Massive Mistakes In Some Of Hollywoods Greatest Hits
Movies have the ability to take you to other times and places, yet as they’re created by humans, they may contain flaws. Join us as we run down this list which shows how even the most diligent and gifted filmmakers and actors committed errors in their films. Grab some popcorn and keep reading to learn which movies had major errors that were overlooked until now! Some of your favorites may even be on the list.
The Aviator Out Of Time Cookies
The Aviator, released in 2004 was a critical and commercial success, as most of Leonardo DiCaprio’s films are. In the film, DiCaprio’s character, Howard Hughes, buys some chocolate chip cookies. The problem is that chocolate chip cookies were only invented two years after the time the film was set in. This was an anachronism, meaning the film contained something in the incorrect time. Many films contain errors like this. Sometimes it’s actually a stylistic choice.
Django Unchained – Cool Shades
Django Unchained is a 2012 revenge film by none other than Quentin Tarantino. The film follows Django, played by Jamie Foxx, on a quest for revenge.
Django Unchained Cool Shades
Part way through the film, the character gets a wardrobe change, which includes a pair of glasses, even though they weren’t prevalent back then. Tarantino has played loose with history before, so it’s likely he just included them because they look cool, and hey, we’re not complaining at all.
Titanic – A Little Early For Lake Wissota
Here we have another DiCaprio historical drama. This time it’s Titanic, which was the highest-grossing film of all time, and an all-around hit with audiences and critics alike.
Titanic A Little Early For Lake Wissota
A small detail most missed, however, is that DiCaprio’s character talks about fishing in Lake Wissota with his father. In reality, Lake Wissota was only formed in 1917, a full five years after the events of Titanic. This is a detail few viewers would have picked up.
Braveheart – A Kilt Too Early
Braveheart is arguably Mel Gibson’s most famous role. In it, he plays the historical figure William Wallace, a Scottish icon. He also wears a kilt, another symbol of Scottish pride.
Braveheart A Kilt Too Early
The problem is the film was set in 1300, but kilts didn’t become popular until a full three centuries later in the 1600s. There’s no way film advisors didn’t know this, but they obviously wanted to cram in as much Scottish cultural signature as possible.
Forrest Gump – An Offer Of Apple Stocks
Here we have another time-based error. In Forrest Gump, the titular character, played by Tom Hanks, receives a letter offering him Apple shares, along with the company’s famous rainbow logo.
Forrest Gump An Offer Of Apple Stocks
However, the film is set a full year before the creation of the logo, and six years before Apple would offer shares. These are two errors that only the most knowledgeable viewers would have actually picked up. We wonder if Apple paid for a feature.
Gladiator – A Particular Nickname
Here we have Gladiator, which is Russell Crowe’s most famous role, as he plays Maximus Decimus Meridius. In the film, his character is given the nickname “The Spaniard.”
Gladiator A Particular Nickname
While the film is set in 180AD, the word Spaniard wouldn’t appear until the 14th century, over a thousand years later. Seeing as the entire film isn’t in Latin, as it should be, we’ll let this slide as shorthand to give the viewers information about the character.
The Dark Knight – Spelling Error
Christopher Nolan has created some of the biggest masterpieces in recent cinema history, from Dunkirk to Inception, to Tenet, to The Dark Knight trilogy.
The Dark Knight Spelling Error
Well, although he’s regarded as a perfectionist, it appears this spelling error went uncaught. However, it’s entirely possible that Nolan left it in on purpose because some newspapers have published glaring errors like this. Perhaps he felt it was natural, and helped show how sloppy The Gotham Times newspaper could be.
The Hurt Locker – Gears Of War
Films and television shows are constantly messing up the portrayal of video games. From actors using controllers that aren’t on, to calling voxels pixels, Hollywood can’t get it right.
The Hurt Locker Gears Of War
That’s why this next one is actually quite a small error. In the Hurt Locker, set in 2005, soldiers are seen playing Gears of War, which wouldn’t have been released until a year later in 2006. At least it was a real video game being played.
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets – A Visible Cameraman
There are many bloopers in the Harry Potter film series, but none so blatant as a cameraman being visible in one shot. If you remember, in the second film they introduced dueling.
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets A Visible Cameraman
In the scene in which it’s introduced, Malfoy ends up on the ground. In the shot where all the students are looking at him, you can see a cameraman alongside them. We can’t believe that this actually made it to post-production and release.
Pirates Of The Caribbean – Shiney Apples
Captain Barbossa, based on the pirate “Redbeard” is a fan favorite in the Pirates of The Caribbean film series. Fans may have noticed that Barbossa likes chewing on apples.
Pirates Of The Caribbean Shiney Apples
In one particular scene, you can see him snacking on a Granny Smith apple. The issue is that this breed of apple wasn’t created until the 1800s, 200 years after the films. This is an obscure one, and it’s not like the films strive for accuracy.
Lord Of The Rings – Gandalf’s Time Piece
Gandalf is known for arriving just in time, and we think we may have figured out how he does it. He has a very nice watch! Just kidding, but in one scene of The Lord of the Rings, Ian McKellen’s watch can be seen on his wrist.
Lord Of The Rings Gandalfs Time Piece
It’s only visible for a split second, but eagle-eyed fans spotted it very soon after the film’s release. They can always edit it out in future film rereleases.
Gladiator – Nitro Chariot
We’ve got another one from Gladiator. This time, the error is from the chariot race scene, and we think it should have been easily picked up in post-production.
Gladiator Nitro Chariot
If you look at one of the chariots, you can clearly see a gas canister strapped to the back of it. It was there to spray up dust to make the chariot look faster and more interesting. Many fans now regard this error as an easter egg.
Back To The Future – Marty’s Musical Instrument
In the first Back to the Future film, Mary McFly goes back in time to 1955, where he later plays a Gibson ES-345 at a high school dance.
Back To The Future Martys Musical Instrument
It’s one of the most famous scenes in the film, however that particular guitar wasn’t made until a full three years later in 1958. Most likely an error, but it could open up some interesting fan theories for sure. Maybe the car made an extra stop somewhere.
Troy – A Dragon? No, A Plane.
Another film set in ancient times, Troy follows the fictional event of the Trojan War and follows Achilles as played by Brad Pitt. The film is fantastic, but it wasn’t above making a few mistakes.
Troy A Dragon No A Plane
One major one is the inclusion, or rather failure to omit an airplane in the distance. In the scene, it can clearly be seen above Achilles. The screenshot was widely shared before being exposed as a hoax. What a disappointment.
300 Movie – Gun Powder
300 is a Zack Snyder film based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller. It’s a sensationalized take on the march of the 300 Spartans to hold back the Persian invasion of Greece.
300 Movie Gun Powder
In it, the soldiers of Xerxes use bombs made with gun powder, but that wouldn’t be invented until the 9th century. It’s hardly the only historical inaccuracy in the film, and we’re sure Miller and Snyder were well aware of this fact.
Sherlock Holmes – Matters Of Geography
Sherlock Holmes, starring Rober Downey Jr as the titular character is a thrill from start to finish. The high point of the film is the chase scene near the end, which begins in the sewers, and ends at Tower Bridge.
Sherlock Holmes Matters Of Geography
The issue here is that the distance between the Houses of Parliament and the Bridge is over two miles apart, and so there’s no way the characters would have run all that way.
Spy Kids – A Rogue Cameraman
Robert Rodriguez’s films are usually far from family-friendly, so it was surprising when he released Spy Kids in 2001, which follows the Cortez siblings on a mission to save their parents.
Spy Kids A Rogue Cameraman
At the beginning of the film, there’s a shot of Carla Gugino sitting at a mirror, and in the background, you can see a cameraman reflected in it. This is hardly the only error in the film, but it’s perhaps the most blatant one.
Spider-Man – A Lamp That Self-Repairs
Sam Raimi’s 2002 film Spider-Man arguably kicked off the current superhero trend. In the film, Peter Parker, who is played by Tobey Maguire figures out he can shoot webs and starts messing around.
Spider Man A Lamp That Self Repairs
During the process, he destroys a lamp, yet in the very next shot, the lamp can be seen without any damage. This error was caused by multiple takes being stitched together, while not accounting for when they were shot. A small error.
The Usual Suspects – Missing Engines
The Usual Suspects is a tense neo-noir mystery film, plus it boasts an excellent cast. There is, however, a glaring error. In one scene, you can see an airport.
The Usual Suspects Missing Engines
In the first part of the scene, a plane with four engines can be seen, before the shot flips to the back of the plane. The problem is, in the second shot, the plan only has two engines. Was this meant to be another plane entirely?
Independence Day – Wrong Address
Independence Day set the template for alien invasion stories. Throughout the film, multiple global landmarks are destroyed by the invaders.
Independence Day Wrong Address
This includes the Empire State Building, which is leveled by a laser beam. The issue is that the address of the building is 53rd street in the film, while in reality, its address is actually 34th street. We’re not sure if this was an error, or if there was some legal reason for the difference.
American Sniper – A Fake Baby
Working with baby actors poses a lot of practical and legal challenges, and so some film productions choose to use dolls instead, but they usually do a good job of hiding the fact.
American Sniper A Fake Baby
The 2014 film American Sniper failed. In the film, Bradley Cooper’s character Chris Kyle is holding a baby, and it’s very obvious that the baby is in fact a toy. It’s not even something you have to look out for, you’ll notice.
The Patriot – No Aging At All
Aging can be a tricky thing to get right in films and television shows. The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson, chooses to dodge the issue entirely.
The Patriot No Aging At All
In it, although the film spans many years, none of the characters age at all. This is most glaring because of how many children are in the film, and children tend to change a lot over the early years of their life. An error, but one that was a choice.
Panic Room – Chemistry 101
In the thriller Panic Room, Jodie Foster’s character sets fire to a propane canister in an attempt to burn the poisonous gas and save the air they have left.
Panic Room Chemistry 101
In reality, the flame would have drawn even more oxygen out of the room, meaning the characters would have just run out of air sooner. Someone certainly skipped chemistry, but hey, in Hollywood, anything goes. Never let the truth get in the way of a story.
The Sound Of Music – A Cultural Oversight
In the classic film, The Sound Of Music, a family is stopped by some Nazis on their way to a festival, but are later allowed to pass through. The Nazi captain signals them with crossed fingers meaning “good luck” in English-speaking countries.
The Sound Of Music A Cultural Oversight
In Germany however, the symbol for good luck is pressing the thumbs. This is known as “Daumen drucken.” A small oversight, but one Germans would catch quickly. There’s a fun fact for you.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade – Numerous Inaccuracies
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade is perhaps the most popular film in the series, and it was set in 1938. One of the major points of the film was a Nazi rally in which they burn books.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade Numerous Inaccuracies
The problem is that the book burnings were done a lot earlier in 1933. By the time of the film, banned literature had all been destroyed. This was a scene that was certainly playing loose with history.
Malcolm X – Trying To Call 911
Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X was groundbreaking and a much-hailed performance. The film was mostly accurate, however, there was one small error.
Malcolm X Trying To Call 911
In one scene, after Malcolm X’s home is attacked, he cries out for someone to call 911. 911 wasn’t established as the emergency number until three years after Malcolm X was murdered. This is a pretty glaring oversight, but it’s often easy to lose finer details. It doesn’t detract from the scene.
Saving Private Ryan – Misplaced Motorcycle
Saving Private Ryan, set in World War 2, is a highly acclaimed film, but for years it’s been picked apart by history buffs for its many historical inaccuracies.
Saving Private Ryan Misplaced Motorcycle
One particular inaccuracy was the inclusion of a Ural M-63 model motorbike. That model of bike was not invented and put into production until nearly two decades after the end of the Second World War. Just one error among many others in this highly regarded war film.
Dallas Buyers Club – A Very New Lamborghini
Dallas Buyers Club is a highly acclaimed, albeit controversial drama that deals with the HIV/AIDs epidemic of the 1980s. Matthew McConaughy plays the main role.
Dallas Buyers Club A Very New Lamborghini
In one scene, while he sits in his office, a poster of a Lamborghini Aventador can be seen on the wall behind him. The film was set in 1985, but that model of car didn’t come out until 2011, around the time the film was shot. A small mistake.
Public Enemies – The Hit List
Now, this is quite a big error, especially given the topic of the film. In Public Enemies, Johnny Depp plays John Dillinger. In the film, both Pretty Boy Floyd and Babyface Nelson are killed by Dillinger.
Public Enemies The Hit List
In reality, Dillinger was gunned down before either of those two gangsters died, meaning it would have been impossible. Given that the film was about gangsters, there’s no one someone wouldn’t have picked this up. A very disappointing mistake.
The Shawshank Redemption – A Key Item
The Shawshank Redemption is a highly acclaimed film, and easily makes most people’s list of best films of all time.
The Shawshank Redemption A Key Item
One of the key moments in the film, and one that has been parodied many times, is when the main character covers an escape route with a poster. The poster is of Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C. That film actually didn’t come out until well after the events of The Shawshank Redemption.
Straight Outta Compton – An Incorrect Logo
Straight Outta Compton was a smash hit. The film is a historical drama that charts the rise, and later fragmentation of the California rap collective NWA.
Straight Outta Compton An Incorrect Logo
The film was loved by many but was snubbed at the Academy Awards. Despite being accurate, there was one small error. Eazy-E is wearing a Whitesox hat, but the logo is the modern one, rather than the period-accurate one. This small error was quickly spotted by many avid viewers.
Halloween – The Wrong Trees
Halloween released in 1978 is regarded as the film that set the template for all slasher films to follow.
Halloween The Wrong Trees
The film was set in the fictional town of Haddonfield in Illinois, however, if you look at the background, you can see palm trees, which gives away where the film was actually shot. It was shot on a studio lot in California. This small error is one that mainly Californians or those from Illinois would notice.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Eye Color Issue
When a book is adapted into a film, there are bound to be differences. Sometimes the differences are accepted as practical issues, while at other times, it’s just oversight.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Eye Color Issue
One that bothered fans of Harry Potter was the fact that in the book his eyes were green, while in the film they’re blue. They’re also supposed to be his mother’s eyes, but in the film hers are brown. Many considered this quite a glaring oversight.
Top Gun – Aerial Maneuvers
Top Gun is a well-loved film franchise and has recently made a comeback with Top Gun Maverick released in 2022. In the original, there’s a famous scene in which Maverick and Goose fly their planes back to back, with one upside down.
Top Gun Aerial Maneuvers
In reality, this would be impossible, and cause a crash as the plane stabilizers would have hit each other. Top Gun was really all about style, so nothing would get in the way.
Charlie’s Angels – Confusing Names
Although Charlie’s Angels was an old TV show, it hit wider fame when it was remade as a film in 2000. It stars Drey Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. Crispin Glover plays the antagonist and was commended for his performance.
Charlies Angels Confusing Names
In one scene, as the Angles pursue him and dodge his gunfire, Barrymore accidentally calls Lucy Liu by her real name instead of her character’s name. It was an error that was left in.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End – The Creation Of Singapore
Here’s another one from Pirates of The Caribbean. In the third film, At World’s End, the crew sails the Black Pearl to Singapore, which is followed by an impressive action scene.
Pirates Of The Caribbean At Worlds End The Creation Of Singapore
However, Singapore wouldn’t exist for years after the time period the film was set in. This was quite a glaring oversight, but again, the truth shouldn’t get in the way of an action scene. This scene is early in the film but extremely memorable.