Back to the Future Film Series backdrop

Complete Watch Order · 3 films · 1985–1990

Back to the FutureComplete Watch Order Guide

An American science fiction–comedy film series that follows the adventures of a high school student, Marty McFly and an eccentric scientist, Dr Emmett L. Brown as they use a DeLorean time machine to time travel to different periods in the history of Hill Valley, California.

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3
Films
5h 15m
Total Runtime
7.9/10
Avg Rating
1
Eras / Phases

The Saga Timeline

Back to the Future Release Timeline

Release order

What order should you watch the Back to the Future movies?

Release order — click any era to expand or collapse. All 3 movies shown below.

All 3 films in release order — the recommended way to experience the full series.

Every Film

Watch Back to the Future in Order

Watch the Back to the Future movies in release order, starting with Back to the Future (1985) and continuing through Back to the Future Part III (1990). The series spans 3 films, released between 1985 and 1990. Audiences rate the franchise 7.9/10 on average.

What order should you watch Back to the Future?

For most viewers, release order is the recommended way to watch Back to the Future. This is how the story was crafted and revealed to audiences — earlier films seed details, callbacks, and twists that pay off in later entries. Watching in release order preserves those reveals and matches the pacing the filmmakers intended.

Back to the Future largely tracks its own in-universe chronology, so release order and chronological order overlap closely. You can use either without losing much, though release order is still the safest first watch.

About the Back to the Future franchise

An American science fiction–comedy film series that follows the adventures of a high school student, Marty McFly and an eccentric scientist, Dr Emmett L. Brown as they use a DeLorean time machine to time travel to different periods in the history of Hill Valley, California.

Each film builds on the previous one, rewarding viewers who watch in sequence.

Back to the Future Fun Facts & Trivia

1

The Back to the Future franchise spans 5 years, from 1985 to 1990.

2

The highest-rated entry is Back to the Future with a 8.3/10 audience score.

3

Across all films, the franchise averages a 7.9/10 rating from audiences.

4

Back to the Future films have collected over 48k audience ratings combined.

5

Watching all 3 Back to the Future films back-to-back takes well over a full day's viewing commitment.

6

The most recent entry, Back to the Future Part III (1990), continues a franchise that began 5 years earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best order to watch Back to the Future?
The recommended Back to the Future watch order is release order: 1. Back to the Future (1985), 2. Back to the Future Part II (1989), 3. Back to the Future Part III (1990). This is how the story was crafted and delivers the best experience for new viewers.
What is the first Back to the Future movie?
The first Back to the Future movie is Back to the Future, released in 1985. It's the best starting point for any new viewer.
What is the most recent Back to the Future movie?
The most recent Back to the Future movie is Back to the Future Part III (1990).
How many Back to the Future movies are there in total?
There are 3 main Back to the Future films. This guide covers all of them in order.
How long does it take to watch all Back to the Future movies?
Watching all 3 Back to the Future films takes approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes of total runtime.
What is the highest-rated Back to the Future movie?
The highest-rated Back to the Future movie is Back to the Future, with an audience score of 8.3/10 on TMDB.
Can I watch Back to the Future movies without watching them in order?
Most Back to the Future films can be enjoyed standalone, but watching in release order gives you the full character development and story payoff across all 3 entries. First-time viewers should start with Back to the Future.
Where can I watch Back to the Future movies online?
Most Back to the Future movies are available on Amazon Prime Video. Each movie card on this page has a direct "Watch on Amazon" link.

More to Explore

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