Craig Robinson came up with the Michael Jackson joke used in the trailer, as well as the "It must be some kind of hot tub time machine" line that he deadpans directly into the camera.
In an interview, John Cusack stated that he made his decision to join the cast of this film almost entirely based off of the title.
When they're on the mountain, a guy skis past, talking on a mobile phone, and says, "...I want my two dollars!", a reference to the deranged bikeriding paperboy in Gagner ou mourir (1985), starring John Cusack.
When the guys first realise they're in the '80s, and images are flashing up on the television, there is one shot of Chevy Chase from his appearance in a Paul Simon music video, "You Can Call Me Al" from 1986, which is the year the film is set. Chase plays the repairman in this film.
Crispin Glover was asked to scream by the director when the accident happens, but he felt his character would be in such shock that he stayed silent, eventually convincing Steve Pink that this was the right call.