# If "Back to The Future" were a thing today, what would be the contrast?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-back-to-the-future-were-a-thing-today-what-would-be-the-contrast/954240>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** movies\
**Created:** [November 12, 2021, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-back-to-the-future-were-a-thing-today-what-would-be-the-contrast/954240 "2021-11-12T11:56:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 28

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**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-back-to-the-future-were-a-thing-today-what-would-be-the-contrast/954240/28 "2021-11-12T16:24:20Z")

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> [@GreenWyvern](#):
>
> You have a tiny device you can carry in your hand, that’s a phone that lets you talk to anyone anywhere in the world… _and_ make video calls… _and_ a camera without film… _and_ a calculator… _and_ a voice recorder… _and_ a music player… _and_ a book reader… _and_ you can film and watch videos… _and_ instantly look up any information you want… _and_ play games?

You could do a nice riff on the scene from the original where Doc marvels over the camcorder by having Marty show him the movie he was recording and then have it turn off because it’s out of battery, and of course Marty has no idea how to make a USB charger, so it’s dead for the rest of the movie.

(from the linked thread)

> [@What if "Back to the Future" took place in 1990?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-back-to-the-future-took-place-in-1990/846461/1):
>
> What would be Doc’s reaction to hearing that Donald Trump was president in 2020?

Could also do a nice variation on the original by having Doc be a cynic and not the least bit surprised by this.

I think the biggest challenge to such a movie is making 2021 Marty cool and capable compared to the kids from the past. 1980s Marty is _cool_ compared to the 50’s kids (particularly his parents, but all of them). He’s in a rock band, he’s capable on a skateboard, he’s independent and scrappy.

When we talk about the cultural changes between the 90s and today, things like “plans are fluid” and “we can contact anyone we want at any time, or have information at our fingertips”… those don’t make you cool compared to the past. You get some fun fish out of water moments when the future kid is without their toys and internet, but that’s not enough.

One plausible avenue you could take is that 2021 Marty is an influencer/youtuber, and uses his film/marketing skills to do something cool. There are lots of teenagers today with filmmaking skills that would rival professionals in the 1990s, and the That’s one way in which someone in modern times could inspire 90s kids to all think he’s the greatest.

> [@Great\_Antibob](#):
>
> Doc: South America? No…we should head to the mall. We can get you clothes while we’re at it. Kids don’t wear such drab colors around here.

Chef’s kiss.

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