Back to the Futureis one of the most popular and influential movie franchises of all time, but that would not have been the case had the 1985 film used the alternate title that the studio suggested. Given how iconic theBack to the Futuremoviesare, it is easy to forget how many things had to line up for the first film to work as well as it did. From Disney passing on the project to therecast of Marty McFly,the history behindBack to the Futurehas a lot of “what ifs.”
Back to the Futurewas a box office hitand became the highest-grossing movie of 1985. While neither of the sequels was as successful as the first film, they were good enough to makeBack to the Futureinto one of the best movie trilogies of all time. Still, it is difficult to imagine thatBack to the Futurewould have become as big as it did had it used the title suggested by then Head of Universal Studios Sidney Sheinberg.
Back To The Future Was Nearly Called Space Man From Pluto
A Universal Studios Exec Wasn’t Sure About Back To The Future’s Title
During the making ofBack to the Future, Sheinberg argued that the film should not be called “Back to the Future,” which was the title of the script, and should have a more traditional and commercial title. The executive believed thatBack to the Futurewas too restrictive of a title and would limit the movie’s reach.Sheinberg feared thatBack to the Futurewould be automatically associated with time travel, whereas something like “Space Man From Pluto” would sound more like a proper sci-fi film and have a broader appeal.
Back to the Futuredid become associated with the time travel genre, but that just added to the franchise’s legacy.
Sheinberg didn’t wantBack to the Futureto be labeled as a genre film, even though the movie was indeed about time travel. Funnily enough, not only wasBack to the Futurewidely successful, but it remains one of thebest time travel movies of all time. Countless time travel films and TV shows have referencedBack to the Futuresince 1985, a recent example beingAvengers: Endgame.Back to the Future’s title did not limit the film’s reach, most likely because the movie delivered what it promised and more.
Space Man From Pluto Would Have Hurt Back To The Future’s Franchise Potential
“Back To The Future” Was Perfect Not Only For The Movie But For The Franchise
Back to the Futureis a sci-fi film, but “Space Man From Pluto"would not have done it justice. Apart from Marty McFly changing history and causing his dad to write a science fiction novel called"A Match Made in Space,“there is virtually nothing inBack to the Futurethat would have justified the “Space Man From Pluto” title.Additionally, despite Sheinberg’s concerns aboutBack to the Futuresounding too much like a genre film, it just works much better thanSpace Man From Plutowould have.
Will Back to the Future 4 Ever Happen?
Released in 1985, Back to the Future basically set the standard for top-notch Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking. Will there be a part four?
Even ifSpace Man From Plutohad been the exact same movie asBack to the Futureminus the titles, it would likely not have been as successful.Back to the Futureis such a clever title given the context of the film, particularly its ending, and perfectly ties into the sequel hook at the end.Back to the Futuredid become associated with the time travel genre, but that just added to the franchise’s legacy.
Back to the Future
“Back to the Future” is a science fiction adventure franchise that follows the time-traveling adventures of Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown. Created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the series is known for its clever use of time travel, memorable characters, and iconic DeLorean time machine. The franchise explores themes of causality, destiny, and the impact of individual actions on the future. Its blend of humor, heart, and innovative storytelling has made it a beloved classic in film history.
