Robert Zemeckis launched one of the biggest franchises in the world withBack to the Future.The 1985 cult classic is esteemed as one of the bestwith a time machine that has become an iconic cinematic symbol. The sci-fi’s success led to two succeeding movies to complete theBack to the Futuretrilogy.
With plenty of nifty details sprinkled throughout the near two-hour runtime, there’s a good chance that some details will have flown under the radar. A number ofBack to the Futurehidden jokespay homage to numerous different moments in history, and others to various notable filmmakers, butBack To The Future’sopening scene that introduces Marty McFly has one genius Stanley Kubrick reference that may definitely have been missed.
Back to the Future’s Stanley Kubrick Reference Explained
A reference to Kubrick’s projects can be seen on Marty’s amplifier.
Back To The Future’s Marty McFlyis a rebellious teenager who’s immediately introduced as a die-hard fan of rock and roll with a passion for the creative flair of music. In the first scene ofBack To The Future, Marty is setting up an amplifier that is so loud it sends him off his feet, before the iconic opening to Huey Lewis and the News' “Power of Love.“To turn on the amp, Marty connects a wire to the slot labeled “CRM-114,“which is recognized from some of Kubrick’s most famous movies.
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CRM-114 is the code from one of the destroyed message decoders in 1964’s Dr. Strangelove, and features in Jupiter Explorer in2001: A Space Odyssey. The radio equipment that displays the code CRM-114 inDr. Strangeloveis vital to the plot, as the onboard crew cannot receive a recall code if the machinery is destroyed, which will prevent them from dropping bombs onto the USSR. In Kubrick’s renowned2001: A Space Odyssey, the serial code is the license plate of the Jupiter Explorer that transports the crew to a remote corner in space.
Back to the Future’s Opening Scene Also Pays Homage To An Iconic Sci-Fi Movie
The Flux Capacitor Has A Minor Detail From The Time Machine (1960)
The Time Machine,created by Simon Wells in 1960, features a scientist who travels through time with a time machine resulting from his own creations. Rather than a car, Wells' time machine was a device that could be controlled from one cockpit, and the device featured red, yellow, and green lights. The colors of the circuits found in the DeLorean are red, yellow, and green, in homage to Wells' original time machine. In honoringThe Time Machine, the reference emphasizes Doc’s love for science inBack To The Future, and his dedication to expanding the branch of knowledge in machinery.
