Skip to main content

Watch: Marty McFly and Doc travel to the real 2015 in this dark animated parody

Back To The Future In ACTUAL 2015
We’re fast approaching the date when Marty McFly and his time-traveling pal Doc made the trip from 1985 to the year 2015, and it goes without saying that the real version of 2015 isn’t exactly how Back to the Future II director Robert Zemeckis pictured it. Not only is there a disappointing lack of consumer level hoverboards (though we’re getting closer), we’re also lacking the convenience of self-lacing sneakers. (The Cubs still have a shot at the World Series, though, which might be the most surprising similarity between the film’s version of 2015 and reality.)

This new animated short created by College Humor explores the likely result of Marty and Doc traveling to the 2015 we’re living in right now, and let’s just say it gets a little, well … dark.

In the short, Marty and Doc arrive in 2015 and discover that no, we haven’t replaced fossil fuels with garbage-powered “Mr. Fusion” engines (or more plausible solutions, for that matter), and instead of self-lacing sneakers, we’re stuck with Crocs, among other sad revelations. Even the Cubs’ presence in the postseason is tainted, as Marty learns.

Not only does the short nail some of the big political and cultural problems of 2015, but it also does a pretty spot-on job of ridiculing current fashion trends that — even when compared to the weird wardrobe of Back to the Future II — seem a little silly.

Still, even a little cold water thrown on the imagined future of Back to the Future II shouldn’t temper fans’ excitement for the original film’s anniversary this year — and the big day coming up. October 21 (the actual day Marty and Doc touched down in the future) will still be “Back to the Future Day,” and there are all kinds of events marking the occasion for fans.

Thus far, we’ve seen Universal Pictures release a faux Jaws 19 trailer, and Pepsi produce a futuristic “Pepsi Perfect” to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Back to the Future. Heck, it could be argued that the Cubs’ current run is just another way to celebrate the film — how else can it be explained?

Honestly, though, we still really want those BTF II hoverboards.

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
The best animated movies on Netflix right now
A cat points a bat at another cat in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

While Nimona has been the big Netflix original animated film of the summer, it's far from the only addition to the lineup. Netflix is making sure that animation fans are well served in August with the first two Despicable Me movies, Bee Movie, and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. However, Netflix's biggest recent addition is one of 2022's biggest animated hits: DreamWorks' Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Netflix's deals with Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks Animation, and Universal Pictures have given it a powerhouse library of animated films. And that's before we even get into Netflix's impressive originals like The Sea Beast. To help you keep track of what's new and what you can stream right now, we've updated our list of the best animated movies on Netflix.

Read more
From Barbarella to Howard the Duck: the 7 cheesiest sci-fi movies ever
Howard the Duck in "Howard the Duck."

The science-fiction genre has a vast smorgasbord of cheesy films stretching way back to the early days of cinema. Such pictures are known for their weird stories, unrealistic dialogue, low-budget productions, and exaggerated acting.

While many of these films have been panned by critics and audiences alike, some of them have garnered success for being "so bad, they're good." Whether or not they have been held up by a dedicated fan base, these seven movies stand out as the cream of the cheesy sci-fi crop.
Flash Gordon (1980)

Read more
10 best Batman stories ever, ranked
Batman Year One cover

Bounding from rooftop to rooftop, the Dark Knight never misses his mark. He operates like a well-oiled machine tracking bad guys, beating them to a bloody pulp, and throwing them in the slammer - or Arkham Asylum should they be anyone of Gotham's notable supervillains. As the brainchild of Bob Kane and Bill Finger, an artist and writer duo, Batman has been pounding the pavement of Gotham ever since his debut in Detective Comics in 1939. He's undergone a number of changes since his original conception ultimately becoming the brooding powerhouse we know today.

Most understand the basic tenants of Batman these days. His parents were murdered before his young eyes leading him down this path of personal vindication and pursuit of justice. Batman, in most iterations, never resorts to killing -- the one crime that separates his outlaw vigilante operations from the real criminals. Of course, it wasn't always that way. In Batman's earliest days, he had no qualms about ending the lives of baddies on the streets. Even now, some stories and films like Tim Burton's gothic take on the character depict him looking on with cold and uncaring glares as criminals meet their end. Regardless, Batman is mostly a well-established hero simply seeking justice and there are countless stories of the Caped Crusader. Let's take a look at the best among them.
10. Hush

Read more