What is Back to the Future?

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale · 1989

Back to the Future is a sci-fi film trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990) directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Bob Gale. The films follow teenager Marty McFly as he travels through time in a DeLorean time machine invented by Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown.

Part II (released 1989) takes the story to October 21, 2015 — a "future world" imagined from the perspective of the late 1980s. The filmmakers envisioned everyday life 26 years ahead, spanning communications, transportation, entertainment, payments, and wearable technology. What was pure sci-fi fantasy then has, in many cases, become reality.

This site archives 16 technology predictions from Back to the Future Part II's depiction of 2015, verified against real-world outcomes. From video calling and flat-screen TVs that came true, to flying cars that remain fantasy, to the astonishing Cubs World Series prediction — the film's 35-year-old vision of the future remains remarkably impressive.

Core Message

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." — Doc Brown

Key Timeline

1985 — First film released, establishing the time travel universe
1989 — Part II released, depicting life in 2015
1990 — Part III released, completing the trilogy
October 21, 2015 — The date Marty arrives in the 'future'; celebrated worldwide as Back to the Future Day
2016 — Chicago Cubs win World Series after 108 years, eerily matching the film's prediction

Data Sources

Predictions sourced from scenes and dialogue in Back to the Future Part II (1989) (Wikipedia)
Verification based on public news reports, product launches, and statistical data
Editorial opinions do not represent academic consensus
Site icon: lightning clock symbol — the DeLorean time machine requires 1.21 gigawatts of lightning to travel through time, and the clock represents the core theme of time travel

Back to the Future Predictions All Prophecies16 Q&A entries in total

#1 Technology 2015

Video Calling

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: In the film, Marty makes face-to-face video calls with colleagues on a wall-mounted flat screen that displays the caller's name, occupation, and personal information.

#2 Technology 2015

Flat-Screen TVs

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows homes with ultra-thin wall-mounted flat-screen TVs capable of displaying multiple channels simultaneously.

#3 Technology 2015

Fingerprint / Biometric Payments

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows people using fingerprint scanning for identity verification and payment transactions, replacing traditional signatures and passwords.

#4 Technology 2015

Wearable Technology

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Characters in the film wear smart glasses with communication and information display capabilities, able to answer calls and view messages.

#5 Technology 2015

Drones

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film features small unmanned aerial vehicles used for news reporting and dog walking, flying autonomously to perform everyday tasks.

#6 Technology 2015

Hoverboards

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty rides a pink hoverboard that glides through the air without touching the ground.

#7 Technology 2015

Flying Cars

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows skies full of flying cars in 2015, with aerial traffic as busy as ground traffic, and 'skyways' replacing traditional roads.

#8 Technology 2015

Self-Lacing Shoes

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: When Marty puts on his Nike sneakers, the laces automatically tighten and tie themselves.

#9 Technology 2015

Holographic Displays

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: A giant 3D holographic shark leaps out from a movie theater marquee, lunging at passersby to promote 'Jaws 19'.

#10 Society 2015

Cubs Win World Series

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: A news ticker in the film shows the Chicago Cubs sweeping Miami to win the 2015 World Series (Miami didn't even have a baseball team at the time of filming).

#11 Technology 2015

Fax Machines Everywhere

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Nearly every room has a fax machine in the film. Fax is the primary communication method in 2015, and Marty gets fired via fax by his boss.

#12 Technology 2015

Dehydrated Food & Instant Cooking

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows a Black & Decker food hydrator that takes a small dehydrated pizza and expands it into a full-size hot pizza in seconds.

#13 Technology 2015

3D Movies

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film's cinema is showing 'Jaws 19' in 3D holographic format; 3D movies have become the norm.

#14 Technology 2015

Smart Glasses

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty's children wear glasses-like devices at the dinner table that can answer phone calls and watch TV shows.

#15 Technology 2015

Fingerprint Door Locks

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty unlocks his front door with a fingerprint scan; biometric technology replaces traditional keys.

#16 Technology 2015

Multi-Screen Viewing

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty Jr. watches six channels simultaneously, with the TV screen split into multiple windows showing different content at once.

Prophecy VerificationEvaluating predictions against reality for expired time points

#1 Verified undefined: 2015

Video Calling

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: In the film, Marty makes face-to-face video calls with colleagues on a wall-mounted flat screen that displays the caller's name, occupation, and personal information.

Video calling has become fully integrated into daily life. Platforms like Skype (2003), FaceTime (2010), and Zoom (2013) made video calls a daily tool for billions worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic (2020) further accelerated video conferencing adoption.

#2 Verified undefined: 2015

Flat-Screen TVs

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows homes with ultra-thin wall-mounted flat-screen TVs capable of displaying multiple channels simultaneously.

Flat-screen TVs completely replaced CRT displays. By 2015, LCD and OLED TVs were mainstream worldwide, with wall mounting being very common. Picture-in-picture and split-screen features were also realized.

#3 Verified undefined: 2015

Fingerprint / Biometric Payments

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows people using fingerprint scanning for identity verification and payment transactions, replacing traditional signatures and passwords.

Apple introduced Touch ID fingerprint recognition in 2013 and Apple Pay with fingerprint payment in 2014. By 2015, Samsung, Huawei, and other manufacturers all supported fingerprint unlock and mobile payments. Biometric payment became mainstream.

#4 Verified undefined: 2015

Wearable Technology

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Characters in the film wear smart glasses with communication and information display capabilities, able to answer calls and view messages.

Google Glass released its developer version in 2013, and Apple Watch launched in April 2015. By 2015, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses had formed a complete wearable technology ecosystem.

#5 Verified undefined: 2015

Drones

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film features small unmanned aerial vehicles used for news reporting and dog walking, flying autonomously to perform everyday tasks.

DJI launched the Phantom series of consumer drones from 2013. By 2015, drones were widely used in aerial photography, news coverage, agriculture, and delivery. Amazon announced its Prime Air drone delivery program in 2013.

#6 Partial undefined: 2015

Hoverboards

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty rides a pink hoverboard that glides through the air without touching the ground.

Lexus demonstrated a hoverboard prototype using superconducting magnetic levitation in 2015, but it only worked on specially built metal tracks. Popular 'hoverboards' (self-balancing scooters) don't actually hover. True free-floating hoverboards have not been commercialized.

#7 Failed undefined: 2015

Flying Cars

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows skies full of flying cars in 2015, with aerial traffic as busy as ground traffic, and 'skyways' replacing traditional roads.

As of 2025, while multiple companies (Joby Aviation, Lilium, EHang) have developed eVTOL aircraft and conducted test flights, flying cars are far from becoming everyday transportation, let alone forming aerial traffic networks.

#8 Verified undefined: 2015

Self-Lacing Shoes

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: When Marty puts on his Nike sneakers, the laces automatically tighten and tie themselves.

Nike officially released the HyperAdapt 1.0 self-lacing sneakers in 2016 ($720), followed by the more affordable Nike Adapt BB basketball shoes in 2019. In 2015, Nike also gifted Michael J. Fox a limited-edition pair of self-lacing Nike Mag shoes.

#9 Partial undefined: 2015

Holographic Displays

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: A giant 3D holographic shark leaps out from a movie theater marquee, lunging at passersby to promote 'Jaws 19'.

Holographic projection has made notable progress, including virtual performers at concerts (Hatsune Miku, deceased artist holograms) and holographic ads in commercial displays. However, the film's large-scale outdoor free-space holographic projection has not been commercialized.

#10 Verified undefined: 2015

Cubs Win World Series

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: A news ticker in the film shows the Chicago Cubs sweeping Miami to win the 2015 World Series (Miami didn't even have a baseball team at the time of filming).

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in 2016 to win the World Series after a 108-year drought. While one year later than the film predicted and against a different opponent, the Cubs hadn't won in 71 years at the time of filming, making this prediction remarkably prescient.

#11 Failed undefined: 2015

Fax Machines Everywhere

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Nearly every room has a fax machine in the film. Fax is the primary communication method in 2015, and Marty gets fired via fax by his boss.

Fax machines were nearly obsolete by 2015, replaced by email, instant messaging, and cloud documents. While Japan and some medical/legal industries still used fax, it was far from a mainstream communication method.

#12 Partial undefined: 2015

Dehydrated Food & Instant Cooking

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film shows a Black & Decker food hydrator that takes a small dehydrated pizza and expands it into a full-size hot pizza in seconds.

While dehydrated and freeze-dried foods are widely used in outdoor sports and space food, and microwaves can quickly heat food, the film's instant rehydration technology that restores dehydrated food to a full hot meal in seconds doesn't exist. 3D food printing began developing after 2015.

#13 Verified undefined: 2015

3D Movies

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: The film's cinema is showing 'Jaws 19' in 3D holographic format; 3D movies have become the norm.

3D films became mainstream after Avatar (2009). By 2015, IMAX 3D was available worldwide, with numerous Hollywood blockbusters released in 3D format. While holographic projection wasn't achieved, the 3D viewing experience was fully mainstream.

#14 Verified undefined: 2015

Smart Glasses

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty's children wear glasses-like devices at the dinner table that can answer phone calls and watch TV shows.

Google Glass launched in 2013 with calling, camera, and information display capabilities. While Google Glass wasn't commercially successful, the smart glasses concept was proven by 2015, followed by Microsoft HoloLens (2016), Snap Spectacles, and Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses (2023).

#15 Verified undefined: 2015

Fingerprint Door Locks

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty unlocks his front door with a fingerprint scan; biometric technology replaces traditional keys.

Fingerprint smart door locks began gaining popularity around 2015, with brands like Samsung, Yale, and Kaadas launching fingerprint lock products. By the 2020s, fingerprint and facial recognition door locks became very common in markets like China and South Korea.

#16 Verified undefined: 2015

Multi-Screen Viewing

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale: Marty Jr. watches six channels simultaneously, with the TV screen split into multiple windows showing different content at once.

Multi-screen and split-screen viewing was fully realized by 2015. TVs supported picture-in-picture, smartphones and tablets featured split-screen multitasking as standard. Using multiple screens simultaneously (phone + computer + TV) became the norm.