Movies and television shows have a host of captivating storytelling, amazing pictures, and memorable performances. However, even the most well-designed work may be victimized by certain mistakes. While filmmakers and producers of television series try to aim for perfection, minor flaws often get overlooked. From issues of continuity to historical accuracy, the keen-eyed viewer discovers a surprising amount of impoliteness in popular films and films. These flaws add an interesting touch to the film-watching experience, no matter how minute or apparent. Viewers love to see and discuss the importance of those flaws.
Source: Friends show snapshot
A simple change of scenery, such as someone switching from one plate to another without explanation, can be quite enjoyable. However, in period dramas, Modern elements, such as water bottles or brand symbols that did not exist at the time, can hinder the absorption of history. Even popular movies and shows like Friends, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter aren’t immune to these flaws.
The Fictional Company of Forrest Gump
Source: Photograph: Allstar/PARAMOUNT
There is a scene in the 1994 film Forrest Gump where the title character, played by Tom Hanks, receives a letter from Apple Inc. dated 1975. That scene had several historical inaccuracies. For one thing, the rainbow Apple logo that appeared on the letter was not introduced until 1976. The font on the letterhead, Apple Garamond, was also not adopted until 1984. More to the point, Apple Computers, Inc. was not founded until April 1, 1976, which makes the letter an anachronism.
The Breakfast Food Exchange in Pretty Woman
Source: IMDB
In the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, a major continuity error happens in a breakfast scene with Julia Roberts’ character, Vivian Ward. She begins eating a croissant while sitting with Richard Gere’s character, Edward Lewis. However, in the next shot, the croissant mysteriously changes into an only half-eaten pancake. The change left many in the audience wondering whether she finished the croissant before starting on the pancake.
Rachel’s Stand-In in Friends
Source: Netflix
From romance and humor to friendships, the popular television show Friends has it all, but it is not without its errors. In Season 9, there is an episode called The One with the Mugging, wherein Jennifer Aniston’s character, Rachel Green, was not in the scene, but her body double took her place. While this practice is common on television, some keen-eyed fans immediately noticed that it was a stand-in, hence the memorable flub.
A Crew Member’s Reflection in The Maze Runner
Source: 20th century Fox
In the 2014 dystopian film The Maze Runner, at the 1 hour and 29-minute mark, one could spot a small but quite noticeable mistake in the glass of the control room: the reflection of what appears to be a crew member. That little mistake slipped past post-production but did not lower the popularity of the film.
The Coffee Cup in Game of Thrones
Source: HBO
In recent times, few movie mistakes have gone as viral as in Game of Thrones. A modern coffee cup sat on the table in front of Daenerys Targaryen during an important scene from the fourth episode of the show’s final season; quickly, speculators began wondering online just who could’ve left it behind. At one point in time, everybody blamed the actress Emilia Clarke for this blunder, while the actress herself showed Conleth Hill-who played the role of Varys-is responsible for having kept the cup back there.
Hydro Flask in Little Women
Source: Colombia Pictures
The 2019 adaptation of Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig, is mostly a hunt for accuracy in history. However, there is one scene with an anachronistic slip-up. After multiple watches, one of the fans was able to find a modern Hydro Flask and a plastic water bottle on the period furniture behind. Well, Little Women takes place in 1868.
Bullet Holes Appearing Too Soon in Pulp Fiction
Source: IMDB
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction is widely regarded as a masterpiece, but it is not without its flaws. In one of the film’s gunfight scenes, bullet holes appear in the wall before the shots are even fired. This small oversight reminds audiences that even celebrated filmmakers can make mistakes.
Aircraft Errors in Sully
Source: IMDB
The 2016 biographical film Sully: Miracle on the Hudson tells the dramatic story of Captain Chesley Sullenberger’s emergency landing on the Hudson River. However, aviation enthusiasts noticed a few inaccuracies, including the appearance of two Continental Airlines Boeing 737s and an Embraer E-Jet, despite Continental never operating that aircraft model. Furthermore, the Split Scimitar Winglets seen on the 737s weren’t introduced until 2014, years after the real-life events took place.
Monica’s Body Double in Friends
Source: Warner Bros
Another Friends continuity error happened in Season 8’s The One with Rachel’s Date. In a scene set in Central Perk, Phoebe Buffay is talking to Monica Geller. However, the person sitting across from Phoebe is not Courteney Cox but a body double. Fans who caught this mistake took to social media to point out the discrepancy.
Maggie Appearing Before She Was Born in The Simpsons
Source: Screen Rant
Even animated shows are not immune to mistakes. In the episode And Maggie Makes Three, Marge Simpson is shown pregnant with Maggie, but an already framed picture of her is visible on the wall in the background. This continuity mistake was an amusing oversight for longtime fans of The Simpsons.
Changing Aircraft in The Usual Suspects
Source: Bright side
The Usual Suspects is a mystery thriller of 1995 that contains an aviation mistake. The crew is watching a video of a Boeing 747 with four engines, preparing to land. In the next shot, however, the aircraft has turned into a Boeing 767 with only two engines. It did not pass the scrutiny of keen-eyed aviation enthusiasts.
Legolas’ Eye Color in The Hobbit
Source: MGM productions
Orlando Bloom portrayed the character Legolas in both The Hobbit and Lord of the Ring trilogies. However, fans noticed one inconsistency about his eyes. In the Hobbit, he has blue-colored eyes, and in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, they seem dark brown. Director Peter Jackson later confessed that sometimes they just forgot to wear contact lenses when shooting with Orlando Bloom, creating unintentional inconsistency.
The Stormtrooper’s Head Bump in Star Wars
Source: whodat jedi podcast
One of the most famous bloopers in film history comes from Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). When Stormtroopers enter a control room, one of them accidentally bumps his head on the doorframe. The unintentional blunder became a legendary moment among Star Wars fans and remains one of the most recognized movie mistakes of all time.
Harry Potter’s Eye Color Inconsistency
Source: IMDB
Throughout the Harry Potter series, it is repeatedly mentioned that Harry has his mother’s eyes. However, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, young Lily Potter is shown with brown eyes, while Harry’s eyes are blue. This contradiction in a key detail did not go unnoticed by devoted fans of the franchise.
Hawkeye’s reversed arm – ‘Captain America: Civil War
Source: Marvel Movies
The Marvel Cinematic Universe was normally meticulous, and even Captain America: Civil War (2016) was allowed to make some mistakes. One of the most interesting was in a scene where Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) was holding his bow with his right hand while his left arm was sleeveless. However, the next shot brought the sleeveless arm to the other side. Many believe that this was done as a mirrored shot rather than an actual mistake, but still, that left many fans wondering.
The Detective’s Age Dilemma – ‘Hollow Point’
Source: IMDB
The 2019 thriller Hollow Point contained a minor but humorous mistake. A subtitle states that Detective Chuck Bryant (Roger Guenveur Smith) has been a homicide detective for 80 years. Given that the U.S. retirement age is around 66, and starting at 18 would make him 98, this was an error. The likely intended figure? I am 18 years old.
A Graduation That Never Happened – ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’
Source: Netflix
Mamma Mia! sequel (2018) delighted fans, but it included a historical inaccuracy. Donna is said to have graduated from “New College” in 1979. The problem? New College only started admitting students that year, meaning there wouldn’t have been a graduating class until two years later.
A Currency That Didn’t Exist – ‘The White Tiger’
Netflix’s The White Tiger (2021) is based on a novel from 2008, but a key scene contains a glaring anachronism. The movie features a television broadcast showing 2,000-rupee notes—except these banknotes weren’t introduced until 2016. Given that the character was watching TV in the early 2000s, this detail is completely out of place.
The Magical Repair Job – ‘Spider-Man’ (2002)
Source: Marvel
Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man (2002) was a massive success, but even superheroes can’t defy continuity errors. When Peter Parker first discovers his powers, he accidentally breaks a lamp in his room. Moments later, when Aunt May enters, the lamp is miraculously intact. Spidey’s powers may be impressive, but instant furniture repair isn’t one of them.
Gas Pumping Laws Ignored – ‘John Wick’
Source: IMDB
Keanu Reeves’ John Wick (2014) is an action-packed thriller, but it makes an easy-to-spot mistake for New Jersey residents. In one scene, John pumps his gas—but self-service gas stations have been illegal in New Jersey since 1949. Local viewers quickly noticed this inaccurate detail.
The Wrong Guitar – ‘Back to the Future’
Source:
Back to the Future (1985) is all about time travel, but one prop missed the mark. When Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) plays a guitar at the high school dance, he uses a Gibson ES-345. The issue? That guitar wasn’t introduced until 1958, yet the scene takes place in 1955. It’s a minor detail, but one that guitar enthusiasts spotted right away.
iPhones Before Their Time – ‘Bernie’
Source: Millennium Entertainment
Bernie is a 2011 film, based on a true story of events in 1996. But throughout the movie, there are scenes showing people using iPhones. The first iPhone did not hit the market until 2007. That was an egregious anachronism that pulled viewers out of the movie sometimes.
The Vanishing Badge – ‘Inglourious Basterds’
Source: youtube/W&H
Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (2009) is filled with meticulous historical details, but one costume inconsistency slipped through. In some shots, German Sergeant Werner Rachtman has a badge above his left breast pocket, but in others, it disappears entirely.
The Notebook That Disappeared – ‘Spotlight’
Source: Spotlight movie snapshot
The Oscar-winning film Spotlight (2015) features an investigative journalist team uncovering a major scandal. In one scene, Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) is seen taking notes in a notepad while speaking with a source. However, moments later, the notepad mysteriously vanishes from the table and is never seen again.
Grandpa Joe’s Sudden Mobility – ‘Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory’
Source: Youtube
A scene that makes viewers go mad is found in the 1971 Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. For 20 years, Grandpa Joe has been bedridden; when Charlie gets the golden ticket, he just leaps out of bed and starts dancing. Viewers leave with so many questions of why he could not be supporting his family.
The Uneven Hands – ‘Avatar’
Source: Avatar movie snapshot
James Cameron, with his creation Avatar (2009), achieved a box-office record, although even this iconic film was filled with mistakes: the Na’vi, for example, had hands of inappropriate size, with the inconsistency only noticeable in some close-up views. Fans were kind of surprised to see this wasn’t corrected.
Movie Mistakes That Keep Viewers Talking
While these mistakes don’t ruin the magic of these films, they certainly make for some amusing discoveries. Whether it’s a sudden wardrobe change, a disappearing prop, or a historical inaccuracy, these blunders serve as reminders that even the most carefully crafted movies have their imperfections. Some of these errors have become inside jokes among fans, while others have sparked debates about how they were overlooked in production.
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