NCT DREAM is back! Serving a blast to the past in what was officially inspired by the iconic 1980s Hollywood flick Back to the Future, the K-pop septet dropped their latest “BTTF” music video Wednesday at 12 am KST. The surprise release was a pleasant shock for fans who had otherwise set their alarm clocks and marked their calendars for the highly anticipated full-fledged “7 DREAM” comeback on July 14, 2025.

Given that the SM Entertainment boy group’s NCT acronym expands to “Neo Culture Technology,” DREAMzens (as their fanbase is called) may even identify “BTTF” as 7 DREAM’s one of two title tracks this season with their eyes closed. The hip-hop dance number centred around a signature synth bass powers up in classic NCT DREAM style.

What does NCT DREAM’s Back to the Future MV have to offer?

Transcending time, the video captures both the essence of the evergreen Hollywood film starring Michael J Fox and NCT DREAM’s unforgettable and fittingly out-of-place music sound that is idealistically very “neo” at its core.

ALSO READ

Despite its overused execution across pop culture, time travel continues to evoke the most profound sentiments fuelled by nostalgia and the ever-hanging existential crisis of “What ifs.”

Fans who have personally witnessed the the seven members’ – Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung, long ride into the 2025 versions of themselves, will know well what slipping into their past lives means for this group of Gen Zs who started living out their big dreams back in 2016 as teens. At the time, Jisung, the youngest of the lot, was just 14 years old.

In a much-followed strategy, the SME flagship boy group has often looked back at various elements of its music releases, bridging the gap between comebacks and threading a storyline of sorts. But with “BTTF,” the references are stronger and more evident than ever. As a callback to Michael J Fox’s movie, and a refined transformation of their own use of hoverboards in the 2016 debut single “Chewing Gum,” DREAM members literally blast off into the past onboard futuristic skateboards.

Admitting “I am the future,” they even send out a message to their younger selves about how there’s “no need to worry” because “upon any timeline, we’re complete.” In the process, the K-pop idols also offer a reassuring warm embrace to their listeners.

Packed with explosive visuals, the “BTTF” MV delivers musically cinematic intro and pre-chorus, while the overall on-theme topsy-turvy harmony rides an NCT DREAM-esque rollercoaster. The line distribution chaos — a common element that has unfortunately become synonymous with K-pop — persists, leaving certain members with lesser deliveries and time to shine. And yet, the overall vibe aligns with the music act’s signature identity while still pushing out something new to devour with an intense choreography that you can’t look away from.

Fans reactions to NCT DREAM’s BTTF music video

Although some DREAMzens needed a minute to get used to the new sound, others instantly smashed their keyboards to thank the septet for the fresh “masterpiece.” The most common takeaway was how appreciative the fans were of the “neo” harmony’s massive comeback.

ALSO READ

“This is so neoooooooooo,” wrote an excited listener. Another added, “Love when neos neo… it’s a HIT.”

A third commented, “nice outro… we got impressive intro and outro… guys… delicious mm…” Meanwhile, a fourth user gushed about how the pre-chorus was “EVERYTHING.”

Yet another fan applauded how the musical essence of the track gave ample room for the choreography to breathe. “Song like these with a lose structure are good because they lend themselves to interesting choreography. the performance version will be so good. #bttf,” they commented.

Someone emphasised, “Dare I say that this is so uniquely 7dream? The vibe, the sound, and everything screams 7Dream I can’t stress it enough.” They even added, “2000s boy group chorus with a touch of neo at the verses. The intro already got me hooked. Love at the first listen.”

Another netizen hailed the track: “neo song, vocals, mv with a budget – i‘m sold.”

With double title tracks “Back to the Future / BTTF” and “CHILLER,” NCT DREAM’s fifth studio album “Go Back to the Future” will be out on July 14 at 6 pm. Exploring first love themes, the album will also feature songs “I Like It,” “DREAM TEAM,” “Interlude: Back to Our Paradise,” “Bout You,” “That Summer,” “Miss Me,” and “Beautiful Sailing.”

The NCT sub-unit will also be stepping out for its fourth solo concert “2025 NCT DREAM TOUR ‘THE DREAM SHOW 4: DREAM THE FUTURE” from July 10 to 12 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, where the brand-new album’s double lead singles will be revealed for the first time.