The box office saw an unexpected boost as a beloved classic returned to theaters. After several underperforming new releases, Back to the Future surged ahead with its 40th anniversary rerelease. The time-travel adventure not only drew strong crowds but also climbed into a coveted spot among America’s top-grossing films.
Back to the Future becomes part of a coveted list following rerelease
Universal Pictures’ Back to the Future has joined the list of the 200 highest-grossing films in U.S. box office history after its 40th anniversary re-release.
The 1985 sci-fi classic earned $4.9 million from 2,290 theaters over the weekend. This pushed its domestic total to $220 million and worldwide revenue to $393 million. The milestone places the film at #200 on the all-time domestic box office chart, surpassing Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which previously held the spot (via Collider).
The rerelease arrived during one of the weakest box office periods in recent years, as titles like The Smashing Machine and Tron: Ares underperformed. Despite the slump, Back to the Future proved its lasting appeal. It grossed $1.54 million on Friday, $1.9 million on Saturday, and $1.45 million on Sunday (via Box Office Mojo).
The film’s domestic share accounted for 86.3% of its $5.68 million worldwide weekend earnings, with international markets contributing $780,247. Distributed by Universal Pictures International (UPI), the rerelease opened on October 31, 2025, across 2,290 theaters in the U.S.
Originally released on July 3, 1985, the Robert Zemeckis-directed film stars Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown. Produced on a $19 million budget, it became one of Universal’s most enduring successes, spawning two sequels and a theme park attraction. The 40th-anniversary edition, running 1 hour and 56 minutes, was screened in adventure, comedy, and sci-fi categories.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus reads: “Inventive, funny, and breathlessly constructed, Back to the Future is a rousing time-travel adventure with an unforgettable spirit.” Four decades later, the film continues to captivate audiences and now officially stands among America’s top 200 highest-grossing films of all time.