Movies go through countless rounds of edits and pass through numerous hands before getting released to the public—and yet, there still seem to be blatant blunders in almost every feature film.
Even if you don't necessarily catch every single discrepancy or glaring error, the mishaps are most certainly there—and once you know what to look for, you'll never be able to unsee them. From camera crews caught on film to timelines that seriously don't add up, here are some serious movie mistakes that you won't believe you didn't notice before. And to bone up on even more movie-making trivia, don't miss the50 Famous Movie Lines That Were Ad-Libbed.
1
Jurassic Park: The Helping Hand
Fans ofSteven Spielberg'sJurassic Park likely remember the scene in the film in which giant velociraptors chase Lex and Tim Murphy through the kitchen. However, what most viewers probably didn't pick up on was that as the first dinosaur walks through the kitchen entrance, there is a brief period in which you can see the hand of one of the crew members holding onto the beast to keep it steady. Oops!
2
Spider-Man: The "Broken" Lamp
In Spider-Man (2002), there is a scene at the beginning of the movie in which Peter Parker is first discovering his powers and, in the process of testing them, accidentally breaks a lamp in his room. However, when his aunt comes in to see what's causing all the noise, the lamp has miraculously fixed itself and is back in its former resting place. Oops!
3
The Shining: The Magic Hedge Maze
Stanley Kubrick'shorrifyingThe Shining takes place at an isolated hotel, the exteriors of which are first seen at the beginning of the film. However, one thing that is noticeably absent in this initial shot is the hedge maze, which later magically shows up right next to the hotel and plays a big role in the film's plot. And if you love horror films likeThe Shining, then queue up the40 Best Horror Movies for Totally Freaking Yourself Out.
4
Harry Potter: "You Have Your Mother's Eyes"
One of the most memorable moments in theHarry Potter series comes in its final installment,when Severus Snape is on his deathbed and warmly tells Harry that he has his mother's eyes. This moment should be memorable because it's the very instance in which Snape reveals his innermost vulnerabilities and motivations, but what makes it so iconic in the films is the fact that Harry has blue eyes and his mother had brown, giving them no resemblance whatsoever. (In the books, both of their eyes are green.) And if you love all things Harry Potter, check out the 35 Ways Harry Potter Is Still Crazy Relevant.
5
O Brother, Where Art Thou?: The Exit Sign from the Future
Though the Cohen brothers' 2000 crime comedyO Brother, Where Art Thou?is supposed to take place in 1937, one scene set in a movie theater prominently features a glowing exit sign that is very clearly from the modern era. And for more silly slip-ups, don't miss the30 Most Shocking Things That Have Ever Happened on Live TV.
6
John Wick: The Implausible Gas Station Scene
The originalJohn Wick film begins at a gas station in New Jersey, where Wick, while refilling his tank, encounters some Russian gangsters who offer to buy his vintage Mustang. However, what doesn't compute about this scene is that pumping your own gas in New Jersey is technically illegal, so Wick couldn't be casually pumping away.
7
Back to the Future: The Guitar from the Future
At the end ofBack to the Future, once Marty McFly has successfully gotten his parents together at the prom, the teen takes to the stage to kill it on the guitar. And though the entire premise of the movie is that Marty is from the future, it doesn't seem to add up that somehow the guitar he uses at his parents' 1955 prom—a Gibson ES-345—didn't first hit he market until 1958.
8
Ocean's Eleven: The Shrimp Cocktail
InOcean's Eleven, there is a scene in whichBrad Pitt'scharacter Rusty is standing at the Bellagio eating a shrimp cocktail. However, at one point the angle shifts, and suddenly Rusty is eating shrimp off of a plate.
9
Bernie: The Cell Phone That Shouldn't Exist
The 2011Richard LinklaterfilmBernietells the story of the 1996 murder of millionaire Marjorie Nugent in Carthage, Texas. And while most of the story line is based on true events, one thing that the film definitely gets wrong is the use of iPhones throughout the film, seeing as the first iteration of the iPhone wasn't released until 2007.
10
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: The Accidental Extras
The second basketball sceneinOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, in which McMurphy gets into a shouting match with Martini because he threw the ball against the fence, is memorable not just for its comedic moments, but also because at one point, you can easily see the crew and several spotlights in the shot directly behind the chainlink fence. And for more movie tidbits, check out the15 Times Actors Turned Down Hugely Iconic Roles.
11
The Dark Knight Rises: The Newspaper Typo
At the beginning ofThe Dark Knight Rises, Bruce Wayne/Batman is seen reading a newspaper article about a "cat" burglar wreaking havoc on the city. The only problem?The Gotham Times apparently doesn't know how to spell the wordheist.
12
Braveheart: The Disappearing Food Scraps
In the final moments ofBraveheart,Mel Gibson'sWilliam Wallace is pelted with food as he is led to his execution, and many of the scraps stick to his hair and face. However, when he is at the podium about to be hanged just minutes later, Wallace is suddenly completely clean, with not a scrap of food on him.
13
Inglourious Basterds: The Badge That Comes and Goes
In the filmInglourious Basterds, German Sergeant Werner Rachtman is seen in some shots with a badge over his left pocket and in others without it.
14
Spotlight: The Notebook
Based on true events, Oscar-nominated filmSpotlight tells the story of a team of Boston Globe journalists who investigated disturbing molestation allegations made against a priest. In one scene in the film,Rachel McAdams'character Sacha sits at a coffeeshop with one of the priest's victims to get his story for the investigation, jotting down notes as they talk.
However, what doesn't seem to add up is that even though Rachel/Sacha continues to take notes throughout the scene, she somehow manages tolose notes as the scene progresses with no continuity regarding the notebook whatsoever.
15
The Goonies: The Octopus
At the end of 1985'sThe Goonies, one of the boys tells a reporter that the scariest part of his wild adventure is "the octopus." The only issue with this answer is that the octopus scene was deleted from the original film, so viewers likely had no idea what he was talking about.
16
American Sniper: The Fake Baby
Some movie mistakes are subtle, but others—like this blatant blunder inAmerican Sniper—are so ridiculous that you can't help but see them. Basically,Bradley Cooper'scharacter in the movie is supposed to be cradling a live baby—but since the "live" baby is a doll, he uses his thumb to move its arm and give it life. Critics and moviegoers alike quickly picked up on this ridiculous error, and Cooper even later laughed about it onEllen, sayingthat he "couldn't believe that we were working with a plastic baby." Neither could anyone else, Bradley.
17
Grease: The Light Switch
Even though it first came out in 1978,Grease remains one of the most well-known musicals ever. But even devout fans of the original film might not realize that in one of the scenes in the milkshake shop, a waitress tries to switch off the lights with her elbow and misses completely… and yet, the lights miraculously turn off anyway. And if you remember seeingGrease in theaters as a teen, then check out these20 Photos Only Kids Who Grew up in the 1970s Will Understand.
18
Dallas Buyers Club: The Lamborghini Poster
The movie Dallas Buyers Clubtakes place in the 1980s, but behind his desk, main character Ron Woodroof (played by Matthew McConaughey)has a poster hanging of a Lamborghini Aventador—a car that wasn't made until 2011.
19
Clueless: The Magic Sideview Mirror
InClueless, Cher Horowitz infamously becomes known as "just a virgin who can't drive" after hitting parked cars and destroying her sideview mirror during her driver's test. However, as she brings her Jeep to a stop to conclude her failed test, you can see that her formerly missing mirror has somehow reappeared and is in pristine condition.
20
Pretty Woman: The Shape-Shifting Breakfast
When she is presented with a beautiful spread of breakfast foods, Vivian Ward (played byJulia Roberts) opts for a croissant while Edward Lewis (played by Richard Gere) reads the paper. Bust just a few shots later, the breakfast in Ward's hand has magically changed, transforming from a buttery croissant into a partially-eaten pancake.
21
Titanic: The Lake Slip-Up
At one point in the filmTitanic,Leonardo DiCaprio'scharacter Jack Dawson talks about Lake Wissota, a man-made lake in Wisconsin. The issue here is that the lake wasn't built until 1917—and the film takes place in 1912. And if you love this iconic movie, then check out the20 Facts Titanic Gets Wrong.
22
Quantum of Solace: The Miming Cleaner
Look carefully at this still fromQuantum of Solace. Behind Daniel Craig, you'll notice that a maintenance worker who is supposed to be sweeping the ground is actually just making sweeping movements in the air like a mime. It's certainly understandable not wanting clouds of dust in the shot, but how director Marc Forsterthought no one would notice this is just beyond us.
23
Transformers: Age of Extinction: The Teleporting Man
IsMichael BayaHarry Potterfan? We only ask because during the most recent installment of theTransformers franchise, a mystery man magically appears behindMark Walhbergduring one of the many destructive battles and subsequently disappears, and the only logical explanation for that is that he must've apparated.
24
Pulp Fiction: The Red Mark
Though it's lauded as one of the best films of the 20th century,evenQuentin Tarantino'sPulp Fictionhas its fair share of faults. Take the iconic adrenaline shot scene, for instance: At the beginning of the scene, the characters make a big deal out of marking Mia's chest with a red marker, but the mark is gone by the time she is awoken from her overdose.
25
The Wizard of Oz: The Slippers That Change Colors
Dorothy inThe Wizard of Ozis known for several things, most notably her ruby red slippers. However, during the scene in the film whenher and Scarecrow fight with the apple trees, there is a brief moment as Scarecrow falls in which her signature slippers become black before returning to red almost instantly.
26
The Usual Suspects: The Plane With Missing Engines
Though many films use shots of airplanes taking off and landing to signify a character's arrival or a change of scenery,The Usual Suspects did so in an utterly… unique way. When the plane in the film takes off, it has the four engines of a Boeing 747, but in the next shot the very same plane only has two engines.
27
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Random Cowboy
One of the members of thePirates of the Caribbeancrew accidentally made it into thefinal sceneof the first film, forever giving the Black Pearl a bit of Southern charm with his cowboy hat and dark shades.
28
The Hurt Locker: The YouTube Video
In one of the scenes inThe Hurt Locker, two soldiers are overheard talking about an Iraqi who is going to upload a video to YouTube. But since the movie takes place in 2004, the soldiers should have no idea what YouTube is, given that the video platform didn't even exist until 2005.
29
Bad Boys: The Obvious Cameraman
EitherBad Boys directorRick Rosenthalthought that a rogue cameraman could pass as an extra in this fight scene, or he just didn't care enough to reshoot the entire thing.
30
Forrest Gump: The Impossible Investment
Forrest Gump does a lot of crazy and implausible things throughout his lifetime, but investing in Apple in 1975 is perhaps the craziest. Why? Apple wasn't publicly traded until 1980, and so there's no possible way that he—or anyone—could've bought stock in the company. And for more absurdities you have to see to believe, check out the20 Craziest Celeb Twitter Meltdowns.
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FAQs
What is it called when you find a mistake in a movie? ›
A blooper is a short clip from a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or news report, usually in terms of misspoken words or technical errors.
What is a continuity error in movies? ›A continuity error is a lapse in the self-consistency of the scene or story being portrayed.
Why are there so many mistakes in movies? ›Why do such movie mistakes occur? Quite often the answer lies in the high pressure world of commercial film making. Directors generally work under tight budget and time restraints, and re-shooting scenes can be a logistical nightmare.
Is there a car in Braveheart? ›What has more horsepower than William Wallace and his merry men? A car. Yep, as Mel Gibson's character leads his men into battle on horseback a car can be seen in the background of the shot.
Why is it called a blooper? ›The word blooper was coined from the word bloop, which was a term used in American radio in the 1920s to refer to a terrible, annoying feedback noise that affected nearby radios when users tuned their sets incorrectly.
What causes continuity error? ›Minor change in a character's or object's position or any change that can be reasonably attributed to the passage of time from shot to shot/ scene to scene. Any major change to a character or object that causes a noticeable break or inconsistency in the story.
What is continuity in a story? ›Continuity is the principle of making sure that all details in a film or TV show are consistent from shot to shot, and from scene to scene. If a scene upholds the standards of continuity, each shot feels as though it flows from the previous shot, reinforcing a sense of realism in the story.
Do continuity errors matter? ›So, do continuity errors matter? Yes and no. You should always try to watch for continuity to make your edit as free of errors as possible. But while some may slip through the cracks, most people aren't going to notice them, and most of those that do aren't going to care that much.
Where in Scotland was Braveheart filmed? ›Braveheart was filmed in Aonach Eagach, Ardmore Studios, Ballymore Eustace, Bective Abbey, Coronation Plantation, Curragh Plains, Dunsany Castle, Dunsoghly Castle, Glen Nevis, Glencoe, Kippure Estate, Loch Leven, Sally Gap, The Curragh, Trim and Trim Castle.
Was Robert the Bruce Braveheart? ›Robert, the 17th Earl of Bruce is the deuteragonist in the 1995 film Braveheart and the titular main protagonist of it's 2019 sequel Robert the Bruce. Robert was portrayed by the Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen. He was the son of a leprosy-ridden Scottish nobleman named Robert the Elder.
Where was Braveheart filmed? ›
Despite initially declining, Gibson eventually decided to direct the film, as well as star as Wallace. Braveheart was filmed in Scotland and Ireland from June to October 1994 with a budget around $65–70 million.
What kind of animal is blooper? ›...
Blooper (mascot)
| Blooper | |
|---|---|
| Website | Official Website |
Bloopers (often referred to as Bloobers until Paper Mario, though Blooper was occasionally used beforehand) are squid-like creatures that are found in the ocean. They made their first appearance in Super Mario Bros., and various kinds of them have appeared in most Mario games since, normally as enemies.
What is mean by blooper in English? ›blooper. noun [ C ] us. /ˈblu·pər/ a mistake, often amusing, made by a person in public.
What is the role of a continuity person? ›A script supervisor (also called continuity supervisor or script) is a member of a film crew who oversees the continuity of the motion picture including wardrobe, props, set dressing, hair, makeup and the actions of the actors during a scene.
What is an example of continuity in film? ›For example, a shot of someone tossing a ball can be edited to show two different views, while maintaining temporal continuity by being sure that the second shot shows the arm of the subject in the same stage of its motion as it was left when cutting from the first shot.
What is the importance of continuity in film? ›To keep an audience immersed in a story, careful attention to continuity is essential in the filming and editing process. If done well, the final edit looks seamless, as if multiple cameras all captured the same event unfolding in real-time.
What is the meaning of a movie buff? ›You use buff to describe someone who knows a lot about a particular subject. For example, if you describe someone as a film buff, you mean that they know a lot about films. [...] [informal]
Can Shazam detect movies? ›Movies are a little tricker: There isn't really a 'Shazam for movies,' as it were, perhaps because it's less likely that you're going to be watching something that you don't know the title of.
How do you find a film you can't remember the name of? ›One of the easiest ways to find a movie title is by searching the actors who were in it. You can look up an actor's Wikipedia or IMDb page to check their filmography, and you should find the movie you're looking for there.