Michael J. Foxmay have become a household name thanks to Back to the Future, but he says the real credit belongs to the fans. 40 years after the beloved sci-fi classic first hit theaters, Fox is opening up about why the film continues to resonate — and how its timeless message, along with the support of audiences, has helped guide him through life’s biggest challenges.
In an interview with Good Morning America on Friday, October 10, Fox shared why he believes the movie still holds weight today.
“It’s about bullies,” he explained. “It’s about standing up to bullies. We live in a really bully culture right now. And I think there’s something about that. There’s something about seeing the little guy stick up to bullies that people love.”
He continued, “I think there’s also something about time and about family and about what we mean to each other.”
When Back to the Future premiered in 1985, few could have predicted it would become one of the most iconic films of all time. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie was made on a $19 million budget and went on to gross nearly $389 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.
Its success launched a full-fledged franchise, including two sequels (Back to the Future Part II and Part III), an animated TV series, a Broadway musical adaptation, multiple video games and even a theme park ride at Universal Studios.
It’s no surprise that Back to the Future, and its leading star, have remained fan favorites for decades. But for Fox, the real reward comes from meeting people who share how much the film has meant to them. Those moments, he says, give him the chance “to give people something.”
“They’re giving me something,” he said. “They’re giving me something for 30, 40 years. They’ve given me my life. They’ve given me my joy in the work that I do and I’m forever grateful to people for that.”
Although Back to the Future remains his most iconic role, Fox has built a career full of memorable performances. He starred in The American President and Doc Hollywood, voiced beloved characters like Stuart Little and Milo Thatch (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) and captivated TV audiences as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties and Mike Flaherty in Spin City.
Over the years, Fox has gradually stepped back from taking on new projects. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 29, he’s learned to take things one day at a time.
In his 2020 memoir, No Time Like the Future, Fox reflected on how his condition changed his relationship with acting.
“There is a time for everything, and my time of putting in a twelve-hour workday and memorizing seven pages of dialogue is best behind me… I’m entering a second retirement.”
Yet, Fox hasn’t fully stepped away. He’s now set to appear in Shrinking on Apple TV+, marking his first on-screen role since 2020’s The Good Fight.
“I’m always retiring,” he recently told People.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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