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Christopher Lloyd Reveals His Favorite ‘Back to the Future’ Movie, and Fans May Be Surprised

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Few movie characters are as instantly recognizable as Doc Brown. With his wild white hair, wide eyes, and unforgettable cry of “Great Scott!”, Christopher Lloyd turned the eccentric inventor into one of pop culture’s most beloved figures across the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy.

Lloyd has been looking back on that legacy a lot lately. His memoir, ‘In My Own Time’, was released this week, around his 88th birthday. Published by Grand Central Publishing, it covers everything from his childhood in Connecticut and early theater days in New York to his work on ‘Taxi’, ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and, of course, Hill Valley’s favorite scientist.

While promoting the book, Lloyd finally settled a question fans have debated for decades. Asked which film in the trilogy he likes best, he didn’t choose the original. He picked ‘Back to the Future Part III’. “It’s a western… and Doc had a romance, I think it’s the only film I’ve ever had a romance… that was great,” Lloyd said on TODAY, explaining why the third chapter stands out for him.

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It’s a sweet admission from an actor best known for playing oddballs, villains and mad scientists. For Lloyd, the chance to show Doc’s softer, romantic side clearly made that film special.

Lloyd’s love for the final film comes with one lingering regret, which he shares in the memoir. During the climactic train sequence, Doc and Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly gallop alongside a steam locomotive, and the scene called for Doc to grab hold of the moving car.

He was told not to try it because it carried too much risk for the production, so stunt performers handled the moment. Lloyd has said he felt close enough to pull it off, and that he still feels a pang of regret every time he sees the scene.

He also notes that stuntmen performed most of the film’s wild action. Even so, the experience clearly left a lasting impression. The memoir also includes a surprising story from the trilogy’s promotional days. At the U.K. premiere of ‘Back to the Future Part II’ in London in 1989, Princess Diana presided over the event, and Fox was supposed to sit beside her.

When Fox couldn’t attend, Lloyd took his place and felt the pressure to represent the film. He described Diana as approachable and genuinely interested in the movie, and recalled that she laughed loudly when Thomas F. Wilson’s Biff crashed into a manure truck.

Lloyd admitted he never expected a member of the royal family to enjoy that kind of humor. It’s one of many lighthearted moments from a career that has stretched across several generations. Beyond Doc Brown, Lloyd has played some of film’s most memorable characters. Fans know him as the Klingon Commander Kruge, Uncle Fester and the villainous Judge Doom.

In his TODAY interview, he also recalled how Jack Nicholson helped him on the set of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ early in his career. The memoir also addresses his long struggle with addiction and his sobriety, giving readers a more personal look at the Emmy-winning actor.

Lloyd’s choice may surprise fans who consider the original the high point of the series. But his reasoning shows how much the final chapter meant to him personally, from its Old West setting to giving Doc a love story of his own.

Decades after the trilogy ended, Lloyd’s enthusiasm for the role is still easy to see. His fondness for ‘Back to the Future Part III’ adds a little extra warmth to a franchise fans keep coming back to.

Which Back to the Future movie is your favorite?

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