One of the best quotes in Back to the Future didn't come from the film's script but was instead improvised by Biff actor Thomas F. Wilson. This 1985 sci-fi/comedy classic is beloved for its phenomenal script, which includes some of the most popular catchphrases from any movie of the decade. Back to the Future was lucky to have a stellar cast playing its colorful characters too.
From Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown, Michael J. Fox as Marty (a role originally inhabited by Eric Stoltz) to Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover as Marty's parents, the film is filled with memorable performances. However, one of the standout characters is "love-to-hate-him" bully Biff Tannen, played with equal parts malice and goofiness by comedian Thomas F. Wilson. Wilson's role would become so popular he would return to play alternate versions of himself in both Back to the Future sequels, as well as the cartoon series.
Despite being a despicable human being, Biff became a beloved part of the series thanks to Wilson's comedic timing and dedication to the role. One of the biggest assets Wilson brought to the project was his ability to improvise lines, and then use that dialogue to further develop Biff's character. One such line is Biff's hilarious "Make like a tree and get out of here," which became one of the most well-known quotes from the Back to the Future trilogy.
For context, this line comes near the movie's halfway point during Marty's quest to reunite his teenage parents. This takes him to their high school, where he sees Biff tormenting Lorraine in the lunchroom. Acting on instinct, Marty intervenes by grabbing Biff and pulling him away. When the arrival of the principal puts an end to any potential fighting, Biff looks at Marty and says, "Since you're new here, I'm gonna cut you a break today. So why don't you make like a tree, and get out of here." The line, delivered by Wilson with a completely straight face, is a mangling of the pun "Make like a tree and leave."
The line went over so well with audiences that variations would pop up in several subsequent Back to the Future projects, including a humorous moment in Back to the Future Part II in which Old Biff chastises his younger self for mes the pun. The quote began a running joke within the trilogy in which Biff recites jokes and metaphors incorrectly, including accidentally changing the phrase "As funny as a screen door on a submarine" to "screen door on a battleship." To this day, Biff's "make like a tree" line remains iconic and stands as a reminder of just how solid the original Back to the Future truly is.
