Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada 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
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
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Trending
  • Fallout season 2 ending explained
  • New Games for 2026
  • Big in 2026
  • The Forge codes
  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
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
GamesRadar+
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
Latest in Movies
Yoshi swallowing a Magikoopa
New Super Mario Galaxy Movie teaser shows off Shy Guys, Koopa Kids, and Yoshi's talent for turning enemies into eggs
 
 
isabela merced in alien: romulus
House of the Dead movie is reportedly a "top Sega priority", with The Last of Us breakout Isabela Merced now onboard
 
 
The first trailer for Markiplier's Iron Lung adaptation is here
Horror fans will be able to purchase Iron Lung in one week, but the director still plans to release it "independently"
 
 
Ian McKellen as Magneto in X-Men
X-Men star Ian McKellen teases Magneto role in Avengers: Doomsday in the most hilarious way: "I'm trying to be magnetic"
 
 
Uma Thurman's Devora Kasimer sitting at a make up table looking at a group of bloody ballerinas in her mirror
Kill Bill star's bloody new thriller movie about a killer ballerina gets its first images
 
 
Laurence Fishburne
The Matrix and John Wick star Laurence Fishburne has joined the cast of Mike Flanagan's new Exorcist movie
 
 
Latest in Features
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Who is Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? The mysterious squire explained
 
 
Fugitoid carrying a large bag on his back
After 42 years, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' oldest allies gets a fresh start for his Mutant Mayhem debut
 
 
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4's dragon dream is an ominous portent of things to come
 
 
The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries season 3 release date speculation, story, trailer, and movie news
 
 
Menace pre-launch screenshots
After losing 92 soldiers in Menace, I'll never call XCOM brutal again
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Withers, a mummified corpse-like man with gray features and golden adornments
I have over 800 hours in Baldur's Gate 3 – here's the only way I see HBO's TV show working
 
 
  1. Mewgenics
    1
    Mewgenics review: "The Binding of Isaac collides with Into the Breach in a strategy roguelike that has me battling bomber rats, breeding brutes, and more"
  2. 2
    This Viking card game is perfect for two-player matches on the go
  3. 3
    This Lord of the Rings card game is a puzzle-solving masterclass
  4. 4
    Nioh 3 review: "Brutal samurai and ninja clashes across wide maps avoid retreading Elden Ring – this Soulslike is all demon killer, no filler"
  5. 5
    Highguard review: "A fresh but muddled FPS genre mashup that needs refinement if it's to have any staying power"
  1. Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
    1
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  3. 3
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  4. 4
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  5. 5
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  1. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
    1
    Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
  2. 2
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  3. 3
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  5. 5
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”

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
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

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

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...