time Travel
    • Hoverboard Test
    • Evolution of Visual Effects Shots
    • Photo Galleries (Blu-ray only)
      • Production Art
      • Storyboards
      • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
      • Marketing Materials
      • Character Portraits
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
  • Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton

Back to the Future: Part III (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

DIRECTOR:  Robert Zemeckis
SCREENWRITERS:  Bob Gale
CAST:  Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson, and Lea Thompson

  • Deleted Scene (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • The Tannen Gang Kills Marshal Strickland
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Third Time’s the Charm [FEATURED BONUS]
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: The Test of Time [FEATURED BONUS]
  • Archival Featurettes
    • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE Part III
    • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Three
    • The Secrets of the BACK TO THE FUTURE Trilogy
  • Behind the Scenes
    • Outtakes
    • Designing the Town of Hill Valley
    • Designing the Campaign
    • Photo Galleries (Blu-ray only)
      • Production Art
      • Storyboards
      • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
      • Marketing Materials
      • Character Portraits
  • ZZ Top “Doubleback” Music Video
  • FAQs About the Trilogy
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Ride
    • Lobby Monitor
    • The Ride
  • Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
  • Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton

Bonus Disc (Blu-ray)

  • The Hollywood Museum Goes BACK TO THE FUTURE (NEW) – Join Co-writer/Producer Bob Gale on an intimate tour of an exhaustive exhibit of the films’ props and memorabilia.
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL Behind the Scenes (NEW) – Get a sneak peek at the new musical show including a Q&A with the cast and creative team plus two new song recordings.
    • Cast and Creative Q&A
    • Original Songs
      • Gotta Start Somewhere
      • Put Your Mind To It
  • An Alternate Future: Lost Audition Tapes (NEW) – Get a glimpse of the BACK TO THE FUTURE that could have been with rare audition footage featuring now-famous celebrities.
    • Ben Stiller
    • Kyra Sedgwick
    • Jon Cryer
    • Billy Zane
    • Peter DeLuise
    • C. Thomas Howell
  • Could You Survive The Movies? BACK TO THE FUTURE (NEW) – Explore the magic and science of BACK TO THE FUTURE and find out which laws of physics were actually violated in this special episode of the popular YouTube series.
  • 2015 Message from Doc Brown
    • DOC BROWN SAVES THE WORLD!
  • OUTATIME: Restoring the DeLorean
  • Looking BACK TO THE FUTURE
    • The Script
    • Casting Marty McFly
    • Christopher Lloyd Reflects on Doc Brown
    • The DeLorean Time Machine
    • Building Hill Valley
    • Prepping for the “Johnny B. Goode” Scene
    • The Score
    • Rushing the Cut
    • The Legacy
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Animated Series
    • Brothers (Season 1, Episode 1)
    • Mac the Black (Season 2, Episode 1)
  • 2015 Commercials
    • JAWS 19 Trailer
    • Hoverboard Commercial

Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy is currently available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.