Summary

• Hidden jokes in Back to the Future connect different times and reference famous creative minds.
• Music and movie genres like rock and roll and Western play essential roles in the movies.
• Subtle recurring gags in the series emphasize generational differences with humor.

There are many brilliant jokes and Easter Eggs scattered throughout the Back to the Future movies. These minor details connect the different times Marty (Michael J. Fox) and Doc (Christopher Lloyd) travel to and cleverly reference different famous creatives. The hidden jokes enhance the setting of Back to the Future, as they are homages to several different times, places, and staples of pop culture.

The music and cinematic genres of rock and roll, Western, and, of course, time travel are all important to the Back to the Future movies for different reasons. Marty's preference for rock and roll music and Doc's interest in the Old West is woven into the franchise's overall atmosphere, elevated by hidden jokes. Furthermore, several of these jokes and Easter Eggs are meant to emphasize a subtle, recurring gag throughout the series, that while something is commonplace to one generation, it is bizarre to another.

15 Statlers Horses & Cars

The same family has been behind Hill Valley's vehicles for 100 years.

Throughout the movies, there are regular references to the different periods of history in Hill Valley. In 1885, there is a sign advertising Joe Statler’s “fine horses.” The business Statler Motors Studebaker is present in 1955, while there is a radio ad for Statler Toyota in 1985. The odds of this family’s horse-selling business evolving into a car shop and then a Toyota dealership are slim to none. Yet Back to the Future loves establishing these connections between every period shown in the series.

14 Clint Eastwood In Back To The Future

Back to the Future makes more references to Clint Eastwood than people realize.

Oddly, the allusions to Eastwood are a humorous but effective way to convey a certain idea of the Old West which works for Back to the Future.

Back to the Future Part III cannot make enough Clint Eastwood jokes and nods. Doc is confused when Marty asserts that “Clint Eastwood never wore anything like this.” Although there are posters for Revenge of the Creature and Tarantula present in the scene, Eastwood was still a relatively unknown star in 1955.

Marty then uses the name Clint Eastwood while he is in the Old West. Eastwood was even asked for permission to use his name and was flattered by the homage (via IMDB). Doc also shoots through a hanging rope as a nod to Eastwood’s movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Oddly, the allusions to Eastwood are a humorous but effective way to convey a certain idea of the Old West which works for Back to the Future.

13 Marty Plays "Johnny B. Goode" On An Important Date

Back to the Future's "Johnny B. Goode" scene is stacked with rock and roll allusions.

The Enchantment Under the Sea dance where Marty plays "Johnny B. Goode" is held on November 12, 1955. On this date in history, Chuck Berry was named the most promising R&B artist by Billboard's annual DJ's Poll (via Marty copies several famous guitarists during his performance at the dance. There is a surprising amount of musical history included in this scene, which is all based on the typical time travel situation that none of the people present are familiar with any of these celebrities yet.

12 CRM-114 On Marty's Amp

There is a Stanley Kubrick reference in Marty's first scene of Back to the Future.

Marty is set up to be a die-hard rock and roll fan and a rebellious thinker in his first scene of the Back to the Future franchise, which depicts him setting up and testing out an amplifier that blasts him off his feet, before taking a phone call from Doc. To turn on the amp, he inserts a key into a slot which is labeled "CRM-114," a recognized reference to some of Stanley Kubrick's most famous movies. CRM-114 is the name/number of spaceships and devices in movies including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove, and A Clockwork Orange.

11 Doc's Shirt Foreshadows Back To The Future Part III

Doc wears a shirt in Back to the Future Part II that nods to future adventures.

In Back to the Future Part II, Doc wears a shirt with a pattern of men on horses chasing after trains. This foreshadows the final act of Part III when Marty and Doc chase down a train on horseback. Part II and Part III were filmed back-to-back, proving this is an intentional Easter Egg. It’s too complicated to think about how the train hijacking has already happened to Doc in the timeline. However, it is an interesting joke because it suggests that Doc is hinting at the future through his wardrobe.

10 George McFly's Birth & Death Dates

George McFly's grave reveals interesting details about his character.

George McFly (Crispin Glover) is an interesting character, who is extremely timid but learns to stand up for himself through Marty's interference in the past. It is not necessarily suggested that George is a comedian (but he is a fan of The Honeymooners). This makes the amusing detail that his grave in Part II says he was born on April Fool's and died on the Ides of March somewhat confusing. On the other hand, Glover's feud with director Robert Zemeckis is well known — but it still would have been bold for them to include this to subtly mock Glover.

9 Doc Goes To A Rejuvenation Clinic

There is a behind-the-scenes reason for Doc's glow-up in Back to the Future.

One of Doc's best quotes from Back to the Future is when he takes off his old-age makeup to reveal that he went to a "rejuvenation clinic." Part of the joke is that the makeup was not that dramatic, and he does not look that much younger. However, there is a real reason for this moment: It was included so Christopher Lloyd would not have to wear the makeup going forward, since he would primarily be playing the 1985 version of Doc (via IMDB). Much of his screen time in the first movie is as 1955 Doc.

8 Blast From The Past Antique Store

An antique store is the most accurate depiction of 2015 in Back to the Future Part II.

In 2015, Marty briefly observes the window of an antique shop where the sports almanac is on display, which he goes back for later. This moment is supposed to derive humor from items that were commonplace at the time the movie came out being treated as vintage. The depiction of 2015 in Part II is funny now, because the year has come and gone, and the movie's vision still seems like a distant future. However, some of the items on display at the antique store are now outdated, such as the computer, television, and VHS tapes.

7 Edward Van Halen Tape

An Eddie Van Halen original is featured in Back to the Future.

When Marty goes to confront George after the latter fails to invite Lorraine (Lea Thompson) to the dance, he uses a tape reading “Edward Van Halen” to wake George up. However, they were not allowed to use the band’s songs in the movie, nor to have the tape simply read “Van Halen” as this is the band’s name. Therefore, the Back to the Future scene uses one of Eddie Van Halen's other compositions, and Marty labeled the tape with the musician’s full name. There is even more effort in this instance than Marty’s other post-50s rock references.

6 Sherman Peabody

A side character in Back to the Future alludes to other time travelers.

Both Back to the Future and Mr. Peabody and Sherman present time travel as a comedic adventure. Therefore, "Sherman Peabody" is a clever allusion that ties together the past and future of the time travel genre.

Before Back to the Future, the biggest time travelers in mainstream pop culture were Mr. Peabody and Sherman. When Marty crashes into a barn in 1955, the family’s mailbox reads “Peabody.” The credits confirm that the “Farmer’s Son” is called Sherman Peabody. Both Back to the Future and Mr. Peabody and Sherman present time travel as a comedic adventure. Therefore, "Sherman Peabody" is a clever allusion that ties together the past and future of the time travel genre.