Listen, I’m not usually one to toss around words like perfect. Nothing is perfect, especially movies. They ALL have flaws, and frankly, when it comes right down to it, liking (or not liking) a movie is so inherently subjective that it’s a fool’s errand to try to convince anyone of how “good” it is. And this is only compounded when nostalgia plays a factor.

I say all of this to indicate that, yes, I realize everyone has different tastes, and a movie like Back to the Future is positively dripping with nostalgia and childhood memories for many. So it’s hard to be objective about this.

But let me be 100 percent clear about this:

Back to the Future is a perfect movie. And even though the second and third installments have a few minor flaws, when taken as a whole, Back to the Future is a perfect trilogy – the only one ever made. (Yeah, I’m looking at you, Star Wars.)

So I was over the moon when Universal announced a new “Ultimate Trilogy” box set in 4K Ultra HD (and Blu-ray). Would it also be perfect?

If you’re a fan of 4K, then yes, this is very much a perfect set. Released to celebrate the original film’s 35th anniversary, this is the first time any of the films has been given the 4K treatment (in 2160p and with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio). The Blu-ray versions (with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0) are also newly remastered, so the films themselves look and sound incredible.

But what makes this set “ultimate”? Well, it’s all about the extras.

Previous releases of the trilogy (notably the 30th anniversary set) were also loaded down with bonus features, and all of those are also here. This 4-disc set features all the extras and goodies that were in those previous releases (including all the video shot for Universal Studios’ Back to the Future: The Ride!), along with a bonus disc that has over an hour of all-new bonus features:

• An Alternate Future: Lost Audition Tapes: Get a glimpse of the Back to the Future that could have been with rare audition footage featuring now-famous celebrities.
  • • Ben Stiller
    • Kyra Sedgwick
    • Jon Cryer
  • Billy Zane
  • Peter DeLuise
  • C. Thomas Howell
• The Hollywood Museum Goes Back to the Future: Join co-writer/Producer Bob Gale on an intimate tour of an exhaustive exhibit of the films’ props and memorabilia.
• Back to the Future: The Musical Behind the Scenes: Get a sneak peek at the new musical show including a Q&A with the cast and creative team plus two new song recordings.
  • Cast and Creative Q&A
  • Original Songs
    • “Gotta Start Somewhere”
    • “Put Your Mind To It”
• Could You  Survive The Movies? Explore the magic and science of Back to the Future and find out which laws of physics were actually violated in this special episode of the popular YouTube series.

Ostensibly, these new features make this set “ultimate.” However, it would’ve been GREAT if Universal also included the complete 1992 animated series. Two episodes are included (the first episodes of each season), but a 2016 release of the trilogy – marketed as the “complete adventures” – did indeed include all 26 episodes of the cartoon. That set is still available, as is the animated series on its own (on DVD), so you can still grab it if you want to. But I’m not sure how much overlap there is with the rest of the bonus features… and it’s obviously not in 4K.

So is this set perfect? Almost. If the animated series had been included in its entirety, then yes. But is this set almost perfect? 99 percent.

I’ve included a complete list of special features below if you’re interested, but it’s… a lot.

Back to the Future bonus features

• Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
• Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
• Deleted Scenes (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
  • Peanut Brittle
  • “Pinch Me”
  • Doc’s Personal Belongings
  • “She’s Cheating”
  • Darth Vader (Extended Version)
  • “Hit Me George”
  • “You Got a Permit?”
  • The Phone Booth
• Tales from THE FUTURE: In the Beginning…
• Tales from THE FUTURE: Time to Go
• Tales from THE FUTURE: Keeping Time
• Archival Featurettes
  • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE
  • Making the Trilogy: Chapter One
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE Night
• Michael J. Fox Q&A
  • How He Got the Role
  • The Character of Doc
  • Working on a Film and TV Series at the Same Time
  • Shooting BACK TO THE FUTURE II and III Together
  • DeLoreans
  • Special FX and Stunts
  • The Appeal of BACK TO THE FUTURE
  • Shooting BACK TO THE FUTURE
• Behind the Scenes
  • Original Makeup Tests
  • Outtakes
  • Nuclear Test Site Sequence (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
  • Photo Galleries
    • Production Art
    • Storyboards
    • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
    • Marketing Materials
    • Character Portraits
• Huey Lewis and the News “The Power of Love” Music Video
• Theatrical Teaser Trailer
• Join Team Fox

Back to the Future II bonus feautures

• Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
• Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
• Deleted Scenes (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
  • Old Terry and Old Biff
  • “Dad’s Home” (Extended Version)
  • Pizza Scene
  • Jennifer Faints (Extended Version)
  • Old Biff Vanishes from Car
  • Burned Out High School
  • Marty Meets Dave
• Tales from THE FUTURE: Time Flies
• The Physics of BACK TO THE FUTURE with Dr. Michio Kaku
• Archival Featurettes
  • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II
  • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Two
• Behind the Scenes
  • Outtakes
  • Production Design
  • Storyboarding
  • Designing the DeLorean
  • Designing Time Travel
  • Hoverboard Test
  • Evolution of Visual Effects Shots
  • Photo Galleries
    • Production Art
    • Storyboards
    • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
    • Marketing Materials
    • Character Portraits
• Theatrical Trailer

Back to the Future III bonus features

• Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
• Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
• Deleted Scene (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
  • The Tannen Gang Kills Marshal Strickland
• Tales from THE FUTURE: Third Time’s the Charm
• Tales from THE FUTURE: The Test of Time
• Archival Featurettes
  • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE Part III
  • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Three
  • The Secrets of the BACK TO THE FUTURE Trilogy
• Behind the Scenes
  • Outtakes
  • Designing the Town of Hill Valley
  • Designing the Campaign
  • Photo Galleries
    • Production Art
    • Storyboards
    • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
    • Marketing Materials
    • Character Portraits
• ZZ Top “Doubleback” Music Video
• FAQs About the Trilogy
• Theatrical Trailer
• BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Ride
  • Lobby Monitor
  • The Ride

Bonus Disc (Blu-ray)

• 2015 Message from Doc Brown
  • DOC BROWN SAVES THE WORLD!
• OUTATIME: Restoring the DeLorean
• Looking BACK TO THE FUTURE
  • The Script
  • Casting Marty McFly
  • Christopher Lloyd Reflects on Doc Brown
  • The DeLorean Time Machine
  • Building Hill Valley
  • Prepping for the “Johnny B. Goode” Scene
  • The Score
  • Rushing the Cut
  • The Legacy
• BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Animated Series
  • Brothers (Season 1, Episode 1)
  • Mac the Black (Season 2, Episode 1)
• 2015 Commercials
  • JAWS 19 Trailer
  • Hoverboard Commercial