Time, hard work, and money are just a few crucial aspects needed to create a movie from the start to the very end. Unfortunately, regardless of how much money a producer pumps into his or her flick, some mistakes go unnoticed. While some are teeny-tiny slip-ups, others are glaringly obvious and so ridiculous that it’s a miracle they even survived the editing process. From Dallas Buyers Club to Pretty Woman to Pirates of the Caribbean and beyond, these movie mistakes somehow still made it to the big screen.
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ – Modern Extras
Yes, we are unfortunately picking on Indiana Jones, aka Harrison Ford, right now. Particularly Raiders of the Lost Ark but there’s a reason. Right after Marion’s truck explodes, we see Indy drinking away his sorrow while at a bar. However take a look at the background. Yup, that really is an extra walking around in jeans and a white t-shirt.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark – Modern Extras
‘Dirty Dancing’ – Magic Gearshift
Patrick Swayze and Dirty Dancing are two words that’ll make any girl weak in the knees. So you know the scene where Swayze is driving his fancy car and Baby is changing in the back seat? Yup, sure you do! Well it clearly shows that the gear shift is in park but the scene clearly shows the duo driving…. OH.
Dirty Dancing – Magic Gearshift
‘Dallas Buyers Club’ – The Lambo
Dallas Buyers Club is truly a masterpiece, complete with fancy awards to prove it. But hey, you knew that already. But did you know that there was one giant, glaring movie mistake that we just can’t overlook? Surely you know that the film was set in the year 1985 so then explain to us what a poster of a 2011 Lamborghini Aventador is doing in Ron Woodroof’s (Matthew McConaughey’s character) office.
Dallas Buyers Club – The Lambo
‘Reservoir Dogs’ – Changing Handcuffs
Marvin Nash pulls a seriously impressive Houdini in this particular scene. Essentially, he is being dragged to a secret hideout while his hands are cuffed tightly behind his back. After he takes a serious beating, the next scene shows that somehow Nash’s hands are now cuffed…in front of his body. Magic? Not likely.
Reservoir Dogs – Changing Handcuffs
‘The Dark Knight’ – Newspaper Typo
At first glance, you may think that this specific image of a newspaper headline is no cause for alarm, until you look more closely. The writer of this fake movie newspaper actually misspelled the word “heist” and the editors, heck the producers, didn’t change it. Oh.
The Dark Knight – Newspaper Typo
‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ – The Cowboy Crew Member
When it comes to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as a whole, we hope you’re ready to laugh hysterically and to of course be shocked by some insane stunts. However we want you to put your thinking caps on, all the way back to the very first film and to one of first scenes when Captain Jack Sparrow yells, “On deck, you scabrous dogs!” Immediately, you watch the characters run out and get to work but there’s one particular character who isn’t like the others. Yah know, the one in the cowboy hat.
Pirates Of The Caribbean –
The Cowboy Crew Member
‘Gladiator’ – Motorized Chariot
Personally, Gladiator is one of my all time favorite films and Russell Crowe is by every definition of the word perfect in his role – but that’s pretty much a given. Be that as it may, we have to focus your attention to the fight scene in the Coliseum when a chariot overturns. As it overturns, you can clearly see that underneath the chariot, there is a gas canister – yup, pretty sure that gas canisters didn’t exist during the Roman Empire. Smooth? No way.
Gladiator – Motorized Chariot
‘Grease’ – The Magic Lightswitch
Grease is synonymous with the 70’s, great music, and John Travolta. With that in mind, there is a clear mistake which so could have been avoided. We’re talking about the scene when the waitress absolutely misses the light switch while walking to the kitchen but magically, the lights come on anyway.
Grease – The Magic Lightswitch
‘Pulp Fiction’ – Bullet Holes
“English, do you speak it?” Man, what an epic scene. Don’t worry, we don’t have anything to say about that moment other than its brilliant. Remember the intense shooting war? Well needless to say the wall was covered with bullet holes….before the shooting ever took place.
Pulp Fiction – Bullet Holes
‘Pretty Woman’ – Transforming Breakfast
Whoa, this is a pretty significant 90’s rom-com, Pretty Woman. While we adore Julia Roberts and Richard Gere on-screen together, there is one production mistake that we just can’t let slide: the case of Julia Roberts and her “transforming breakfast.” There is a scene where Roberts is eating a croissant for breakfast, I know no cause for alarm here. Expect for the shot which immediately follows, she’s now eating a pancake. Pretty sure you don’t need a graphic design degree to figure out this is one mistake which could have easily been avoided.
Pretty Woman – Transforming Breakfast
‘North by Northwest’ – Mount Rushmore Shootout
Contrary to popular belief, prop guns are incredibly loud, just take a look at the kid in the background of North by Northwest. Specifically the shooting scene at Mount Rushmore. See, he covers his ears BEFORE the gun goes off. Guess he sat through this scene one too many times and was a little too prepared.
North By Northwest – Mount Rushmore Shootout
‘Bad Boys’ – The Camera Man
No, no, we don’t mean the one starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, but rather the one with Sean Penn. So there’s this huge fight scene in the film, and you see the camera man in every close up! Smooth. Oh wait.
Bad Boys – The Camera Man
‘Matrix’ – The Pre-Broken Pillars
Think back to the first Matrix flick, specifically the fight scene in the warehouse between Neo and Agent Smith. There’s a shot shown where a stone pillar gets punched clean through by Agent Smith’s bare fist. However when Neo goes to duck under Smith’s blow, it reveals said stone pillar but it’s already busted before the punch makes contact. Nice one.
Matrix – The Pre Broken Pillars
’10 Things I Hate About You’ – The Archery Scene
We won’t spoil that particular heartwarming scene (you know the one we mean) but instead the one when Bianca shoots her gym teacher with an arrow. Immediately the teacher sends another student to go get her some help. Of course said student sprints to “get help” but they make the mistake of stopping short of the exiting frame. So she just assumed that she was out of shot but she wasn’t – and it stayed in the movie!
10 Things I Hate About You -The Archery Scene
‘Braveheart’ – Watch for Cars
There are actually so many Braveheart editing and technical mistakes but our favorite has got to the car. Yes, we said car. Just take a look at the photo below, in the messy fight scene, there’s a car which can clearly be seen in the bottom left corner.
Braveheart – Watch For Cars
‘Lord of the Rings’/The Hobbit – Legolas’ Eyes
Yup, not even Orlando Bloom can escape the list. During the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, it is 100% know that Legolas’ eyes are a crystal clear blue. However in The Hobbit, his eyes are magically a dark brown. Despite the fact that it’s the same actor playing the same role under the same director.
Lord Of The Rings/The Hobbit – Legolas’ Eyes
‘Tombstone’ – Fake Rain
Turns out that creating fake rain is much harder than we imagined. Take a close look at how the rain pools right when the camera moves along farther down the street. Typically, the farther away you get from the camera then it means that the set should be drier, as that means that this is where the rain was hosed in. However that’s not the case here.
Tombstone – Fake Rain
‘Back to the Future’ – Marty McFly’s Guitar
Sorry to pick on the brilliance of Back to the Future but it’s necessary. Marty travels to the year 1955 and he’s in high school, jamming a killer tune on a wickedly sweet guitar, however the ES-345 didn’t actually debut until 1959. Whoops.
Back To The Future – Marty McFly’s Guitar
‘She’s All That’ – Tattoo
Another 90’s rom-com makes the list! This time, it’s the witty She’s All That starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook. Anyways, if you recall Taylor, played by Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, gets a heart tattoo. However by the time the epic prom scene comes on later on, it seems to have disappeared. What a humdinger.
Shes All That – Tattoo
‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ – Lily Potter’s Eyes
As a H.P. fan, it hurts to include this in the list but alas, it must be done. All throughout the book series, Harry Potter is constantly told that he had eyes just like his mother’s. They were a beautiful shade of green; however, we have to mention that in the final film, the actor who portrays Lily Potter has brown eyes. Way to go, guys.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Lily Potter’s Eyes
‘Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls’ – Chess
I have lost count how many times I’ve watched Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and laughed like a hysterical hyena, thanks Jim Carrey. Anyways, there is a scene where Carrey is “playing” chess with the bad guy however, when the scene cuts back to the chessboard seconds later, it’s empty.
Ace Ventura When Nature Calls – Chess
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ – Reflection
Yikes, Raiders of the Lost Ark makes the list yet again! Here, and in the film obviously, you can clearly see the snake’s reflection. How is this possible? There is glass separating the actor from the snake, but we weren’t supposed to know that and yet, we do.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark –
Reflection
‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ – Pointer
Welcome to the list, Daisy Ridley, aka Rey. A little advice for you? When you’re doing the same scene over and over, be sure to remain consistent. Ergo, the photo below.
Star Wars Episode VII –
Pointer
‘Frozen’ – Hair Through Shoulder
Either take our word for it or just re-watch Frozen for the millionth time. Whatever floats your boat. So when Elsa is singing the classic ‘Let It Go’, you can see her hair go ~through~ her shoulder. Through it. Now that’s just creepy.
Frozen – Hair Through Shoulder
‘The X Files’ – Blank Papes
Not gonna lie but I’m a huge fan of The X Files, but even I didn’t see this one. Although it’s clear as day. Special Agent Fox Mulder is reading a newspaper that has nothing on it, it’s completely empty!
The X Files – Blank Papes
‘The Lord of the Rings’ – Clean Axe
We hate to say that a picture is a worth a thousand words but in this case, the picture below explains way better than I possibly can. Axe’s don’t just clean themselves and not that fast.
The Lord Of The Rings – Clean Axe
‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ – Box Switch
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a seriously HILARIOUS film, no doubt about it. However if you look at the photo below, particularly the bubble wrap, you’ll understand why it makes the list. We told you some of these mistakes were so easily avoidable!
Ace Ventura Pet Detective –
Box Switch
‘Jurassic World’ – Nice Watch
When Hoskins first approaches the raptor cage, his watch shows that it is about 2pm. After the intense rescue of the staff member who happened to fall into the pit, we see the shot cut back to Hoskins but uhh, his watch shows that it’s 1pm. Time traveler? It’s not that kind of film, sorry.
Jurassic World – Nice Watch
‘Fast And The Furious’ – Tire(s)
Fast And The Furious is up next – in one shot, we see the truck has two tires in the back but immediately after, there is just one and it didn’t explode or anything. Wow, what a miss!
Fast And The Furious – Tires
‘Titanic’ – Mole Moved
Sorry Kate Winslet but you’re up next! Now this mistake, this mistake is infuriating! If only for the reason that it could have been so easily avoided. A main character’s mole cannot have CHANGED places, that’s just amateur but that’s what happened. Yikes.
Titanic – Mole Moved
‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ – Medallion
If you didn’t catch this mistake, don’t worry, not many people did! But we all saw the medallion and then immediately saw in the next shot but this time, it’s in her corset. Which doesn’t make sense as she was drowning at the time so how could she have moved it?
Pirates Of The Caribbean –
Medallion
‘Shawshank Redemption’ – Moving Bullets
Trust me, if I could have left the brilliant Shawshank Redemption off this list, I happily would have. With that being said, either this guy is Superman fast or his OCD is intense but there is just no way the bullets when from totally scattered to a neat row so quickly.
Shawshank Redemption –
Moving Bullets
‘Home Alone 3’ – Black Bar
For sure the original two Home Alone films are incredible but it looks like the third one is the one to make our list. In one scene, he opens the door and there is nothing on the floor, in the next shot, a black bar appears out of thin air!
Home Alone 3 – Black Bar
‘The Wizard of Oz’ – Hair Mystery
Should we be seriously worried that a film as classic as The Wizard of Oz has made the list? Maybe, maybe not. Although the reason why is quite surprising. Dorothy’s hair has changed length in just a couple shots – how’d you miss that one?
The Wizard Of Oz – Hair Mystery
‘Twilight’ – Buttons
Guess we don’t need to just worry about vampires in this scene, but also witchcraft! Here’s why, and it’s so simple. In one shot, Edward Cullen’s button is totally undone and immediately after, it’s properly done up. HMM.
Twilight – Buttons
‘Batman Returns’ – Warm Enough
Pretty sure the image below is self explanatory! One minute he is completely bundled up with a scarf and coat, and in the next shot, he isn’t. Simple enough mistake to have avoided, no?
Batman Returns – Warm Enough
‘300: Rise of an Empire’ – Apples to Apples
That’s right, 300: Rise of an Empire makes the list because of an apple. In one scene, the apple is red and in the next shot, it’s green. Come on guys, that one was way too easy.
300 Rise Of An Empire –
Apples To Apples
‘Iron Man 2’ – Bloody
Undoubtedly Iron Man is a brilliant work of art but this mistake could have so easily been avoided. There is no way that much blood could have just magically appeared in .02 seconds.
Iron Man 2 – Bloody
‘Twilight’ – Reflection
Oh, look Twilight makes the list again and for such a simple mistake. In particular, the boom mike and the truck scene. Two seemingly unrelated things of course but not in this case. You can clearly see the reflection of the boom mike in the truck window, whoops.
Twilight – Reflection
‘Star Trek’ – Insignia
All throughout this flick, the insignia on his jacket kept appearing and disappearing. How about just sticking to one specific wardrobe to avoid such mindless errors. It’s not like you need an graphic design degree to avoid this pitfall.
Star Trek – Insignia