Back to the Future Part II is the second film in the Back to the Future series. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the screenplay was written by Bob Gale and Zemeckis. The film was released on November 22, 1989, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Thomas F. Wilson. The film was produced by Bob Gale and Neil Canton, with Dean Cundey as the cinematographer and Alan Silvestri composing the music.

_{(Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) exits a DeLorean time machine in 2015 - American Cinematographer)}

Plot

The film picks up where the first film left off. Thinking he has returned to 1985, Marty McFly is spending time with his girlfriend Jennifer Parker when Dr. Emmett Brown suddenly appears. Doc explains that a major problem awaits the McFly family in the future and decides to take Marty and Jennifer to 2015 to prevent a catastrophe.

Upon arriving in 2015, Doc warns Marty that his son, Marty Jr., will commit a crime that will ruin his life, ultimately affecting the entire McFly family. Marty disguises himself as his son to prevent this event. However, Marty's purchase of a sports almanac containing future betting results triggers a series of unexpected events. Old Biff Tannen discovers the almanac, steals the time machine, and travels back to 1955 to give it to his younger self. Young Biff, armed with knowledge of future sports outcomes, amasses a fortune and alters history.

_{(Back to the Future II, old Biff Tannen and young Biff Tannen together in 1955 - Back To the Future Official Website)}

When Marty and Doc return to 1985, they find that everything has changed. In this alternate timeline, Biff Tannen has become a wealthy and powerful crime lord, turning Hill Valley into a corrupt and crime-ridden city. Worse, Biff murdered George McFly and forced Lorraine to marry him. Realizing that the source of these changes is Biff obtaining the almanac in 1955, Marty and Doc decide to go back to 1955 to fix history.

Returning to 1955, Marty must retrieve the almanac without interfering with the events of the first film. He successfully prevents Biff from using the almanac for gambling, restoring the original timeline by burning the book.

At that moment, a lightning strike hits the DeLorean, sending Doc Brown back to 1885. Marty is left stranded in 1955 but receives a letter from Doc, revealing that he is stuck in the Old West. Determined to save him, Marty prepares to travel to 1885, setting up the events for the third film.

Production Process

Because the film includes scenes that connect directly to the first film, many sequences had to be reshot. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd reprised their roles, but Claudia Wells was replaced by Elisabeth Shue as Jennifer Parker.

One of the most notable aspects of the film is its vision of the year 2015. Flying skateboards (hoverboards), self-lacing shoes, holographic advertisements, and flying cars provide a fascinating look at how the 1980s imagined the future.

The visual effects were created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), incorporating digital compositing techniques for the first time in some scenes. One particularly innovative sequence involved Michael J. Fox playing three different characters simultaneously, which was a technological breakthrough at the time.

_{(Back to the Future II movie set - Back To the Future Official Website)}

Cast and Characters

• Michael J. Fox – Marty McFly / Marty McFly Jr. / Marlene McFly
• Christopher Lloyd – Dr. Emmett Brown
• Lea Thompson – Lorraine Baines McFly
• Thomas F. Wilson – Biff Tannen / Griff Tannen / Old Biff
• Elisabeth Shue – Jennifer Parker
• James Tolkan – Principal Strickland
• Marc McClure – Dave McFly
• Jeffrey Weissman – George McFly (replacing Crispin Glover)

Filming Locations and Technical Details

The film was shot at Universal Studios' sets and various locations around Los Angeles. For 2015 scenes, special effects and wire-rig systems were used extensively. It was filmed using Panavision cameras, color-graded with Technicolor, and recorded in Dolby Stereo sound.

Box Office Success

The film grossed $118 million in its opening weekend, reaching a total worldwide box office of $331 million. It became one of the highest-grossing films of 1989.