What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBack to the Future
Robert Zemeckis · Film · 1985
If you loved Back to the Future, start with Dragon Ball Z (1989) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Back to the Future across media.
What hooked you in Back to the Future is the way high-stakes, reality-bending chaos remains grounded in relatable, personal, and often comedic dynamics.
Books on the same thread
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
Explores: Existentialism, Bureaucracy, The Absurd.
Like the frantic energy of Back to the Future, this story pairs an ordinary person with an eccentric partner to navigate absurd, cosmic-scale disasters with sharp, irreverent humor.
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien · Book · 1937
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Courage, The Hero's Journey.
You will enjoy this journey because it captures that same feeling of an unlikely hero being thrust into a perilous, world-altering quest, just as Marty experienced in Back to the Future.
1984
George Orwell · Book · 1949
Explores: Totalitarianism, Surveillance, Thought Control.
While darker than Back to the Future, both stories explore how an individual struggles to maintain their personal identity and love against the overwhelming influence of a rigid, controlling environment.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
Similar to the way Marty McFly attempts to rewrite his family history, this story centers on the desperate, tragic lengths one man goes to in order to recapture a lost past.
Series on the same thread
Dragon Ball Z
Series · 1989
Explores: Good vs Evil, Protecting Earth, Transformations.
If the stakes of preventing a disaster in Back to the Future kept you invested, you will appreciate how this series focuses on protecting Earth from existential threats through constant action.
Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon · Series · 2013
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Existentialism, Dark Humor.
This series mirrors the intergenerational dynamic found in Back to the Future, placing a reluctant, ordinary youth alongside a brilliant but dangerous mentor for chaotic, reality-spanning adventures.
Samurai Jack
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2001
Shares a thread with Back to the Future: Fish Out of Water.
This story shares the fish-out-of-water premise of Back to the Future, following a hero displaced in time who must navigate a jarring, unfamiliar world to set things right.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Gene Roddenberry · Series · 1987
Explores: Exploration, Diplomacy, Moral Dilemmas.
Just as the characters in Back to the Future face complex dilemmas while navigating the unknown, this series explores how a crew manages moral challenges while exploring new, expansive worlds.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
This podcast captures the same sense of group dynamics and comedic high adventure found in Back to the Future, perfect for those who enjoy watching characters navigate perilous, improvised situations.
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
Much like the core conceit of Back to the Future, this series uses the act of turning back time to uncover hidden truths and resolve long-standing, unresolved mysteries.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Back to the Future?
In the 1985 film Back to the Future, Marty McFly accidentally travels back to 1955 using a time-traveling DeLorean. Once there, he must intervene to ensure that his parents fall in love to preserve his own existence.
Who directed Back to the Future?
The 1985 movie Back to the Future was directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film follows the story of Marty McFly as he navigates the year 1955 after an accidental trip in a time-traveling DeLorean.
Is Back to the Future a time travel story?
Yes, Back to the Future is a story centered on time travel. The plot involves Marty McFly traveling from his original time to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean, where he encounters his parents and must facilitate their meeting.
When was Back to the Future released?
Back to the Future was released in 1985. The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, depicts the journey of Marty McFly as he travels to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean and works to ensure his parents fall in love.