Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen

Marty McFly drives into the Old West to rescue Doc, whose blossoming romance makes him reluctant to return, from the clutches of the villainous Tannen Gang.

Flixster Users

74% liked it

478,327 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

35 critics

PG, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Release Date: May 25, 1990

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DVD Release Date: December 17, 2002

Stats: 22,358 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (22,358)


  • October 12, 2006
    It's everything you loved about the first movie mixed together with the fun of the classic 1950's western. Entertaining, action-packed, and funny.
  • September 18, 2009
    Every film should have a ZZ Top cameo in it! It gets a bit schmaltzy towards the end but this is a good finish to a classic trilogy.
  • August 22, 2009
    It was alright... not the best, but okay.
  • July 18, 2009
    This is the weakest in the trilogy for me, buts that cos I dont really like westerns. The look is well done and the idea again is really cool, the continuity is sooo good in this trilogy. Its still very exciting and probably funnier than the previous two but it lacks the punch. T...( read more)he story ties up nicely here and you are left wanting a fourth, the films are that good.
  • April 1, 2009
    Doc: Marty, you're going to have to do something about those clothes. You walk around town dressed like that, you're liable to get shot.
    Marty McFly: Or hanged.
    Doc: What idiot dressed you in that outfit?
    Marty McFly: You did.

    While this film stands as the weakest of the three ...( read more)and even I underrate it, the fact is that its still quite fun.

    This final chapter picks up, once again, right where the last left off. Marty soon learns of Doc's whereabouts in the past and decides he must go back to 1885 to save him (that just takes good character).

    So now, back in the old west, the plot leads to Marty and Doc having to find a way to get the Delorean (with an empty gas tank) up to a high enough speed to finally return to the present and destroy the machine so they can't mess up time anymore.

    What is added this time around is a shift from the McFly family squabbles to a romance involving the Doc and a women named Clara, played by Mary Steenburgen. And of course, and encounter with Biff's great great grandpappy, a local outlaw.

    Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen: Then let's finish it, right now!
    Buford's Gang Member #1: Uh, not now, Buford. Uh, Marshal's got our guns.
    Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen: Like I said, we'll finish this tomorrow.
    Buford's Gang Member #2: Tomorrow, we're robbin' the Pine City Stage.
    Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen: What about Monday? Are we doin' anything Monday?
    Buford's Gang Member #1: Uh, no, Monday'd be fine. You can kill him on Monday.
    Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen: I'll be back this way on Monday! We'll settle this then... right there... out in the street... in front of the Palace Saloon!
    Marty McFly: Yeah, right. When? High noon?
    Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen: Noon? I do my killin' before breakfast! Seven o'clock!
    Marty McFly: Eight o'clock. I do my killin' after breakfast!

    The shift to the old west doesn't seem to present a particular problem, but something about this movie does seem to be lost in the translation. The time travel logic is still present but less important and less fun to think about. The film is well made and even includes a number of signature western cliches.

    However, there is still a lot of fun to be had and it does provide a satisfying end to the Back to the Future saga.

    [Doc Brown and Marty are hijacking a train]
    Doc: Reach!
    Engineer: Is this a holdup?
    Doc: It's a science experiment!
  • November 7, 2009
    I loved the special effects and the different times that he traveled too! Very futuristic!
  • November 5, 2009
    My second favorite of the trilogy.
  • November 3, 2009
    La trilogia es legendaria. Es de esas que no te cansas nunca de verlas!
  • November 3, 2009
    Almost as good as the first.
  • October 31, 2009
    You love the characters but it just doesn't hold the same class as the previous films.

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Makes a few bows in the direction of time-travel complexities, and then settles down to be a routine Western comedy. full review

View more Back to the Future Part III reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • thedoctor2k7
    May 30, 2008
    i luv these films and i like the fact that it all takes place in one day so when the first one ends the second one begins and the same fo that one
  • mariefuller80
    April 14, 2008
    Not as good as the first and second film but it's thrilling, funny and very exciting.
  • rainbowsaur
    February 25, 2008
    these films are SO intense the first time you watch them :O
  • chaotix567
    March 11, 2007
    This whole series is so damned great! I especially love the advice that Doc gives Marty in the end, "Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one!" Three cheers to the cast and crew for making these great movies! Hip-hip-hurray! Hip-hip-hurray! Hip-hip-hurray!
  • sarness
    October 8, 2006
    The best one was the 2 one. I liked every of them any way hehe

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Back to the Future Part III Trivia


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