Top 10 Movie Mistakes You Never Noticed: A Thorough Examination

Movies transport us to magical worlds and captivate our imaginations, but even Hollywood’s finest sometimes slip up.

From continuity errors to anachronisms, these mistakes often go unnoticed by casual viewers.

However, eagle-eyed fans have spotted some hilarious and surprising blunders in even the most beloved films.

Let’s dive deep into the top 10 movie mistakes that you might have missed, exploring their context, impact, and the fascinating stories behind them.

1. The Disappearing/Reappearing Goatee in “Fast and Furious 6” (2013)

The “Fast and Furious” franchise is known for its high-octane action and disregard for the laws of physics.

However, in the sixth installment, the filmmakers seem to have forgotten about the laws of grooming as well.

During a single chase scene, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character, Luke Hobbs, undergoes a miraculous facial hair transformation.

At one moment, he sports his signature goatee, but in the next shot, it’s gone.

Then, defying all logic (and the speed of hair growth), the goatee reappears moments later.

This continuity error likely occurred due to reshoots or scenes being filmed out of sequence.

It’s a common issue in filmmaking but one that’s usually caught in the editing process.

The fact that it made it to the final cut in such a big-budget production is both surprising and amusing.

For fans, this goof has become a source of entertainment in its own right.

Some jokingly speculate about Hobbs having super-fast hair growth as one of his special agent abilities.

Others use it as a testament to the frenetic pace of the film’s action – so fast that even facial hair can’t keep up!

2. The Time-Traveling Boeing in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019)

Quentin Tarantino is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, which makes this historical inaccuracy in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” all the more surprising.

In the film, set in 1969, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Rick Dalton, is shown flying back to Hollywood on a Boeing 747.

However, as pointed out by none other than John Travolta (a trained pilot and aviation enthusiast), this would have been impossible.

The Boeing 747 didn’t enter commercial service until January 1970, making Dalton’s flight anachronistic by several months.

This mistake is particularly interesting because of Tarantino’s reputation for historical accuracy and his love of period details.

It’s possible that the 747 was chosen for its iconic status as a symbol of the jet age, even if it meant bending historical truth slightly.

Travolta caught the error while viewing the film.

He noted,

“Well, the 747 had its test flight in February 1969, but it went into service in January 1970. They’re nine months off! He would have been on a Boeing 707!”

Via Independent

This mistake reminds us that even the most detail-oriented filmmakers can sometimes prioritize iconic imagery over strict historical accuracy.

3. The Magical Breakfast in “Pretty Woman” (1990)

In this beloved romantic comedy, Julia Roberts‘ character, Vivian, performs an accidental culinary miracle during a breakfast scene with Richard Gere’s Edward.

The scene begins with Vivian taking a bite from a croissant.

However, when the camera pans back to her, she’s suddenly eating a pancake.

As if that weren’t puzzling enough, when she takes another bite of the pancake, there’s only one bite mark visible.

This continuity error likely occurred due to multiple takes of the scene being spliced together.

It’s common for scenes involving food to be shot multiple times, with reset plates between takes.

In this case, it seems the continuity person (responsible for maintaining consistency between shots) missed the switch.

What makes this mistake particularly charming is how it contrasts with the fairy-tale nature of the film.

In a movie where a businessman falls in love with a sex worker and transforms her life, perhaps a magical transforming breakfast isn’t so out of place after all!

Fans of the film often cite this mistake as one of their favorite ‘Easter eggs‘, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to repeat viewings.

It’s become so well-known that it’s even referenced in discussions about film continuity in film schools.

4. The Bullet Hole Time Machine in “Pulp Fiction” (1994)

In one of Quentin Tarantino’s most iconic films, there’s a puzzling sequence that has sparked debate among film buffs for years.

In the apartment scene where Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) confront Brett and his associates, bullet holes can be seen on the wall behind Brett before any shots are fired.

This apparent mistake occurs when Jules and Vincent enter the apartment.

Observant viewers can see that there are no bullet holes in the wall.

However, in the next shot, before the shooting begins, the bullet holes are clearly visible.

The presence of these premature bullet holes has led to various interpretations:

• Continuity Error: The simplest explanation is that it’s a mistake in film continuity. The scene with the bullet holes might have been shot after the shooting scene, and the crew forgot to reset the wall.

• Intentional Foreshadowing: Some fans argue that Tarantino, known for his non-linear storytelling, included this as a subtle hint of what’s to come.

• Divine Intervention Theory: In the film, Jules believes that their survival of the shooting is due to divine intervention. Some viewers argue that the preexisting bullet holes support this theory, suggesting a predestined outcome.

• Artistic Choice: Others believe it was an intentional choice to add to the surreal, heightened reality of the film’s universe.

Tarantino himself has never officially commented on this, leaving it open to interpretation.

This ambiguity has made the “Pulp Fiction bullet holes” a topic of ongoing discussion among film enthusiasts, demonstrating how even apparent mistakes can add depth and intrigue to a film’s legacy.

5. The Wrong Way to Berkeley in “The Graduate” (1967)

In this classic coming-of-age film, there’s a memorable scene where Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin Braddock, races across the Bay Bridge to stop the wedding of Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross).

This scene is set to the iconic Simon & Garfunkel song “Mrs. Robinson,” creating a perfect blend of visual and auditory storytelling.

However, anyone familiar with San Francisco’s geography will quickly spot a glaring error.

Benjamin is shown driving on the upper deck of the Bay Bridge, heading towards the camera.

In reality, the upper deck carries traffic from the East Bay (where Berkeley is located) into San Francisco, not the other way around.

This mistake likely occurred due to a combination of factors:

• Filming Logistics: It’s possible that filming on the lower deck (which does head towards Berkeley) was more difficult or didn’t provide the desired visual effect.

• Dramatic Effect: The shot of Benjamin driving towards the camera, with the bridge stretching out behind him, is visually striking and conveys a sense of urgency. This cinematic consideration may have outweighed geographical accuracy.

• Out-of-Town Production: The filmmakers, potentially not being from the Bay Area, might not have been aware of the directional specifics of the bridge.

Despite this geographical inaccuracy, the scene remains powerful and effective in conveying Benjamin’s desperate rush to prevent the wedding.

It’s a prime example of how filmmakers sometimes prioritize emotional impact and visual aesthetics over strict factual accuracy.

For San Francisco natives and Bay Area residents, this mistake has become something of an inside joke.

It’s often pointed out during screenings of the film, adding an extra layer of enjoyment for those in the know.

6. The Plastic Baby in “American Sniper” (2015)

In Clint Eastwood’s biographical war drama “American Sniper,” there’s a scene that was meant to be poignant but ended up being unintentionally comedic due to a prop mishap.

The scene in question shows Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) and his wife Taya (Sienna Miller) with their newborn baby.

The emotional weight of the moment, however, is somewhat undercut by the fact that the “baby” is very clearly a plastic doll.

This mistake is particularly noticeable because:

• The doll doesn’t move at all, remaining rigid in Cooper’s arms.

• Its skin tone and texture are visibly artificial.

• Cooper can be seen subtly moving the doll’s arm with his hand to create some semblance of movement.

The use of dolls in place of real infants is not uncommon in filmmaking, especially for brief scenes.

Real babies can be unpredictable, may not be allowed to work long hours due to labor laws, and some shots might pose safety concerns.

However, the dolls used are typically much more realistic than the ones seen in this scene.

The mistake became widely discussed after the film’s release, with many viewers expressing surprise that such an obvious prop issue made it into the final cut of a major Hollywood production.

Bradley Cooper himself addressed the issue in interviews, admitting that it was “nuts” and explaining that they had planned to use a real baby, but the child was ill on the day of the shooting.

This incident reminds filmmakers of the challenges they face in creating realistic scenes, especially those involving infants.

It also highlights how even small details can sometimes break the audience’s suspension of disbelief in an otherwise serious and well-crafted film.

Despite the criticism, “American Sniper” was still a commercial and critical success, earning several Academy Award nominations.

The plastic baby scene, while initially seen as an embarrassing mistake, has since become an endearing part of the film’s legacy, often referenced humorously in discussions about movie props and production challenges.

7. The Stormtrooper Head Bump in “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)

In the vast universe of “Star Wars,” filled with high-tech gadgetry and futuristic design, one would expect the Empire’s facilities to accommodate their troops comfortably.

However, in one brief moment in “A New Hope,” we see that even the feared Stormtroopers aren’t immune to workplace hazards.

The famous blooper occurs as a group of Stormtroopers march into a control room on the Death Star.

Just as they enter, the trooper on the right audibly bumps his head on the door frame.

The moment is quick, but once you’ve seen it, it’s impossible to unsee it in subsequent viewings.

This charming mistake has several interesting aspects:

• Unplanned Nature: The head bump was entirely accidental. The actor, Laurie Goode, later revealed that he was feeling ill that day due to an upset stomach, which may have contributed to his lack of spatial awareness.

• Sound Effect: Interestingly, the audible “thunk” was added in post-production. This suggests that rather than try to hide the mistake, the sound editors decided to emphasize it for comedic effect.

• Cultural Impact: The blooper has become one of the most famous films in history. It’s so well-known that it was even referenced in subsequent Star Wars films. In “Attack of the Clones,” Jango Fett deliberately ducks to avoid hitting his head in a similar doorway, a clear nod to the original goof.

• Fans’ Affection: Rather than detracting from the film, this mistake has endeared itself to fans. It adds a touch of humanity and imperfection to the otherwise sleek and imposing Empire.

• George Lucas’s Approach: In the 2004 DVD release of the original trilogy, Lucas added a comedic “bonk” sound effect to the scene, further highlighting the blooper instead of trying to obscure it.

This mistake reminds us that even in the most meticulously crafted films, human error can slip through.

8. The Disappearing/Reappearing ‘X’ in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989)

In the third installment of the Indiana Jones series, there’s a famous scene where Indy (Harrison Ford) and his father (Sean Connery) search for the knight’s tomb in a Venetian library.

Indy realizes that “X marks the spot” and looks down from a balcony to see a large ‘X’ on the floor below.

However, eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a perplexing continuity error in this scene:

• When Indy first spots the ‘X’ from the balcony, it’s clearly visible and prominent.

• As he descends to the main floor, the ‘X’ is still visible.

• But when Indy starts to break the floor tiles, the ‘X’ has mysteriously vanished or become just a faint shadow.

• In subsequent shots, the ‘X’ seems to fade in and out of existence.

This inconsistency likely occurred due to the logistics of filming:

• The scene was probably shot out of sequence, with the floor-breaking shots done separately from the balcony shots.

• The ‘X’ might have been added digitally in some shots but not others.

• Set dressing between takes might have accidentally removed or faded the ‘X’.

Despite this error, the scene remains one of the most memorable in the film, showcasing Indiana Jones’s quick thinking and the exciting puzzle-solving aspect of his adventures.

The disappearing ‘X’ has become a topic of amusement among fans, with some jokingly suggesting that the Holy Grail’s powers extend to making floor markings vanish.

9. The Time-Traveling Ant-Man in “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)

In the climactic battle scene of “Avengers: Endgame,” keen-eyed viewers spotted a continuity error involving Paul Rudd’s character, Scott Lang (Ant-Man).

This mistake is particularly noteworthy given the film’s meticulous attention to detail in managing its complex time-travel plot.

The error occurs in the following sequence:

• Ant-Man is shown in his human-sized form, working with Hope van Dyne (The Wasp) to repair the quantum tunnel in Luis’s van.

• In the same scene, Giant-Man (Ant-Man’s enormous form) can be seen fighting in the background.

This apparent duplication of Ant-Man has led to much discussion among Marvel fans:

1. Continuity Error: The simplest explanation is that it’s a mistake in editing or CGI placement. Given the complexity of the battle scene, with numerous characters and extensive CGI, such an oversight is understandable.
2. In-Universe Explanations: Some fans have tried to rationalize the error within the MCU’s logic:

• Time travel shenanigans: Given the film’s plot, some suggest it could be Ant-Man from different points in time.
• Quantum realm duplication: Others propose that his quantum realm abilities might allow him to be in two places at once.

1. Hank Pym Theory: A popular fan theory suggests that the Giant-Man we see could actually be Hank Pym (the original Ant-Man) in the Ant-Man suit, explaining the apparent duplication.

The directors, the Russo brothers, have not officially addressed this error, leaving it open to fan interpretation and speculation.

This mistake, while noticeable to attentive viewers, doesn’t significantly impact the overall enjoyment of the film.

Instead, it has become a point of engagement for the fan community, sparking discussions and creative theories.

10. The Anachronistic Car in “Braveheart” (1995)

Mel Gibson’s epic historical drama “Braveheart,” set in 13th century Scotland, is known for its sweeping battle scenes and stirring depiction of William Wallace’s fight for Scottish independence.

However, it’s also notorious among history buffs and keen-eyed viewers for several anachronisms, the most glaring of which is the appearance of a white car in the background of a battle scene.

The mistake occurs during one of the film’s large-scale battle sequences.

If you look carefully in the background, you can spot a white car parked on a hillside.

This vehicle, likely belonging to a crew member, is obviously centuries ahead of its time in a film set in medieval Scotland.

This error is particularly interesting for several reasons:

• Scale of the Mistake: In a film that generally pays close attention to period details in costumes and set design, such a modern intrusion is surprising.

• Difficulty of Spotting: The car is only visible for a brief moment and is easy to miss if you’re caught up in the action of the battle scene. This explains how it might have slipped.