The title ofBack to the Futureis a classic for a reason, and it’s hard to imagine that the trilogy would have become what it is if it had been given a different name. Asthe original plan was forBack to the Futureto be a standalone, the name was not chosen with the idea of encompassing a franchise the way that the title does. However, the name of the movie almost wasn’tBack to the Futureat all.
Head of Universal Studios Sidney Sheinberg wanted thealternate titleSpace Man From Plutoinstead ofBack to the Future, as he was worried that the titleBack to the Futurewould be too restrictive. Sheinberg felt that it was too obviously a movie about time travel and wanted to give the film a title that would have a broader appeal to science fiction fans. He had no way of knowing thatBack to the Futurewould become a pinnacle of the time travel genre.
Back To The Future’s Terrible Alternate Title Would’ve Added More Meaning To The “Darth Vader” Scene
Space Man From Pluto Would Have Been A Terrible Title, But It Would Be A Nice Reference To A Fantastic Scene
Though the nameSpace Man From Plutowould have felt disconnected from most of the film,the scene where Marty declares himself to be Darth Vader would have felt more meaningful. This scene convinces George to try to ask Lorraine out, so it’s a key moment for the emotional core of the movie. Marty’s decision to scare George plays a large role in helping get the future back on track after the events followingthe saving of George create a paradox, and, likely, this moment is also what inspired George’s novelA Match Made In Space.
The titleSpace Man From Plutowould have put a focus on the relationship between Marty and his father, which makes sense knowing that the plan was for the film to be a standalone. It is kind of funny that while the titleSpace Man From Plutowould have been meant to establish the film as a science fiction that anyone could be interested in, its real accomplishment would be its reference to a key moment in George’s history. It’s not a perfect title, or even a good one, but there is logic behind Sheinberg’s idea.
It Was Still 100% The Right Call To Stick With “Back To The Future” As A Title
Back To The Future Gets Right To The Core Of What These Movies Are About
There are multiple reasons whyBack to the Future’s title is for the best. IfBack to the Futureexisted as a standalone under the titleSpace Man From Pluto,the movie’s time travel technology would have felt like a background element to support the main storysurrounding Marty’s parents, rather than the key element of the trilogy that it ended up becoming. The real title emphasizes a crucial element of the film.
The titleBack to the Futureunderstands how important time travel is to the story the movie is trying to tell. The real title ofBack to the Futureperfectly establishes what kind of movie to expect, and it plays a part in why the movie is such a classic. Considering how muchBack to the Futurehas influencedtime travel moviessince its release, the real title is absolutely for the best.
