Movies

Why Back to the Future Part II’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Shockingly Falls Short

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In movie history, “Back to the Future Part II” is well-known as part of a highly popular trilogy, but it has an unexpectedly low rating on Rotten Tomatoes due to several factors. Generally speaking, it’s widely agreed that the 1985 original film is superior among the “Back to the Future” movies. When it comes to the sequels, opinions vary. Both films are generally regarded as strong continuations of the original, with memorable scenes for any dedicated fan to appreciate.

While it’s widely accepted that the original “Back to the Future” outshines its sequels, leading to the non-production of “Back to the Future 4”, all three movies are still frequently hailed as one of the greatest trilogies in cinematic history. However, it might be unexpected to some that “Back to the Future Part II” received a relatively low critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, prompting discussions about its merits.

Back To The Future Part II’s Tomatometer Score Is Surprisingly Low, Given The Trilogy’s Popularity

​​​​​​Back To The Future 2 Is The Worst-Ranked In The Trilogy

It’s quite astonishing, given its widespread acclaim, that Back to the Future Part II only managed a 63% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience rating soars at an impressive 86%. This is particularly surprising since critics usually give it a “Fresh” rating, yet the second installment barely makes the cut. This discrepancy between the critical and audience reception could be due to the immense popularity of the Back to the Future trilogy as a whole and the positive reviews given to the other two movies in the series.

In a nutshell, the original “Back to the Future” film enjoys a 93% positive critical rating, whereas the third installment was favored by 79% of critics. The evaluation for “Back to the Future Part II” appears to be the lowest among the three movies. Despite this, “Back to the Future” is frequently singled out as one of the greatest movie trilogies ever made. Unlike other highly-acclaimed series such as “Star Wars”, “Toy Story”, “Lord of the Rings”, or “The Dark Knight”, the “Back to the Future” trilogy stands out due to one film that is generally considered weaker compared to its counterparts, which can seem somewhat paradoxical given its widespread appeal.

What Critics Said About Back To The Future Part II Upon Release

Back To The Future 2 Had Several Drawbacks According To Critics

Considering the surprisingly low critical acclaim for “Back to the Future Part II,” it’s interesting to delve into the reasons behind this response. When the movie first came out, the main criticism seems to have been that the narrative was overly complex. The original “Back to the Future” stood out due to its simplicity, effectively presenting a time-travel plot in an understandable way. In contrast, “Back to the Future Part II” added another timeline, 2015, and multiple versions of the same character, which may have contributed to the perception of complexity.

The plot twists in Back to the Future Part II made it necessary for Doc Brown to clarify multiple storylines to the audience at some point, demonstrating the movie’s complex nature. Additionally, many felt that the film was too dark when it initially came out, a sentiment fueled by Lorraine being coerced into marrying Biff and George McFly’s death. Given these grim elements and its dramatic cliffhanger, Back to the Future Part II faced mixed reviews upon release.

Back To The Future Part II Isn’t As Good As The Original, But It’s Not A 63% Movie

Back To The Future 2 Deserves Slightly Better

It’s reasonable to contend that the rating of 63% given to “Back to the Future Part II” may be too low, considering its merits. While it’s true that it doesn’t quite match the brilliance of the 1985 original, its score seems to suggest it’s just an average film at best. On Rotten Tomatoes, a movie is considered “Fresh” if it scores 59% or higher, meaning “Back to the Future Part II” was close to being labeled as a generally poor film based on critical reviews. Anyone who has watched “Back to the Future Part II” would likely argue that this assessment doesn’t quite do justice to the movie.

Despite some noticeable flaws, “Back to the Future Part II” undeniably has much to appreciate. Given the audience’s response since its debut, it can be said to be equally enjoyable as “Back to the Future Part III.” A critical evaluation of around 75-80% seems reasonable for both sequels, with a score of 63% being excessively low. It’s fortunate that the entire trilogy is still highly respected, so the relatively low critical rating of “Back to the Future Part II” doesn’t diminish the overall series as a whole.

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2025-04-25 16:57

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