Original artwork, not a still
1.21 gigawatts! 1.21 gigawatts!
— Back to the Future • 1985
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Doc's panic is the moment the film's problem becomes concrete: a shiny machine, one impossible number, and a storm that must hit a clock tower on cue. The odd 'jigowatt' pronunciation turned a unit of power into a fan password, used as a joke for any absurd power requirement.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Back to the FutureShow the scene
Back to the Future, 1985. Stranded in 1955, Marty plays Doc the video he shot of the 1985 test, in Doc's workshop. Doc is delighted to see his older self, until the tape has the 1985 Doc say that the DeLorean needs 1.21 gigawatts. The 1955 Doc repeats the figure twice, groans "Great Scott" and bolts from the room, while Marty asks what a gigawatt is. Doc then works out that only a lightning bolt can supply it, which leads to the Clock Tower flyer. The film says "jigowatt": Gale and Zemeckis copied the pronunciation from a science speaker at a seminar.
Sources (3)
- Futurepedia: Back to the Future transcript1955 workshop scene, playing back the videoReference checked
- Futurepedia: JigowattBehind the scenes; descriptionReference checked
- Futurepedia: Back to the FuturePlot, 1955 sectionReference checked
Context reviewed
