Michael J. Fox Shares ‘Back to the Future’ Secret

Michael J. Fox has a big secret as to why Back to the Future still resonates with film fans.

In an interview with Empire Online, Fox discussed the reasons he believes the movie remains a cultural touchstone, 40 years after its release. He claims its story of “resilience and courage” continues to affect viewers.

“We live in a bully culture right now. We have bullies everywhere,” Fox began.

“In this movie, Biff (Thomas F. Wilson) is a bully. Time is a bully. For me personally, Parkinson’s is a bully. And it’s all about how you stand up to them and the resolve that you take into the fight with them. It’s about your resilience and your courage.”

He concluded, “I think there’s a lot to that right now. I think a lot of people are responding to the movie because it strikes chords they wouldn’t otherwise recognize.”

Additionally, Fox praised the film in an excerpt from his book Future Boy, as republished by Woman’s World, “I’ll never do something on that scale again, so I finally appreciate Back to the Future for what it really is: a near-perfect movie.”

‘Back to the Future’ celebrated

On October 21, Back to the Future fans celebrate a day devoted to honoring the message of the beloved Steven Spielberg film. Back to the Future Day honors the date Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) traveled to in Back to the Future Part II (1989).

In the film, Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel from 1985 to October 21, 2015, in their iconic DeLorean time machine. They find themselves in a futuristic world complete with flying cars, hoverboards, and self-lacing sneakers.

For nearly three decades after the film’s release, Back to the Future fans eagerly anticipated the arrival of October 21, 2015. When that date finally arrived, it sparked a celebration of the movie’s legacy.

Back to the Future continues to be honored each year on this unofficial holiday. It remains a day for fans to revisit the classic film and celebrate its enduring themes of adventure, friendship, imagination, and optimism for the future.

Michael J. Fox is currently promoting his new memoir, Future Boy, while preparing for his return to acting in the upcoming season of Apple TV+’s Shrinking. Beyond his work on screen, he remains deeply committed to Parkinson’s research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.