The 10 Best Doc Brown Quotes In The Back To The Future Trilogy, Ranked

Dr. Emmett Brown from the Back to the Future franchise was one of the greatest movie characters ever created and was responsible for some of the best quotes in the beloved science fiction series. With an iconic portrayal by Christopher Lloyd, the eccentric and strange Doc Brown invented the DeLorean time machine, assisted Marty McFly in his adventures, and was always on hand for a clever scientific explanation, a hilariously out-of-touch cultural reference, or a fast-thinking, witty quip. Back to the Future would just not be the same without the marvelous genius that was Doc Brown.

With a major role in all three Back to the Future movies, Doc had plenty of memorable quotes throughout the series that ranged from absurdly funny to poignant and insightful. Although Doc often came across as the typical deranged mad scientist type, throughout the series, Doc proved to be a three-dimensional character whose important friendship with Marty gave the films their innate heart. The best Doc Brown quotes truly rank among the greatest movie quotes of all time.

10

“If You’re Gonna Build A Time Machine Into A Car, Why Not Do It With Some Style?”

Back to the Future (1985)

Perhaps the most famous time machine ever, the DeLorean vehicle in the Back to the Future franchise became truly iconic. With a sleek and stylish design, gull-winged doors, and a stainless-steel exterior, the production of this car was short-lived, and despite its cool aesthetic, the DeLorean Motor Company failed and was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1982, and the car was put out of production. While today, the DeLorean has been forever linked with Back to the Future, the car’s troubled production history added extra humor to Doc Brown’s love for the car.

This troubled production history, as well as the company’s founder, John DeLorean, being charged with cocaine smuggling in 1982 (via People), highlighted how out of touch Doc was with current events. Although the car did look incredibly cool, its discontinuation and criminal associations were the reason Marty McFly was so shocked to see that Doc chose this, of all cars, for his machine. However, looking back today, it’s hard to deny Doc’s assertion that if “you’re gonna build a time machine into a car,” then “why not do it with some style?”

9

“If My Calculations Are Correct, When This Baby Hits 88 Miles Per Hour, You’re Gonna See Some Serious S***.”

Back to the Future (1985)

Doc Brown was a true man of science who was always clued to the exact requirements needed to get results throughout all the Back to the Future movies. This was prominently seen in his calculation of how to travel back in time and achieve things that no man before him ever had. This stern, level-headed, and genius mind was also in direct opposition to his manic, over-the-top energy as Doc frantically explained his ingenious plans and occasionally used language that would not normally be expected from a PG movie.

When Doc told Marty McFly that if his “calculations are correct” and once the DeLorean hit “88 miles per hour,” they were going to see “some serious s***,” it was one of this mad scientist’s funniest lines as it was so unexpected. Doc couldn’t help but curse as he passionately showed Marty the vehicle that was about to take off from the Twin Pines Mall car park and go on a journey through time. This was one of Doc’s most memorable lines that highlighted his pride in achieving his life’s work.

8

“Granted, That’s A Worse Case Scenario”

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Although the genius scientist Doc Brown often came across as a deranged man, at his core, he was entirely rational and saw the bigger picture of every situation he was in. In fact, Doc’s thinking was often too broad, as instead of worrying about the issues at hand and how they would affect him and Marty, there were several instances where he shifted his focus to the entire universe. This was especially true in Back to the Future Part II, when Doc pondered the consequences of Marty’s girlfriend, Jennifer, encountering her future self in the year 2015.

In this hilarious quote, Doc stated that the results of that “could be disastrous” and that there were two possibilities: First, she would be in shock and simply pass out, or second, it could “create a time paradox” that “would destroy the entire universe.” However, Doc was quick to point out that this was just a “worst-case scenario” and that it probably would not be that bad. Doc then added, “The destruction might be very localized, limited to our own galaxy.” Well, that’s a comforting relief.

7

“What Idiot Dressed You In That Outfit?”

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

Many of Doc Brown’s funniest lines came from just how out of touch he was, and this was especially true when it came to fashion. After Marty decided that he needed to go back to the year 1885 to save Doc from certain death at the hands of Wild West outlaws, it was the 1955 version of Doc who gave him the clothes he needed to blend in. However, instead of dressing Marty in era-appropriate clothing, he gave him a flamboyant and outrageous pink outfit that ensured he stuck out like a sore thumb the moment he arrived.

As if this wasn’t funny enough, once the 1885 version of Doc saw Marty, he couldn’t help but ask, “What idiot dressed you in that outfit?” Hilariously, Doc did not realize that the idiot he was asking about was actually another version of himself, as, over the past eight months, he learned a lot more about how people living in the Wild West really dressed. However, a nice touch to Marty’s original outfit was that Doc included a symbol of an atom on it with reference to his love of science.

6

“Who’s Vice President? Jerry Lewis?

Back to the Future (1985)

When Marty McFly traveled from 1985 to 1955, there were so many things he could have told Doc Brown that would have shocked him, but the most absurd one was that Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States. Doc could not believe his ears when he asked if Marty meant the actor, as, before his political career, Regan was a well-known movie star who appeared in more than 50 films. Doc dismissed this idea by stating, “Who’s vice president? Jerry Lewis?” in reference to the comedian Jerry Lewis, who acted in some of the biggest comedy movies of the 1950s.

This was not the end of Doc’s dismissal of Reagan’s presidency, as he questioned whether Jane Wyman, the 1950s Academy Award-winning actress, was First Lady or if Jack Benny, the radio and television star, was Secretary of the Treasury. Doc’s shock at Reagan’s presidency gave insight into just how hard it was to believe some future events would be for people in the past. Doc’s hilarious refutation of Marty’s factual statements was a powerful representation of just how separate entertainment stars and politicians were during the 1950s.

5

“The Other Great Mystery Of The Universe: Women!”

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Doc Brown seemed to have just one great love in his life: Science. Without romantic connections, Doc committed himself to uncovering the ways of time travel. But after putting the universe in jeopardy in Back to the Future Part II, Doc was close to giving up and stated he would move on to “the other great mystery of the universe,” which was “women.” This funny quote showcased that Doc’s lack of a female companion was because he could just never quite work out how the opposite sex worked.

However, Doc’s difficulties with love were short-lived, as in Back to the Future Part III, he would finally be with somebody with whom he could spend his life. While living in the Wild West during the year 1885, Doc came across Clara Clayton, and the two formed an instant connection. Although Doc spent so long preaching to Marty about the dangers of messing with the past, it seemed true love conquered all, and Doc even started a family with Clara.

4

“It’s Your Kids, Marty! Something’s Gotta Be Done About Your Kids!”

Back to the Future (1985)

After Marty McFly managed to secure his own existence and travel back to the future from 1955 to his time in 1985, it seemed like all was well, and that was where the adventure would end. However, in the final minutes of Back to the Future, Doc Brown reappeared in his DeLorean with an urgent message that laid the groundwork for Back to the Future Part II. In one of Doc’s most iconic quotes, he told Marty, “It’s your kids,” and that “something’s gotta be done,” which revealed that for Marty and Doc, the adventure had only just begun.

This famous quote from Doc Brown was not only an exciting way to set up a Back to the Future sequel, but it showcased just how exciting and unpredictable a character Doc Brown was. Doc’s genius and incredible adventures behind the scenes meant that anything was possible in the Back to the Future franchise and that even when it seemed the day had been saved, Doc was sure to appear with new, more over-the-top issues that must be addressed. While this meant Doc would be a pain to know in real life, it also made him the most important character in the franchise.

3

“Great Scott!”

The Back to the Future Trilogy (1985 – 1990)

Although it’s Doc Brown’s most famous phrase, and he shouted it countless times throughout the Back to the Future franchise, it was not immediately obvious what exactly he was referring to when Doc exclaimed, “Great Scott!” This iconic phrase has entered popular culture and will forever be associated with Christopher Llyod’s portrayal of Dr. Emmet Brown, as it contributed to his unique sense of identity. Doc frequently used it whenever he was surprised, and it would mean both good and bad things.

The reason Doc Brown shouted “Great Scott!” was because he needed a catchphrase, and this was one that was much more common in the 1950s and made sense considering Doc’s outdated cultural understandings. “Great Scott!” originally referred to Winfield Scott, an army general who later campaigned to be President of the United States. Despite its historical origins, the term has now become intrinsically linked to Doc and Back to the Future.

2

“Roads? Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads…”

Back to the Future (1985)

After Doc Brown reappeared in 1985 to tell Marty McFly he needed to come to the future with him, it seemed like there was just one issue: Doc didn’t have enough road to make it to the 88mph needed to time travel in the DeLorean. But Doc immediately dismissed this with the now iconic phrase, “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” Then, in one of the most exciting movie moments of the 1980s, the DeLorean took the sky and flew through the air as the groundwork had been laid for the sequel Back to the Future Part II.

Although the second installment in the Back to the Future series would answer all the questions audiences had about Marty’s kids and what happened next, this standalone moment was powerful in and of itself. As Doc put on his incredible silver glasses and they took to the sky, the character has never looked cooler or more confident, and for this reason, this quote has stood the test of time. This moment showed there was even more to Doc Brown’s genius than viewers had initially seen.

1

“Your Future Hasn’t Been Written Yet. No One’s Has.”

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

As Back to the Future Part III came to an end, it looked like the story of Doc Brown was going to conclude on a somewhat downbeat note as Marty McFly accepted that he would never see his close friend again. However, just when viewers least expected it, Doc appeared in a giant locomotive steam-powered time machine with his wife Clara and two kids named Jules and Verne. Through Marty’s shock at seeing that Doc had been traveling through time, Doc gave his greatest quote which summed up the message of the entire Back to the Future franchise.

Doc told Marty and Jennifer that the “future hasn’t been written yet,” that “no one’s has,” and that the future was “whatever you make it.” This powerful piece of philosophy from Doc was an insightful decree of a people’s ability to take charge of their own destiny. After three movies of Doc worrying about interfering with the space-time continuum and ensuring everything went according to a pre-determined plan, he was now ready to embrace uncertainty and told Marty and Jennifer to simply make sure their future was “a good one.”

Sources: People