Back to the Future Gift Guide: Finding the Right Plot Map Print for the Fan You're Buying For
If you're after a Back to the Future gift, the thing I'd point you towards is the plot itself, mapped. I research and hand-draw the entire 1985 film as a London Underground map, with each character as a line and every key scene as a station, so the time-travelling structure of the story is laid out in a single image. That's the Back to the Future Plot Map Art Print.
I'm Mike, I design and research these maps myself at mikebellmaps.com, working from East Sussex. Below is how I'd approach a Back to the Future gift, based on the real options within the range.
Matching the Back to the Future Gift to the Fan
| Gift Option | Best Suited For | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| A2 unframed print | A first gift, or a fan who likes to choose their own frame | Shows the whole plot mapped out at an accessible size |
| A2 or A1 framed in black wood | Someone you want to give something ready to hang | Arrives finished, so it's genuinely ready to open and hang |
| A1 unframed or framed | The serious fan, or a milestone gift | Large enough that every scene, station, and character line is legible up close |
Why the Plot Map Works as a Back to the Future Gift
What I hear most from people buying this as a gift is that a plot map suits a time-travel film better than almost any other kind of print. Back to the Future is built on characters crossing and re-crossing their own timelines, so drawing Marty, Doc, George and Lorraine as separate lines that weave through 1955 and 1985 turns the structure of the story into something you can actually follow with your eye. For a fan who knows every beat, spotting how the lines converge at the key moments is the detail that lands best.
It's a gift I'm asked about most around birthdays and Christmas, particularly for the Gen X and millennial fan who grew up on the film. A hand-drawn plot map is a different kind of present to the usual poster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best Back to the Future gift for a serious fan?
I'd suggest the A1 size, either unframed so they can choose their own frame, or in a black wood frame if you want it gift-ready. The larger size does justice to the detail in the plot lines.
What does the plot map actually show?
The whole 1985 film mapped as a London Underground diagram, with each character as a coloured line and every key scene as a station, in order.
Does the print come framed?
Yes, in a black wood frame. It's also available unframed if the person you're buying for prefers to choose their own frame.
What is the print made from?
Each print is a Giclée print on 230gsm premium fine art paper, textured matte, archival and acid-free.
Browse the Full Range
The Back to the Future Plot Map Art Print sits alongside my other film plot maps. Companion gifts include the Blade Runner Plot Map and the Jaws Plot Map. You can see the whole collection in the Film Plot Map Art Prints collection.
