Is Michael Winterbottom’s new film a BBC-esque period piece? A gripping spy thriller? A star-crossed love story? A condemnation of violent revolution? Who knows—the movie certainly doesn’t.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, here are 5 reasons Back to the Future remains an iconic cultural phenomenon.

The long-awaited entrance of Marvel’s “first family” into the MCU attempts to revive the Marvel brand and bring fans back, with mixed results.

When I felt alone and invisible, Back to the Future became my way of accessing the world—and eventually connecting with others.