Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
Don't miss these
A group of people holding crates and walking through a Stargate during an episode of the TV show Stargate Atlantis.
Sci-Fi Shows Stargate: Everything we know about Amazon's new Stargate series
Dune 2
Movies Upcoming movies: The most exciting new movies coming in 2026 and beyond
Dune
Movies Movie release dates 2026: Every major film coming to cinemas and streaming
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Colin Firth in Disclosure Day
Sci-Fi Movies Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day gets a new trailer full of alien tech, psychic powers, and more weirdness
Sonic
Live Action Movies Sonic 4 release date, cast, trailer and everything we know so far about the sequel
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Project Hail Mary directors think it was important to make sure their end of the world sci-fi drama was funny
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
Sci-Fi Movies Lord and Miller explain how their work on the Spider-Verse movies inspired their new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary
Tom Holland as Peter Parker unmasked and in the middle of a fight during a scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Marvel Movies Spider-Man 4 release date, cast, leaks and theories, and everything else we know about the Marvel movie
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3
Amazon Prime Video The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time: pictures of Alien, Arrival, Terminator, Brazil and 2001.
Sci-Fi Movies The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time
Lego Tintin and Snowy figures with a red Moon Rocket, surrounded by a white outline
Toys & Collectibles Fans agree that new Lego Tintin set is an "Instant-buy"
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two
Sci-Fi Movies Dune 3: Everything we know so far about Denis Villeneuve's upcoming sequel
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday release date, cast, plot, trailer, and more news
Din Djarin and Grogu in The Mandalorian & Grogu
Sci-Fi Movies The Mandalorian and Grogu: everything we know so far about the next Star Wars movie
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

10 incredible never-before-seen Back to the Future extras

Features
By Lauren O'Callaghan published 21 October 2015

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Great Scott!

Great Scott!

Happy Back to the Future day! Yes, October 21 2015 is the date Marty and Doc land in the future and no matter what the 1989 sequel got right (or wrong) about the future, it's still one of the most popular movies of all time.

We're celebrating the momentous movie occasion with some exclusive extras from the franchise, including behind-the-scenes set images, original concept art and never-before-seen shots of Michael J. Fox filming *that* hoverboard scene! What are you waiting for? This is what made the films so incredible...

Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History is out now from Titan Books.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
This is heavy

This is heavy

You might recognise this scene from the first Back To The Future film. Marty thinks all his troubles are over, only for Doc to appear and tell him his future is in jeopardy. It's the final scene in the movie, which sets up the sequel where Doc and Marty travel to 2015, and here's the crew filming it in Arleta, California, with Michael J. Fox and Claudia Wells.

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Best chase scene of all time

Best chase scene of all time

The tunnel chase scene, which sees Marty use his borrowed hoverboard to get back the Almanac from Biff, was the first-ever CGI shot for visual effects company, Industrial Light and Magic. Zemeckis digital removed the pipe attached from the shooting rig to the hoverboard, and then had Michael J. Fox use harnesses, flying rigs, dollies, and even a real skateboard to shoot the scene again and again, in a myriad of different ways, just to prevent the audience from figuring out how the effects were achieved. Now that's commitment!

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean?

Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean?

Here's some early concept art for the reappearance of the DeLorean after a time jump. Animator Wes Takahashi said Bob Gale told him, I want it to be extremely violent, something akin to a Neanderthal siting on the hood of the car, chipping away at the fabric of time in front of him. Mission accomplished!

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
YOU'RE FIRED!!!

YOU'RE FIRED!!!

Here's Joanna Johnstons design for old Martys look, including the now iconic double tie. When are we getting those, again? The tie was the least arduous part of getting into character, with Michael J. Fox saying of prosthetic makeup, The thing that people dont understand about it and with the event of CG, it might be different now but they put it on with airplane glue and took it off with gasoline, and it used to ravage my face.

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
I need to borrow your... hoverboard?

I need to borrow your... hoverboard?

Over the course of two years, Industrial Light and Magics John Bell designed a variety of hoverboards for Marty, Griff and Griffs gang. All he was told was the term hoverboard, and asked to sketch whatever came to mind.

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

This on-set snap shows how the flying cars were filming for Back to the Future II. Basically, just pick up the car with a forklift and hang on!

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Self-lacing shoes? Yes, please

Self-lacing shoes? Yes, please

This is one invention that's soon to become a reality with Nike announcing the release of Marty's futuristic footwear later this year. Think of how much time you'll save not have to tie your trainers every morning? This is the initial concept art for the self-lacing shoe by designer Tinker Hatfield.

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
When this baby hits 88 miles per hour...

When this baby hits 88 miles per hour...

The explosive scenes where the DeLorean travels through time were based on this original concept art. Did you know that there are actually only 32 optical special effects shots in the entire movie? Still looks pretty good, right?

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
You've come here from a great distance

You've come here from a great distance

Check out Michael Scheffes design sketches for Doc Browns brain-wave analyser. There's also pictures of the final prop used in the film, when Marty tries to tell Doc he's come from the future, but Doc insists on attempting to read his mind instead. Spoiler, it doesn't work.

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Tales From Space!

Tales From Space!

This the cover of Sherman Peabody's comic book (designed by Andrew Probert), which he used to identify Marty as an alien when he crashed into his family's barn. Like he said, Marty had already mutated into human form by the time his dad got his shotgun so, there wasn't much they could do about it.

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Lauren O'Callaghan
Lauren O'Callaghan
Social Links Navigation

Lauren O'Callaghan is the former Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar+. You'd typically find Lauren writing features and reviews about the latest and greatest in pop culture and entertainment, and assisting the teams at Total Film and SFX to bring their excellent content onto GamesRadar+. Lauren is now the digital marketing manager at the National Trust.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time: pictures of Alien, Arrival, Terminator, Brazil and 2001.
Sci-Fi Movies The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time
 
 
Sam Rockwell as The Man From the Future in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
Sci-Fi Movies Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die got me in the mood for more time-travelling fun and these 6 sci-fi comedies fit the bill
 
 
Dune 2
Movies Upcoming movies: The most exciting new movies coming in 2026 and beyond
 
 
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
Horror Movies A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel director shares game-changing never-before-seen stills from "lost" alternate ending
 
 
David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King
Fantasy Movies 40 years later, Jim Henson's Labyrinth is still teaching kids to overcome their fears as it returns to the big screen
 
 
Dune
Movies Movie release dates 2026: Every major film coming to cinemas and streaming
 
 
Latest in Movies
Mortal Kombat movie
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 star Lewis Tan responds to new dig from Street Fighter's Cody Rhodes: "Almost spilled my drink laughing"
 
 
Halloween Kills
Horror Movies Halloween star Jamie Lee Curtis says she wouldn't have returned for the Blumhouse sequel if she'd known it was a trilogy
 
 
Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin unmasked in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies The Mandalorian and Grogu runtime may have been revealed by a UK theater chain listing, but take it with a pinch of salt
 
 
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps in Zootopia 2
Film Festivals & Awards After missing out KPop Demon Hunters, Disney has made surprising Oscars history with its unlikely losing streak
 
 
Leon frowns in the care center in Resident Evil Requiem
Horror Movies Resident Evil director Zach Cregger proves he's the right person for the job after beating Requiem twice already
 
 
Tim Roth as Beckett reading with his feet on a desk in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Crime Movies Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man villain Tim Roth starred in The Incredible Hulk to "embarrass" his kids
 
 
Latest in Features
Future Games Show
Games Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2026
 
 
Artwork showing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, with protagonist Edward Kenway looking out from the side of ship
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced – Everything you need to know about the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake
 
 
The Talking Flower toy sitting next to its box.
Toys & Collectibles The Super Mario Talking Flower told me the "ocean tastes like tears" but I like this Nintendo toy
 
 
Resident Evil accessories and merch on a forest background
Toys & Collectibles It's been 30 years since we first entered the Spencer Mansion, so I'm building the ultimate Resident Evil starter kit
 
 
A still from Kiki's Delivery Service featuring Kiki and her feline familiar Jiji flying on a broom with some seagulls, with a Big Screen Spotlight logo ini the corner
Anime Movies Kiki's Delivery Service's return to theaters proves we need hand-drawn animation now more than ever
 
 
In Collector's Cove, the collector protagonist who has short brown hair and wears a jumper with cherries on it hugs the Fable Fin companion who wears a witch hat. GamesRadar+'s Indie Spotlight series logo can be seen in the top right-hand corner
Adventure Games If you're feeling Pokemon Pokopia FOMO, this farming adventure lets you explore on the back of a Lapras-like companion
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Nvidia DLSS 5 version of Grace from Resident Evil Requiem
    1
    Bethesda says Nvidia's controversial new DLSS 5 AI filter "will all be under our artists' control, and totally optional for players"
  2. 2
    Daredevil: Born Again season 2 star Matthew Lillard says there's "Cheshire Cat" energy to his new villain, but he doesn't have any scenes with Daredevil
  3. 3
    GTA Wiki editors cite "a reportedly pro-AI CEO," "terrible" ads, and restrictive censorship as they go independent from Fandom
  4. 4
    Bethesda fans are petitioning for The Elder Scrolls 6 to add a tribute to a late TES lore legend: "He helped countless gamers delve deeper into the world of Tamriel"
  5. 5
    The Last of Us season 3 adds Lanterns and The Conjuring stars to cast, including your favorite exorcist Patrick Wilson in a crucial role

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...