Back to the Future Trilogy 4K UHD (1985-1990)

[Uptight]

Originally Posted by accountsareapain

By the way, are the DVDs 5.1 tracks any different from the 2010 BDs 5.1 tracks?

Besides the LASERDISC 2.0 tracks, it's interesting to note all these below. I spoke about the audio changes in this thread, this is what I said:

[Show spoiler]The 3rd movie had all these changes over the years, if we compare that scene (around 18 minutes) in which Doc sends Marty to 1885 (and shots his gun twice):

- Laserdisc 2.0 (original audio)

- DVD (5.1) - Remix
- 2010 Blu-ray (5.1) - Remix

- 2020 Remastered Blu-ray (5.1) - Original audio
- UHD/4K (5.1) - Original audio

That's right, once we finally got into the DVDs (probably around 2002?) they decided to redo that sound effect, which I can clearly listen it was there in the LD. I can't say I don't like the new one, but it was a remix either way. Then, it was again reused for the first Blu-rays we got.

Finally, after they re-released part 3 for the 2020 Blu-rays and the 4Ks, we are listening to the same source that was only there in the 1990s.

For the 2nd film, Strickland's shotgun at 43 minutes is the REMIX for all the releases I mentioned before. Except the LASERDISC and the dubbing I already had, which of course uses an old source available for that country before the first DVDs were released.

Back to the Future Movie Change - "Marty, you made it!" - YouTube

Not to mention this change for the 1st.

In the 2nd movie, after 1h02m, we see the Delorean coming from 1985-A to 1955. That sound effect of the Delorean materializing (the boom that repeats) is absent from the Laserdisc. Yep, totally not there.

Oddly, the DVDs and 2010 Blu-ray sound stronger than 2020 and 4K. Which appears to retain this, but instead is subdued.

Another change (and this one I was perhaps the 1st and only person that noticed) from part 2 was after 2m30s. When 1985 Biff says "a flying Delorean?", and cuts to a scene already showed in the final seconds of the 1st movie.

That repeated scene has a new sound effect added for the 2020 Blu-ray, and UHD/4K (Atmos). If we compare to the 2010 disc, DVDs and Laserdisc, they all use the original mix.

It's even noticeable in this 4K trailer, after 2 minutes:

Back to the Future Part II | Opening Scene in 4K Ultra HD | The Future of 2015 - YouTube

Is anyone interested in putting all original/alternate tracks from the trilogy in the upcoming releases? Probably not, because no one presses Bob Gale and everyone involved to do this.

+++++
Another difference from part 2: after 1h39m30s, when Marty receives the letter, the Western Union Man says:

- We had a little bet to see if this "Marty" would actually be here.

In all releases the audio is OK. Except for the 2020 Blu-ray and UHD/4K. In both, there's a very slight delay before "be here".

Back to the Future 35mm Scan Open Matte - YouTube

[Mrflamexd3]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Just a heads-up, Universal are going to be milking the hell out of the first film's 40th Anniversary. I have info that they'll be putting out the following tentatively in Late September/Early October:

Back to the Future 40th Anniversary Trilogy 4K/BD

Back to the Future 40th Anniversary Trilogy Premium Giftset 4K/BD

Back to the Future 40th Anniversary 4K Steelbook
Back to the Future Part II 4K Steelbook
Back to the Future Part III 4K Steelbook

The Steelbooks are the first time the films are being released individually on 4K in the US. I'll post artwork if/when I find it.

Amazon CA put up some links but they're not live yet. No new information or pictures unfortunately. https://www.amazon.ca/stores/page/pr...f_=as_li_ss_tl

Anyone know when they plan on making the official announcement? It's already August 20th so hopefully it isn't too far off.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

Back in theaters starting on October 31 including IMAX:
https://www.fandango.com/back-to-the...movie-overview
https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/b...iversary-81181

Not only is it coming back to theatres - AMC is going to be selling a DeLorean popcorn bucket

[meremortal]

I missed previous theatrical re-releases and will have to see BTTF at least once in a theater. IMAX sounds cool, though I hate how loud those rooms are.

The first film still has one of the more interesting production histories out there with Stoltz filming much of the movie and then they started again from scratch when Michael J Fox was available. Not only that, but they fully worked around his schedule and so most of the movie was filmed really late at night until sunrise at night because Fox was still filming episodes of Family Ties literally all day long as the lead star of a highly successful tv sitcom. Universal and crew made such a gamble with Fox and derailing production and it turned out to be one of the best Hollywood decisions ever.

An aside, but Chopping Mall also had a similar type schedule because they had to wait for the real mall to close at night and so they were only allowed to film during the hours it was closed. It's another awesome film that could use a 4k upgrade even though the current blu is still arguably great. I got to see it at an art house theater type screening where they used the Lionsgate bmu and it still looked good in a theater.

[Xander2017]

Most people seem to feel that the "new" packaging from the 2024 re-issue is better than the 2020 release, so I'm curious as to why the 2024 release is cheaper than the 2020.

So far there's no mention that these individual releases will be a new encode of the films ...Correct?

Thanks for any help.

[accountsareapain]

Originally Posted by Uptight

Besides the LASERDISC 2.0 tracks, it's interesting to note all these below. I spoke about the audio changes in this thread, this is what I said:

[Show spoiler]The 3rd movie had all these changes over the years, if we compare that scene (around 18 minutes) in which Doc sends Marty to 1885 (and shots his gun twice):

- Laserdisc 2.0 (original audio)

- DVD (5.1) - Remix
- 2010 Blu-ray (5.1) - Remix

- 2020 Remastered Blu-ray (5.1) - Original audio
- UHD/4K (5.1) - Original audio

That's right, once we finally got into the DVDs (probably around 2002?) they decided to redo that sound effect, which I can clearly listen it was there in the LD. I can't say I don't like the new one, but it was a remix either way. Then, it was again reused for the first Blu-rays we got.

Finally, after they re-released part 3 for the 2020 Blu-rays and the 4Ks, we are listening to the same source that was only there in the 1990s.

For the 2nd film, Strickland's shotgun at 43 minutes is the REMIX for all the releases I mentioned before. Except the LASERDISC and the dubbing I already had, which of course uses an old source available for that country before the first DVDs were released.

Back to the Future Movie Change - "Marty, you made it!" - YouTube

Not to mention this change for the 1st.

In the 2nd movie, after 1h02m, we see the Delorean coming from 1985-A to 1955. That sound effect of the Delorean materializing (the boom that repeats) is absent from the Laserdisc. Yep, totally not there.

Oddly, the DVDs and 2010 Blu-ray sound stronger than 2020 and 4K. Which appears to retain this, but instead is subdued.

Another change (and this one I was perhaps the 1st and only person that noticed) from part 2 was after 2m30s. When 1985 Biff says "a flying Delorean?", and cuts to a scene already showed in the final seconds of the 1st movie.

That repeated scene has a new sound effect added for the 2020 Blu-ray, and UHD/4K (Atmos). If we compare to the 2010 disc, DVDs and Laserdisc, they all use the original mix.

It's even noticeable in this 4K trailer, after 2 minutes:

Back to the Future Part II | Opening Scene in 4K Ultra HD | The Future of 2015 - YouTube

Is anyone interested in putting all original/alternate tracks from the trilogy in the upcoming releases? Probably not, because no one presses Bob Gale and everyone involved to do this.

+++++
Another difference from part 2: after 1h39m30s, when Marty receives the letter, the Western Union Man says:

- We had a little bet to see if this "Marty" would actually be here.

In all releases the audio is OK. Except for the 2020 Blu-ray and UHD/4K. In both, there's a very slight delay before "be here".

Back to the Future 35mm Scan Open Matte - YouTube

What I understand from your post is that from the DVDs onwards, all audios for all three movies: 1) are not the original mixes (even if some of them may be like the original mix in some parts of some of the movies); and 2) are different from each other. Regarding my question, I don't really know but my guess is that the DVDs (5.1) and the 2010 BDs (5.1) share the same (not original) mixes, and the 4Ks (Atmos and its 5.1 core, which should be Atmos downmixed to 5.1) and the remastered BDs (Atmos downmixed to 5.1) share the same (not original) mixes.

[Uptight]

Back to the Future Movie Change - "Marty, you made it!" - YouTube

What is interesting is that the 35mm (from Germany) open-matte copy that is out there for the 1st movie also does not have that change made for the Laserdisc (see above). If that bit was also in the VHS copies, that tells me it was a mistake which was later corrected.

What I realized is that (besides the fact no disc has the original STEREO tracks):

- 3rd movie:

- The DVDs and 2010 Blu-rays use a remix, so the audio was modified for a few sound effects, such as guns firing.

- The 2020 Blu-ray and UHD/4K sound the same as the LASERDISC, meaning they have the original mix. The remix is not bad, though.

- 2nd movie: I always noticed when Strickland fires his shotgun, we had this sound effect modified. And it remains that way for all home video releases, except for the Laserdisc.

And it was not the only change. At 62 minutes, we see the Delorean coming from 1985-A to 1955. The sound effect of the car materializing (the boom that repeats) is absent from the LD. The DVD and 2010 Blu-ray sound a bit stronger than the 2020 Blu/UHD.

- Another odd change for part 2:

- For the 2020 Blu-ray and 4K disc, in the beginning, we see the Delorean going to 2015. It's the same shot from the ending of the 1985 film, but the sound effect was MODIFIED. Just play the same bit in the former releases (DVD, 2010 Blu-ray).

Also:

- "We had a little bet to see if this "Marty" would actually be here".

--- All releases are OK when we hear that line, but in the 2020 Blu and 4K, a slight delay before the Western Union guy says "be here".

There may be other changes, or issues with any of those audio tracks. What is clear to me is that Universal keeps changing stuff, yet does not offer us the whole thing in its original state, or add them PLUS the rest, as alternate tracks.

2025 was another wasted opportunity for fixing the audio, and to add all the Eric Stoltz footage. And calling * ONLY * like that is misleading, because it was not just him. The other actors also appear, and after so many years, there are no talks about releasing it, I hope anything can be recovered with so much delay, and it's not too late.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Uptight

2025 was another wasted opportunity for fixing the audio, and to add all the Eric Stoltz footage. And calling * ONLY * like that is misleading, because it was not just him. The other actors also appear, and after so many years, there are no talks about releasing it, I hope anything can be recovered with so much delay, and it's not too late.

Someone should use A.I. to edit Stoltz into the existing film.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Someone should use A.I. to edit Stoltz into the existing film.

And give him the exact same look he has in Pulp Fiction.

[Uptight]

...Or maybe call Bob on his BS about others poking Eric about him not being as good as Michael J. Fox, if the footage is finally released (here's an idea: put as an easter egg).

He isn't concerned about others being mean if they see it (and stating Eric wasn't fit for the role would be too obvious), what he cares about is not leaking all the shenanigans he did during the production.

It's either that or they are all cheapskates.

[apricissimus]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Someone should use A.I. to edit Stoltz into the existing film.

I want Crispin Glover in parts II and III.

Edit: But in all seriousness, it's damn shame he wasn't a part of the sequels. (I know the whole story behind it, but his absence was a great loss.)

[Uptight]

Originally Posted by apricissimus

I want Crispin Glover in parts II and III.

What many don't realize is that Bob wanted to convey the idea that Crispin was still there. He didn't just use archival footage in part 2, Glover's likeness and techniques to hide that it wasn't him (Jeffrey Weissman acting in full-retard mode).

To this day, there are people that still believe Crispin did the sequels (for part 3, briefly at the end). Not surprisingly, Bob lost the lawsuit and new rules were created (that didn't help, considering everything that came later).

Even if the story about him fighting them about not being paid enough was 100% true, we have to admit what they did was worse. It's also funny the plot of the sequels revolve around money.

In his defense, Crispin says they offered him less than half of what any of the actors that were being asked to come back. I don't buy Bob's side of that story or his excuses to not release the Stoltz footage.

He seems to be the dirtbag here, and it's thanks to him we aren't getting anything valuable. One more thing that most people forget about it, and it would be great to have it, are the isolated tracks for all 3 films.

Or perhaps a good game, kinda like the GTA MODs... if possible, the cartoon in 1080p...

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

Back in theaters starting on October 31 including IMAX:
https://www.fandango.com/back-to-the...movie-overview
https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/b...iversary-81181

Pages for the IMAX release are starting to go up:
https://www.fandango.com/back-to-the...movie-overview
https://www.regmovies.com/movies/ima...ary-ho00019436

Fandango says it will run October 30 to November 6.

[Pieter V]

New 40th Anniversary Edition special features:

• Back to Hill Valley (16 minutes)
• Untold Stories of Back to the Future (36 minutes)
• A Mystery in History (9 minutes)
• 40 Years Later: Reflecting on The Future (24 minutes)
• TCM Classic Film Festival Panel 2025 (15 minutes)

[Dsneybuf]

I hope Movies Anywhere, iTunes, and/or Fandango will also post those (along with other missing extras from the Ultimate Trilogy?), or that the first movie's solo release (if it really improves upon the Ultimate UHD's picture quality) includes them.

[Mattmck99]

Amazon UK and HMV have 40th anniversary steelbook editions up for pre-order, £50 each

BTTF

BTTF II

BTTF III

[dallywhitty]

Nice tat and stuff and yeahno, I'm not spending £150 on these.

[CreasyBear]

Content with my regular set, but props for using the proper poster art.

[MarWellie]

I'll only get all three if they have new transfers. Otherwise, I'll just get Part 1, because it has the new bonus disc.

[TwinCitiesBluFan]

Ooof! I do love these films, but I snagged one of the Ultimate Trilogy 4K sets they did for the 35th anniversary, so I think I'll pass. Looks snazzy though!