Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
The simplicity of plot, and the wide expansiveness of its use of space, are a refreshing change from the convoluted, visually cramped and cluttered second part.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This is a good deal more likable than part two because the product plugs have been held back, and Zemeckis is clearly having fun alluding to his favorite westerns; there's also a certain sweetness and charm in the Lloyd-Steenburgen romance.
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, Time Out
Affectionate, innovative, and vaguely lunatic.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
Except for Mr. Lloyd, the film is so sweet-natured and bland that it is almost instantly forgettable.
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Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Divinely frivolous, nearly perfect fun.
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John Hartl, Film.com
Ties up all the loose ends but runs out of energy and inspiration.
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Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Wild West-themed final installment is fine for older tweens.
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
avoids many of the previous sequel's narrative and logical pitfalls and reengages more successfully with the simple, direct pleasures that made the 1985 original such a hit
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R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD
Back to the Future Part III continues to move the spirit of the series forward in new and exciting directions, and it reaches a satisfying conclusion to the overarching story.
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Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Every bit as confident and slick as its two predecessors; but it is hard to ignore a distinct feeling of deflation.
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Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
It's a lovely, rootin' tootin' cowboy romp with a superbly suspenseful runaway train finale, and an apt closer that permits the excitement to continue on beyond the screen. It was an utter joy in 1990, and again in 2010.
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Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Doc Brown's threatened time paradox is no match for the final installment's dreary life lessons.
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Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
It ain't only the DeLorean that's out of gas.
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, Film4
A fitting end to one of the most enjoyable fantasy series of the 1980s.
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Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
A clever and enjoyable wrapping-up of the time-travelling adventures.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Fttingly the one installment in the trilogy that most resembles an old-fashioned movie, from its lovingly evoked western setting to its charmingly sentimental mood.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A triumphant combination of comedy, science fiction, romance and the Western.
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Overall this is a good time, but the steampunk adventure doesn't thrill us quite as much as the original.
Read all 18 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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Entertaining and well put together but nothing special. Unlike the original entry, "Part III" doesn't warrant a repeat viewing. You watch it once, you're amused and there's no need to watch it again - or remember anything about it.
It's not a bad film,… More
Entertaining and well put together but nothing special. Unlike the original entry, "Part III" doesn't warrant a repeat viewing. You watch it once, you're amused and there's no need to watch it again - or remember anything about it.
It's not a bad film, it's one of the better "Part III" in the grand scheme of things. It's an extraordinary showcase for Christopher Lloyd - and the Western plot works better than "Part II"'s future plot. It could have used a bit more originality. Instead it just takes the earlier films construct and adds Western clichà (C)s to it.
This final installment of the "Back to the Future" trilogy is a good wrap up it just not one that warrants a second watch.
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The final installment of the BTTF trilogy is ultimately a disappointment, but an extremely enjoyable one.
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This last film in the Back to the Future trilogy is the most unrealistic of the three, but the story is much better than Part 2. The whole point here is to have fun, not to be scientifically accurate or believable, so enjoy the crazy ride for what it is.
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In this final installment Marty must make sure that Doc does not get shot in the old wild west in the year 1885 & to make sure that Marty doesn't die as well. They succeed & Doc gets married to Clara Clayton & they have two kids named Jules & Verne after the… More
In this final installment Marty must make sure that Doc does not get shot in the old wild west in the year 1885 & to make sure that Marty doesn't die as well. They succeed & Doc gets married to Clara Clayton & they have two kids named Jules & Verne after the famous writer of 2,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Doc comes back to 1985 as well as Marty & Marty goes back & wakes up Jennifer. This was another good Back To The Future Film :) :) :) :) :)
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Better than second but still doesn't live up to the first. Cool, interesting, and a cool sendoff to the trilogy, and a great production for the movie, Wild West setting was cool, even though I probably would have picked like a cooler era in time.
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Not what I expected from this one, but still liked it. Great series! I would recommend all three if you haven't seen them already.
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Third entry in the Back To The Future trilogy is a Western of time traveling proportions. Though the weakest one of the three, Back To The Future III is still a fun, adventurous ride with Marty McFly and Doc Brown. This third film is filled with an intriguing idea.that has Marty and… More
Third entry in the Back To The Future trilogy is a Western of time traveling proportions. Though the weakest one of the three, Back To The Future III is still a fun, adventurous ride with Marty McFly and Doc Brown. This third film is filled with an intriguing idea.that has Marty and Doc Brown traveling to the Old West in 1885. After the events of part II, Marty McFly travels to a pioneering Hill Valley. For a third film, Back To The Future Part III is a good entry, There are things that could have been done better, but director Robert Zemeckis ends his time traveling saga on a high note. One thing that works well for the film is the change of pace and different atmosphere to the first two. The fact that the film is taking place during 1885 makes it very appealing. You have brand new characters played by the same actors and it adds a lot more flavor to it's story. The film has a good blend of comedy and action, everything you'd expect from a Back To The Future film is here, but it's slightly toned down. The film is still a lot of fun and highly amusing, some people may not enjoy this third entry as much as I did, and it's understandable. Like I've said many times while reviewing trilogies, by the third entry a film franchise can loose its fire. But thats definitely not the case with Back To The Future Part III. Robert Zemeckis has made a fine film thats very funny, action packed with all the usually wacky characters And more. A wonderful finish to one of the best trilogies in cinematic history.
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I don't have a favorite "Back to the Future" film. I find it hard to put them in order from best to worst because they're all just funny, well crafted, exciting films that have an extremely high entertainment value. All great things must come to an end, even… More
I don't have a favorite "Back to the Future" film. I find it hard to put them in order from best to worst because they're all just funny, well crafted, exciting films that have an extremely high entertainment value. All great things must come to an end, even "Back to the Future". Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale end their world-famous franchise in a fine and pleasing manner.
Part 3 puts Doc Brown and Marty McFly back in action as they head to the Old West in the year 1885, one hundred years before the events in the first film. They are there to get rid of the beloved DeLorean. Have you seen how much trouble the time-traveling automobile has put them in? They must also battle Biff's outlaw ancestor, Buford Tannen, and rewrite history along the way. Marty also meets his ancestors.
"BTTFP3" has a completly different feel to it due to the change of the setting. The scripting and story used in this entry make it feel like a loose Old West remake of the first film. The running gags (i.e. "What are you? Chicken?" gag) are changed to go with the setting. Many think that this is the worst in the series but whoever says that can go jump off a cliff. Part 3 is a great film with lots of memorable material.
I actually choose the two sequels over the first film. This is one of the better films in the series yet I still can't say which is the best. I also find the comedy element of the films distracting. Why's that? The plot and structure of the events conveyed in the trilogy can be confusing to me. While I try to figure that out, I get lost in the humor. But the movie is undeniably funny. The ending is very perfect but a bit anticlimatic.
"Back to the Future 3" is just an amazing conclusion to a great series that has an awesome moral: the fate of the future is in our hands. My rating may be too high but thats my opinion, suckas!
"I do my killing before breakfast."
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Did not love this. First one was a classic, second one acceptable, third one don't bother.
I should add that I really hate westerns in general, so that doesn't help my overall impression, but even in spite of that felt that this one is a fail. I really hated the Irish McFly… More
Did not love this. First one was a classic, second one acceptable, third one don't bother.
I should add that I really hate westerns in general, so that doesn't help my overall impression, but even in spite of that felt that this one is a fail. I really hated the Irish McFly family for a start, so stereotypical and cringeable. And I found the schoolteacher uncharismatic (I can't even remember her name, that's how good it was!).
On the plus, most of the original cast returned, although Elisabeth Shue and Lea Thompson are sadly wasted here.
If you like westerns, perhaps you might be more kindly inclined to this, but I personally was not impressed, and the only reason I have rated it this so highly is riding on the good work done on the previous two and the likability of (most) of the cast.
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I really liked the narrative of this one, seeing them in the old western times however it was quite predictable and cheesy with the bit at the end. But this is American.
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Just as good as the two that came before it.
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My least favourite in the trilogy, but good fun nonetheless and highly entertaining. A nice conclusion to one of the best film series ever made.
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Could not have been concluded any better than this. I have been a huge fan of the Back To The Future series, and I actually think that this film matches up to the skills of the second. Back To The Future part III takes a weird turn to the western times, and when trouble comes on the… More
Could not have been concluded any better than this. I have been a huge fan of the Back To The Future series, and I actually think that this film matches up to the skills of the second. Back To The Future part III takes a weird turn to the western times, and when trouble comes on the horizon one last time, Marty McFly and the Doc are back on the job! They need to travel back in time to save the Doc from his sudden death, and return back to the future before the train drives by. It's another brilliant movie. The perfect way to end with the right emotion and fun entertainment! One of the greatest trilogies of all time!
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the first two movies were really great. this movie isnt nearly as good as the first two. its not a bad movie but its not great. C+
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In the past five years or so, Part III has been my favorite because it has the most heart. Doc falls in love, and his and Marty's roles reverse. Mary Steenburgen is the lovely and geeky counterpart to Doc Brown, a man who probably can't find a soul mate in the modern era.… More
In the past five years or so, Part III has been my favorite because it has the most heart. Doc falls in love, and his and Marty's roles reverse. Mary Steenburgen is the lovely and geeky counterpart to Doc Brown, a man who probably can't find a soul mate in the modern era. Now after seeing all three again, I think they're all on an equal plane.
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This was really entertaining!
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After the somewhat messy second film ending in a cliffhanger, the final film of the trilogy gets back on track rather quickly by sticking to the 1885 Western setting for the most part. The references to the original film are still there and it's fun to follow the characters… More
After the somewhat messy second film ending in a cliffhanger, the final film of the trilogy gets back on track rather quickly by sticking to the 1885 Western setting for the most part. The references to the original film are still there and it's fun to follow the characters you've started to love for another adventure. The film is a little slow somewhere in the middle, but the exciting and spectacular finale more than makes up for it and closes the trilogy very satisfyingly. It's still nowhere near the original's league, though.
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3rd in the succession, and the least of the sequels. This one just moves really slow and doesn't seem to be as interesting or exciting as the sequel before it. It definitely has soom good stuff in it and is worthy to be in the series, but it's not my favorite.
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Nowhere near the caliber of parts I & II, but still a fun movie with redeeming qualities. This installment did get a lot more banter between Marty and Doc Brown and some classic moments with Mad Dog Butannen. However, the western plot line was a giant letdown and didn't fit… More
Nowhere near the caliber of parts I & II, but still a fun movie with redeeming qualities. This installment did get a lot more banter between Marty and Doc Brown and some classic moments with Mad Dog Butannen. However, the western plot line was a giant letdown and didn't fit at all.
Read all 20 featured audience ratings
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