In 2015, Hawaiian shirts are IN. Doc Brown fits in like a charm, throwing on clothes that stand out and blend in just right. However, looking closely tells us that the filmmakers were planning for the third installment of the series while even filming.
The pattern is quite significant. It seems to be a group of men on horseback chasing after a speeding train. While that’s a relatively normal Western scene, it’s also foreshadowing for what happens in “Back to the Future Part III”. It’s known that the filmmakers worked on “Part II” and “Part III” at the same time, so this seems quite on purpose.
A Wave of Nostalgia
When Marty wanders into the 2015-version of Lou's Diner, he finds it full of styles and pop culture from the eighties. Doc Brown even calls it “one of those nostalgia places.” Michael Jackson is playing, popular television shows from the eighties cover a wall, etc..
There's even a reference to what Lou's Diner used to be in the eighties version of Hill Valley since in the 2015 version there's an aerobic exercise machine stuck in the corner. In the first film, Marty swings past the location as it's full of women following the aerobic craze of the eighties.
Just a Year Off
As Marty wanders through the distant future of 2015, he comes across a billboard or advertisement telling him all about the champion Cubs, who have just won the World Series!
This is of course a reference – and joke – about how the Cubs hadn't won the Series for eighty-two years, even when the movie came out in 1989. They even beat a Miami team, which didn't exist. A Miami team does now exist – the Miami Marlins, begun in 2012, and the Cubs would win the World Series in 2016, just a year after the movie was set.
Another Peek at the Future
When Marty steps into the retro eighties diner in "Part II", there's a wild-west arcade game called "The Wild Gunman", which isn't an actual game. Marty takes the pistol controller from the befuddled young player and blasts the bad guys away, showing off his retro-video game shooting skills.
While the rest of the video games in the diner were real, this one is another reference to what lies in wait for Marty down the tracks of the series in "Part III". The main antagonist of the third film, Mad Dog Tannen, even shares his nickname with the main character of the game.
Goofy Headlines
The problem that brought Marty and Doc into the future was that of Marty's son getting jailed, which is humorously on the front page of USA Today. As the characters discuss how to fix it, the eagle-eyed viewer can pick out a few interesting headlines.
At the top of the Newsline is “Thumb Bandits Strike,” a reference to using your thumbprint to get into your home in the future. There's also “Man Killed By Falling Litter,” “President Says She's Tired,” and even “Shredding for Charity.” Plus, at the top of the page, we have some sports headlines: “Slamball Playoffs Begin,” and we really wish we could learn more about that sport, and “Marshall Runs 3 Minute Mile.”