The objective of storytelling is to provide us with a perspective of who we are, where we have been, and where we might be going. Offering a look into the human experience, while most of our histories’ more timeless stories have come in the form of literature, the dominant medium of emotional expression through art has shifted to motion pictures over the last 130 years. By and large, one of the most popular tools for stories in modern times, a motion picture should immerse the audience in an alternate universe that entertains, suspends disbelief, and inevitably culminates in an uplifting conclusion. What most of us yearn for, in the summer of 1985, Back to the Future entered theaters on its way to becoming one of the most exhilarating film experiences of all time.
A film co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, alongside Writer/Producer Bob Gale, Back to the Future had everything going for it – a great cast, crew, and soundtrack, style, but most of all, a flawless story. Unifying elements of Science Fiction, Comedy, Action, Drama, and Romance, Back to the Future was more than a summer flick; it was a film that stuck with audiences in a very personal way. Connecting on various levels, it became a massive commercial success as the highest-grossing film of 1985, received numerous award nominations, winning an Academy Award, three Saturn Awards, and a Hugo Award in the process.
On its way to iconic status, there were, interestingly enough, no initial plans for any Back to the Future sequels. Still, it was so successful and popular that Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale agreed to continue the story, as long as the film’s lead stars (Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd) were on board. Securing their involvement, four years later, Back to the Future II (taking the characters thirty years into the future in 2015) hit theaters in 1989, followed by the third film, Back to the Future III (where we find ourselves in the Old West in 1885), which came out in 1990.
Each extremely successful in their own right, Back to the Future II ended up being the third highest grossing film of 1989 (only behind Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Batman), while Back to the Future III was the sixth growing film of 1990 (only overtaken by massive money makers like Ghost, Home Alone, Pretty Woman, Dances with Wolves, and Total Recall). Exciting fans, the follow-up stories were also carefully laid out by Gale and Zemeckis, but there is simply no denying that it all began in 1985 with the original Back to the Future.
Now celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, Back to the Future remains beloved as ever, not only by older audiences but also by younger ones, keeping its legacy alive. In the forefront of our minds for decades beyond the trilogy of feature films, there was the Back to the Future animated series in 1991, merchandise, video games, Universal Studios Orlando’s Back to the Future: The Ride (that remained open from 1991 to 2007), Back to the Future: The Musical (which first premiered in 2020 and is still being performed into 2026), and more.
In celebration of 40 years, in 2025, there has been the Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley at Universal Fan Fest Nights (taking place at Universal Studios Hollywood back in April through May allowing fans to see the authentic Hill Valley Courthouse Square), much of the cast of making appearances at different conventions, Michael J. Fox released a new book titled Future Boy on October 14th, the film was give a special, limited re-release in theaters starting October 31st, and there also is an all-new 40th anniversary 4K trilogy gift set and a limited steelbook edition option out.
Looking at the home media options to celebrate 40 years of Back to the Future, the 4K trilogy gift set and the limited-edition steelbook arrived at retailers everywhere on October 14, 2025. The second 4K Ultra HD release of the Back to the Future Trilogy (the first being for the 35th anniversary in 2020), this set offers everything that it did, and then some. Explaining it further, you receive the same three feature films in absolutely stunning 4K Ultra HD, along with all the same bonus features for each of them, but the added feature for the 40th anniversary set is an additional 90 minutes of extras.
Well worth it, the new extras include the features 40 Years Later: Reflecting On The Future (which centers around thoughtful perspective on the film from Bob Gale), a fun look at the filming locations of Back to the Future curated by Bob Gale and Donald Fulllove (who played Mayor Goldie Wilson) in Back To Hill Valley, an extensive film called Untold Stories Of Back To The Future (with insight from many of those who worked behind the scenes on the film), a TCM Classic Film Festival Panel (with Bob Gale, Dean Cundey, and stunt double Charlie Croughwell), and finally, a brief, but interesting public service announcement, called A Mystery In History, seeking help to local the original Gibson guitar Marty McFly plays on stage during the Enchantment Under the Sea dance scene (which interestingly has been missing for 40 years).
All very cool features, they are worth the purchase price themselves, because you can spend an entire night just watching them alone. Altogether, add this with the previous special features for all three films, and you have a whopping over 9 hours of bonus features, which should be enough to satisfy any Back to the Future fan.
Furthermore, suppose you want to invest in the Limited Edition Steel Book Gift Set. In that case, you can get two bonus discs, an exclusive Gibson mini guitar replica, an OUTATIME metal license plate, a visual history book, lenticular photos of Marty, Dave, and Linda McFly, plus more, all packed in a really cool Flux Capacitor styled steelbook. Something you might want to consider as a holiday present for a family or friend, either of these options is a good choice.
Anyway you look at it, Back to the Future still lives on 40 years later and will probably continue to do so for generations to come. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the 40th anniversary 4K Trilogy Gift Set of Back to the Future 5 out of 5 stars.
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