When it comes to classic movies, few are as beloved as Back to the Future. The 1985 hit movie, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Michael J. Fox, follows the story of Marty McFly, a high school student from 1985 who accidentally gets sent back in time to 1955 and must return to the present day with the help of a mad scientist.
One of the most iconic scenes from Back to the Future is when Marty visits a movie theater in 1955 and sees an advertisement for an upcoming science fiction flick called “Monster from Mars” – a movie that would never be released in real life.
The scene was filmed at the now-defunct Holiday Twin Drive-In Theater in Fort Collins, Colorado. The theater was open from 1949 until its closure in 1988, and at one point had six screens and more than 2,000 parking spots.
While filming Back to the Future in 1984, director Robert Zemeckis chose the Holiday Twin Drive-In Theater because it was still operational at that time and had a classic 1950s drive-in feel. For authenticity purposes, he also chose an actual movie that was playing at that theater during filming – Revenge of the Creature, a 1955 horror/sci-fi film about a giant mutant creature created by scientists.
The real-life movie poster seen in Back to the Future can still be found on display at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Back to the Future ride.
Conclusion:
The movie playing at the theater in Back to the Future is Revenge of the Creature from 1955 – a horror/sci-fi film about a giant mutant creature created by scientists. This film was chosen by director Robert Zemeckis for authenticity purposes and can still be seen today on display at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Back to the Future ride.