Director Robert Zemeckis' feature debut, as well as his first of many collaborations with producer Steven Spielberg. Despite the film's relatively modest budget (approximately $2.8 million), Universal Studios were uneasy with Spielberg's choice in hiring the unproven director. To prevent Zemeckis from being fired, executive Ned Tanen made Spielberg agree that if Zemeckis was doing a markedly poor job, Spielberg would step in and direct the film himself. This way, Universal could hardly lose: they would either have given a new whiz-kid director his first chance, or they would have gained another Spielberg film to release.
The crowd signs showing their love for The Beatles were originally made by the studio's prop department. They looked far too professional, so they asked the department head to take supplies to his child's school and have the kids make them instead.
Wendie Jo Sperber was 17, and lied about her age to get the role. Nancy Allen was 27, and Susan Kendall Newman was 24.