Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the iconic film “Back to the Future” is being honored with an exclusive sneak peek from Collider, delving into the storied history of Hill Valley’s clock tower. This landmark, famously situated in Universal’s Courthouse Square, became inextricably linked to the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown. The featurette reveals how Universal had to adapt and re-dress the set for subsequent productions to avoid instantly evoking the film’s distinctive imagery. Viewers will gain insight through archival materials, original build sketches, and fresh commentary, tracing the clock tower’s evolution from 1955 to 1985 and beyond.

The clock tower holds a pivotal place in cinematic history, being the site of one of its most memorable moments: November 12, 1955. On this date, Marty McFly harnessed a bolt of lightning to power the DeLorean to 88 mph, propelling him back to the future. This visually striking event remains an unforgettable highlight in motion pictures.

To commemorate this significant milestone, Universal is releasing “The Back to the Future – 40th Anniversary 4K Trilogy Steelbook Gift Set.” This Amazon exclusive set, priced at $149.99, is scheduled to ship in October 2025. It includes 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and digital versions of all three films. The set features a unique clock-inspired Steelbook design, a nod to the DeLorean’s time readout display. Additionally, it contains a replica Gibson guitar, a numbered certificate, a lenticular photo, and prop-style memorabilia, such as a “Jaws 12” poster and a “Biff Dollar.” For those interested in the films without the additional extras, individual 4K UHD Steelbooks (including Blu-ray and digital) will also be available in October 2025, priced between $29.99 and $34.99 each.

The “Back to the Future” trilogy, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Emmett Brown, achieved remarkable success, grossing $964 million worldwide. The first film earned an Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing, while “Part II” received a Best Visual Effects nomination. Despite the prevalence of reboots in Hollywood, writer Bob Gale has consistently stated that the films are “just fine the way it is,” a sentiment echoed by Steven Spielberg, who is not looking to remake them. Therefore, this anniversary release, along with the deep dive into the clock tower, serves to celebrate the existing legacy rather than attempting to reinvent it. The original film was released on July 3, 1985, with a runtime of 116 minutes, directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. Producers included Bob Gale, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and Neil Canton, leading to sequels “Back to the Future Part II” and “Back to the Future Part III.”

Fans are encouraged to keep an eye on Collider for more first-look clips and packaging photos as the release date approaches. As the films famously proclaimed, “Roads? Where we’re going, you’ll want shelf space.”