It’s hard to compare other 80s films that has stayed in the pop culture zeitgeist like “Back to The Future” has. It’s a movie trilogy that just keeps on giving. Cast, crew and fans still love to keep the film alive by doing and creating many things about the film to this day. This past weekend, actress/director Lea Thompson, who played Lorraine, met up with Oscar-winning writer Bob Gale in front of the film’s icon courthouse.
In a video posted to X, Thompson poses in front of the fictional Hill Valley’s City Hall. (Which is actually located on the Universal Studios backlot.) Gale is behind her, and the two share a laugh while showing off the courthouse behind them. “You wrote “Back to The Future,” who does that?!” the actress turned director playful asks. With a bemused Gale responding “I don’t know.” The exchange is short but downright heartwarming to see the love these two professionals clearly have for each other. Watch Thompson and Gale’s adorable reunion below.
“Back to The Future” was directed and co-written by Robert Zemeckis in 1985. It tells the story of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) who ends up time-traveling alongside eccentric scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) to 1955. After inadvertently messing with some key event in the timeline, Marty must ensure his still parents get together. Thompson plays his depressed, alcoholic mother, who doesn’t know she will become his mother. Awkward hilarity and accidental incest ensues.
“Back to The Future”’s Legacy
The film was an instant hit and spawned two sequels. While both continued the original storyline, they weren’t as well received by critics or fans as the first film. “Back to The Future’ was then spun off into an animated series for CBS that ran from 1991 until 1992. It followed Doc and Marty’s adventures traveling to various points in history.
In 2015, to commemorate the movie’s 30th anniversary, “Doc Brown Saves the World,” a direct-to-DVD short film was released. Lloyd reprised his role as Doc Brown and he has to travel to 2045 to prevent a nuclear holocaust. In 2020, a musical theater production of “Back to The Future” written by Zemeckis premiered at the Manchester Opera House in England. It received positive reviews and is still running on Broadway and in the West End.
While there have been rumors about a fourth film or reboot for decades, both Zemeckis and Gale are vocally against it. A little disappointing but it’s probably for the better. This way they don’t mess up the legacy that they’ve created with the trilogy films.
All three “Back to The Future” films are currently streaming on Peacock.
