‘Back to the Future’ in 4DX Is a Truly Hilarious, Additive Experience

I thought it was broken. As  Back to the Future started in 4DX last night, nothing was happening. We were all just sitting there, watching the movie. No movement, no flashes, no water, just stillness and silence. Marty McFly then arrived at Doc Brown’s lab, hooked into his amplifier, and when he hit that high note, we all got rocked in our chairs right on cue. It was then I knew, “Oh. This is going to be really great.”

This weekend, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the best films ever made, Universal has re-released Back to the Future in theaters. It’s playing in multiple premium formats such as Dolby, IMAX, and D-Box, but I sought out the 4DX version. The reason is that I’ve seen the film in a theater before. Even IMAX, as awesome as it is, is just that, but bigger and louder. What I had never done, though, was watch the whole movie like a theme park ride and, having seen Back to the Future probably 100 times, that felt like the right way to see it again.

For those who may not be aware, 4DX is a system that basically turns the whole theater into a physical experience. The seats move, poke you in the back, and spray water at you. There are smoke effects, strobe lights, smells, you name it. It’s not for everyone (one couple got up and walked out during the trailers last night) and, if done poorly, can be a truly unpleasant experience. But, when it’s done right, it’s really, really fun. And after seeing what Universal did in 4DX for its 50th anniversary re-release of Jaws a few months back, I knew the powers that be would not disappoint.

That belief was confirmed with the restraint in the film’s opening. Like the movie, the 4DX waited until just the right moment to surprise you with the big explosion Marty experiences. It added to the film. Made you feel like you were in it with him. And things continued from there with glorious results.

I won’t, and probably couldn’t, run down everything that the 4DX did through Back to the Future, but I’ll give a few examples. Obviously, when Marty is on his skateboard, you slowly rock around in the seat. You dance along to musical sequences. When the DeLorean skids out in the parking lot, the seat kind of mimics a twist or turn. Lights at the top of the theater flash brightly when the Flux Capacitor kicks in. And smoke puffs up from the front when the time machine crashes.

But it’s never too much. When the movie is quiet, the 4DX is quiet. And that’s why it’s such a blast. I’ve seen 4DX movies that never stop moving. Every time a character takes a step, you move. Your seat rumbles every time you’re in a car. That’s not how the format is best used. It’s best used in more carefully thought-out amounts and, ideally, with something you have already seen. In fact, I don’t think I’d ever want to see a movie I’ve never seen before in this format first. It’s much better suited to classics like this, providing a new experience you can’t get at home.

There’s more. You get a jolt when Lorraine touches “Calvin’s” leg. When Biff and his goons crashed into the manure truck, I was expecting some kind of smell, but that didn’t happen. Or did it? Maybe I was just projecting, but there was definitely a tiny twinge of something in the air. Nothing too powerful, thankfully, but just… something. One of my favorite subtle moments, though, took place near the end of the film as Marty is in the car with Lorraine outside the dance. He sees her start to smoke and does a spit take. At this point, things have been relatively quiet for a few minutes (as you’d imagine with two characters sitting in a car), but when he spits, the seat in front of you hits you with a little mist. I loved that.

And while there are all manner of cool, little moments like that, when Back to the Future “really cooks,” it really cooks. This is especially true in those DeLorean chase sequences where you move and shake like you’re trying to hit 88 miles per hour with Doc and Marty. The lights flash, smoke swirls, and the crowd in my theater laughed and cheered the effects, leaving everyone with a big smile on their faces.

Again, 4DX isn’t for everyone. If you get motion sickness or have problems with flashing lights, do not do this. But if you are someone who loves a good theme park ride, has seen Back to the Future a million times, and is looking for something a little new, I can’t recommend the 4DX experience enough. It finds a perfect, additive balance that beautifully complements the magic that Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, and the team created back in good ol’ 1985.

To get tickets to see the Back to the Future re-release, visit this link. But remember, 4DX is only available in select locations, so be sure to check which format you are buying. A full list of 4DX theaters can be found here.

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