Back to the Future

Stereotypes Muslims and Arabs as terrorists when a group of men called "the Libyans," dressed in skullcaps and keffiyeh, use assault rifles and a rocket launcher to attack White characters. A group of Black male musicians helps Mart, but they're also depicted as scary as they intimidate a White teen, who runs off and calls them "reefer addicts." In a more positive but still token role, a Black man is the mayor of Hill Valley.

In an early scene, an attack includes automatic weapon fire and what appears to be a significant fatal shooting. Other sequences include suspenseful car and skateboard chases, a character threatened by a shotgun, some perilous scenes involving a tall clock tower, and punches thrown between high school kids. Bullying is a significant theme. A classmate initiates an off-camera assault on a high school girl; she struggles/expresses fear, and groping is implied. Someone intervenes before things go further, but it's an upsetting sequence. Perched in a tree, a boy spies through a girl's window as she undresses.

A few kisses and embraces; flirting. A teen girl is shown undressing down to her bra and underwear. Teen crushes are a key part of the story, with Marty becoming the object of affection of the girl who will grow up to become his mother.

Occasional swearing includes "damn," "butthead," "s--t," "ass," "a--hole," "son of a bitch," "hell," "bastards," and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation). In the 1950s-set scenes, a few racial epithets are used by the baddies, including "Irish bug" and "spook," and a mayor is referred to as "colored."

In one scene, two underage teens briefly experiment with a small bottle of whiskey and a cigarette. Adults drink beer and vodka at dinner. A drunk man sleeps on a park bench. Reference to "reefer."

Parents need to know that Back to the Future is a 1980s time-travel favorite that includes scenes in which main character Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and his friends are in physical jeopardy. A classmate initiates a mostly off-camera (but still upsetting) assault on a high school girl, there's a violent attack in which a key character is thought to have been shot to death, a van chases a teen on a skateboard, and more. There are also several episodes of bullying. While the violence is exaggerated and closer in tone to cartoon jeopardy than real danger, some kids will no doubt find it tense. Several scenes show Marty's discomfort when the girl who will eventually be his mother tries to kiss and embrace him. Expect strong language, including a couple of memorable uses of "s--t," as well as "bastards," "damn," "a--hole," and a couple of racial slurs in the 1950s-set scenes. The movie also stereotypes Muslims and Arabs as terrorists. It's worth noting that this film raised public awareness of the concept of product placement, with controversy arising from the near-constant visuals of Pepsi products and other brands.

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