Focus Features

When Robert Zemeckis’ high school time travel film opened during the Fourth of July weekend, many executives at Universal Studios feared they had a flop on their hands. The film’s star Michael J. Fox, obligated to promote his TV show “Family Ties” in London for that week, was unavailable to promote the film. Others felt the film was both confusing and old-fashioned. A time travel tale of a kid who finds himself back when his parents were teens seemed to push a number of genres, while lacking the erotic appeal of many other contemporary high school films (like Porky’s and Risky Business). Indeed, in 1981, Columbia, which originally bought up the film, put the script in turnaround. It took director Zemeckis and his team years to find a new backer and studio. When Universal did release it, they tried to sex it up with the tag line, “Are you telling me my mother's got the hots for me?" But in the end it was the story’s inventiveness and heart that won audiences. Despite its high concept, the film only had 32 special effects shots. After staying at number one for 11 weeks, the film became the highest grossing film of 1985, making more than $380 million. In addition, it generated two sequels, a Universal Studios theme park ride and was quoted in the speeches of two different American presidents.

When Robert Zemeckis’ high school time travel film opened during the Fourth of July weekend, many executives at Universal Studios feared they had a flop on their hands. The film’s star Michael J. Fox, obligated to promote his TV show “Family Ties” in London for that week, was unavailable to promote the film. Others felt the film was both confusing and old-fashioned. A time travel tale of a kid who finds himself back when his parents were teens seemed to push a number of genres, while lacking the erotic appeal of many other contemporary high school films (like Porky’s and Risky Business). Indeed, in 1981, Columbia, which originally bought up the film, put the script in turnaround. It took director Zemeckis and his team years to find a new backer and studio. When Universal did release it, they tried to sex it up with the tag line, “Are you telling me my mother's got the hots for me?" But in the end it was the story’s inventiveness and heart that won audiences. Despite its high concept, the film only had 32 special effects shots. After staying at number one for 11 weeks, the film became the highest grossing film of 1985, making more than $380 million. In addition, it generated two sequels, a Universal Studios theme park ride and was quoted in the speeches of two different American presidents.