by Brian GalindoBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffSenior Editor, Nostalgia Nerd

Back to the Future was never supposed to have a sequel. After the huge success of the first film, Universal asked the movie's creators, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, to make a sequel. However, the first movie ended on a cliffhanger about the flying DeLorean headed to the future as a joke, leaving them with no choice but to set the new film in 2015 (something they would have avoided had they known they would be making a sequel). So, instead, Back to the Future Part II shows a deliberately exaggerated version of 2015 because Zemeckis never intended it to be a serious prediction. He has said the goal was to make something funny and entertaining, since trying to accurately predict the future would likely be wrong anyway.

©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

Instead of realism, the film leans into fantastical ideas like flying cars (which they knew would not exist by 2015), hoverboards, and fax machines everywhere (which missed the mark but were cutting-edge technology in the late '80s when the movie was made). At the same time, the filmmakers consulted with futurists about real predictions and ended up getting a few things right, especially in areas like video calls, holograms, and flatscreen displays. In the end, the film's "whacky" future still works even today, 10-plus years later, because it feels Jetsons-futuristic.

©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

L.L.Bean's iconic tote bags actually started out with a very different, specific, and practical purpose. In 1944, the company introduced what it called the "Ice Carrier," a heavy-duty canvas bag designed to transport blocks of ice from stores to home ice chests, which were still somewhat common at the time. The bags were built to be extremely tough, with reinforced bottoms and thick canvas to contain melting water and handle the weight.

L.L. Bean / Via llbean.com

However, the Ice Carrier was only around for one season, likely because by the mid-'40s, 85% of American households owned a refrigerator, making having to haul in ice blocks obsolete. The design was revived in 1965 as the Boat and Tote, this time marketed for everyday use. Today, the same basic design is still made in Maine, but, of course, it's now associated with carrying groceries, books, or beach gear.

L.L. Bean / Via llbean.com

Eartha Kitt is the inspiration for one of the most iconic and enduring cosmetic colors of all time. Throughout the '50s and '60s, Kitt built a reputation as a bold, magnetic performer, known for her distinctive voice, stage presence, beauty, and unapologetic personality. At the height of her fame, she was often described as "the most exciting woman in the world," a label that captured both her talent and her allure. During the early '50s, she had a relationship with Charles Revson, the billionaire behind Revlon.

Central Press / Getty Images

According to Kitt, while she was with Revson, she kept asking him to have Revlon make makeup for Black women, saying, "I was always complaining, 'You don’t make makeup for people like me.' The only thing that came out of [the relationship] was a lipstick called Fire and Ice." The lipstick's name and branding closely echoed how Kitt herself was perceived: both sophisticated and provocative. While their relationship eventually ended, the Fire and Ice line became one of Revlon's most famous products and continues to be a bestseller to this day.

Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images, Revlon/ Ulta / Via ulta.com

Okay, so while it might seem like Italian would be the closest modern language to Latin, that's not actually the case. While Italian evolved directly from Latin and preserves many familiar words and structures, it's one of several Romance languages that all developed from the spoken form known as Vulgar Latin.

Nito100 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Linguists often point to Sardinian as the closest living relative to Latin, especially in terms of pronunciation and vocabulary, because of how isolated it developed on the island of Sardinia. Other languages, like Spanish, French, and Romanian, each changed in different ways over time due to geography, invasions, and local influences. Italian itself is largely based on the Tuscan dialect, which became standardized during the Renaissance thanks to writers like Dante Alighieri. So while Italian may feel closest to Latin at first glance, it's actually Sardinian.

Allg / Getty Images

Taco Bell is the reason there are free soda refills at fast-food restaurants. In 1988, Pepsi (which owned the chain) partnered with Taco Bell on a promotion that quietly changed the fast-food industry: Taco Bell locations would offer free drink refills, something that was far from common at the time.

Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Customers loved it, and sales of sodas (which, of course, are already cheap for restaurants to provide) went up. In fact, customers liked it so much that Taco Bell kept extending the

12 Facts That Are Mind-Blowing And True