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This week at The Tryon Theatre, we have a perfect pairing of nostalgic films to lead us into that most wistful of seasons, fall. The two films in this dynamic duo are “Back to the Future” (Zemeckis 1985) and “E.T.” (Spielberg 1982), both classic films in their own right, earning broad acclaim and heavily influencing popular culture. 

These films were born in an era that saw a return to cinemas for audiences weary of the 70s neuroticism so present in film. Early 80s cinema reinvigorated filmgoers with expertly crafted but tenderly packaged stories, ones full of heart but unchallenging in their depiction of humanity. Both of the films for this week are exemplary in the scope of their appeal and the sense of wonder they invoke, equally entertaining and touching all ages and sensibilities. 

“Back to the Future” tapped into every audience member’s imagination with that most fantastical and irresistible appeal of time travel. It capitalized on pure star power, with the charming Michael J. Fox, already a sensation on the small screen, finding his sneaker-clad footing on the big screen and cementing a lifelong legacy as Marty McFly. Fox was joined by another icon of television, the larger-than-life and ever-lovable Christopher Lloyd, an actor who similarly became inseparable from his portrayal of Marty’s “partner in time,” Doc Brown. The narrative of this film is well known and also largely irrelevant to any potential interest in this film. The appeal of “Back to the Future” is that of a childhood summer: uncomplicated in thought, joyful in experience, and set to a fantastic soundtrack.

“E.T.” taps into far more emotion than “Back to the Future,” dealing with those formative experiences of overcoming fear, understanding others different from ourselves, and processing our relative scale in the scope of the universe. All that weight aside, “E.T.” is an absolute delight of a film, one that celebrates the best of humanity, especially as it is demonstrated in the earnest innocence of children. “E.T.” was a film that found a frankly hideous-looking extraterrestrial making a home in every viewer’s heart, the purity of his intent and inspiration for our own life. For any viewer unfamiliar with “E.T.,” there is the honest risk of tears breaking durings its run, but said tears will be rewarded with joy in time. 

“Back to the Future” will be shown Wednesday (9/25) at 7 p.m., Thursday (9/26) at 2:30 p.m., and Saturday (9/28) at 7 p.m.. “E.T.” will show Thursday (9/26) at 7 p.m., Friday (9/27) at 7 p.m., and Sunday (9/29) at 2:30 p.m.

Ultimately, these films are so palatable that film lovers from every generation can not only handle them but will invariably enjoy them, guaranteeing a good time for all. The month of October has us moving into spookier and more dramatic fare, so we hope you will join us before then for some guilt-free fun with “Back to the Future” and “E.T.”!