The finale of Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, takes place at high speed—88 miles per hour, to be exact. The movie’s protagonist, Marty McFly, portrayed by Michael J. Fox, has spent the majority of the film in 1955, after a time travel mishap with the DeLorean, a time machine created by his friend, Doctor Emmett Brown. Unable to return to 1985 due to a lack of plutonium needed for fuel, Marty works with the 1955 version of Doc Brown to devise a plan that will get him back to his original timeline.
Back to the Future (1985) Ending Explained
Marty’s journey to 1955 begins when he accidentally travels three decades into the past after driving Doc Brown’s time machine, a DeLorean powered by plutonium. However, upon arriving in the past, he faces a new problem: he lacks the plutonium to fuel the DeLorean and return to 1985. His only hope lies in Doc Brown, a scientist in both timelines, who is needed to devise a new plan. Doc, although initially hesitant due to the limited availability of plutonium in the 1950s, ultimately devises an alternative.
The Key to Time Travel: A Lightning Strike
The only way to generate the required 1.21 gigawatts of energy needed to power the time machine’s flux capacitor is through a lightning strike. Luckily, Marty knows of a historical lightning strike—one that would strike the Hill Valley courthouse in 1955. Armed with this information, Doc Brown and Marty create a plan to use the strike to channel the energy needed to send Marty back to his own time. At precisely the right moment, Marty drives the DeLorean at the correct speed to connect with the electrical cables at the courthouse, resulting in a successful return to 1985.
Changing the Timeline: Marty’s Attempt to Save Doc
As Marty prepares to travel back to 1985, he makes a critical change to his time travel plans. Instead of arriving at the time he originally left, 1:34 a.m., Marty sets the DeLorean to land at 1:24 a.m. The reason for this change is his desire to prevent Doc from being shot by Libyan terrorists, an event Marty witnessed just before traveling back in time. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, Marty’s DeLorean malfunctions upon arrival, preventing him from getting to the scene in time to stop the attack.
Doc’s Survival: A Preparedness for the Worst
Fortunately, Doc Brown had anticipated Marty’s warning. Having received a letter from Marty earlier in 1955, Doc had prepared himself for the terrorist attack. He survived the assault by wearing a bulletproof vest, something he had decided to do after initially dismissing Marty’s letter. While Doc had torn up the letter earlier, fearing the consequences of tampering with the future, he eventually reconsidered. After surviving the attack, Doc shows Marty the letter, now carefully taped back together, as proof that he had heeded his warning.
The Positive Changes in the McFly Family’s Future
Upon returning to 1985, Marty is stunned by the changes in his family’s life. The McFly household, once a rundown and overcrowded mess, has transformed into a luxurious mansion. Marty’s father, George McFly, has become a successful sci-fi novelist, and his mother, Lorraine, is no longer an alcoholic. In fact, both of his parents are happier and healthier, and their relationship has flourished, thanks to Marty’s intervention in 1955.
In addition to these positive changes, Biff Tannen, once a bullying antagonist in George’s life, is now relegated to working as George’s valet, a significant fall from his previous position of power. The McFly family’s newfound prosperity and happiness stand as a testament to Marty’s actions in the past.
Other Timeline Changes Resulting from Marty’s Actions
The effects of Marty’s time travel extend beyond his family. In Hill Valley, small changes to the town reflect the alterations made to the timeline. For instance, the mall that would eventually be built in the location where Marty ran over a pine tree has its name changed from “Twin Pines Mall” to “Lone Pine Mall.” Additionally, the courthouse’s facade has a noticeable piece missing, a result of Doc Brown’s earlier actions when setting up the time travel mechanism.
Doc’s New Mission: Traveling to the Future
As the movie nears its end, another twist emerges: Doc Brown arrives in 1985 to recruit Marty and his girlfriend Jennifer for a journey to the future. Doc’s cryptic message, “It’s your kids, Marty. Something has got to be done about your kids,” leaves much to the imagination. The reason for this unexpected trip remains unclear, but it becomes evident that Marty and Jennifer’s future children are in need of intervention. This mysterious warning sets the stage for Back to the Future Part II.
In the sequel, it is revealed that Marty’s son, Marty Jr., is destined to be involved in a robbery with Biff’s grandson, Griff, in 2015, unless Marty and Doc intervene. Although it is never fully explained what exactly is wrong with their future children, it is clear that Marty and Jennifer will have to address these issues to ensure their family’s well-being.
The Philosophical Message of Back to the Future’s Ending
The underlying theme of Back to the Future’s ending is the profound effect that present actions can have on the future. Through Marty’s intervention in 1955, he drastically alters the course of his parents’ lives, leading them to become more successful and happy. This message suggests that our choices in the present shape our futures, and we must act thoughtfully and with foresight to influence the outcomes positively.
In the subsequent sequel, Back to the Future Part II, this theme is explored further as Marty and Doc face the consequences of meddling with time. Their actions lead to significant changes to the timeline, including Biff Tannen’s theft of the DeLorean, which drastically alters his future and the futures of those around him. This serves to emphasize the importance of being aware of how we impact the world around us.
Conclusion: Time Travel and the Impact of Our Choices
The ending of Back to the Future teaches a valuable lesson about the impact of our actions on the future. Whether through large, life-changing events or small, seemingly insignificant actions, the choices we make today can alter the course of tomorrow. The movie’s conclusion drives home the importance of living with awareness, and understanding that our decisions are not isolated but ripple through time, shaping our futures and the futures of those around us.
