ADVERTISEMENT

Directors hate to make them, viewers love to spot them.

Continuity errors sneak their way into even the most polished, big-budget productions. But while they might frustrate filmmakers, they often go on to become iconic moments in cinematic history (looking at you, Starbucks cup).

From subtle to glaringly obvious, we’ve rounded up some of these memorable mistakes from movies and TV shows below. Scroll down to check them out and let us know if we missed your favorite!

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

Crew Member Visible

Scene from Pirates of the Caribbean with visible crew member, illustrating movie mistakes missed by viewers in classic films.

Just as Jack says, "On deck, you scabrous dogs," to the very left edge of the screen over Jack's shoulder is a grip crew member with a tan cowboy hat, white short sleeve tee shirt and sunglasses, just standing there looking out to sea. (02:12:35)

Super Grover Report

RELATED:
    #2

    Starbucks Cup In Front Of Daenerys

    Scene from Game of Thrones showing a modern Starbucks cup, highlighting a famous movie mistake fans missed.

    During the scene in the banquet hall, as Tormund says "most people get [darn] murdered, they stay that way", look at Daenerys in the background - a disposable coffee cup is on the table in front of her. This brown cup with a white plastic lid is nothing remotely like the style of cups they're all drinking from in the scene. HBO acknowledged the slip up and digitally edited it out on streaming services, reruns and future DVD releases.

    Ssiscool Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #3

    Fell In Muddy Pig Pen Yet Is Spotless

    Scene from The Wizard of Oz showing a movie mistake where Dorothy remains spotless after falling in a muddy pig pen.

    In the beginning while Dorothy is still on the farm, she walks along the pig pen fence and then falls in. When Bert Lahr picks her up out of there her dress is perfectly clean. (00:03:45)

    Super Grover Report

    To understand how mistakes like these slip past countless pairs of eyes and make it into the final cut, Bored Panda reached out to Aimie Smith, a 21-year-old film student based in Manchester.

    According to Smith, it’s because film sets can be quite hectic. “So unless there’s someone specifically looking out for continuity errors, they can often go unnoticed,” she explained.

    Shots are typically filmed in the order that makes the most sense based on factors like lighting, set availability, and actor schedules—not as they appear in the timeline of the story. “This means the crew has to go back and forth between scenes and may forget smaller details that are easy to spot when viewers watch the finished product.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    Buys Detergent, But Doesn't Fall Out Of Bag

    Scene from Home Alone showing a movie mistake with detergent bought but missing from the bag in classic movie errors.

    When Kevin goes to the grocery, he buys Tide detergent. While walking home, the two bags break, but no Tide detergent falls out.

    zenee Report

    #5

    50 Star Flag In 1945 - Should Be 48 Stars, Below

    Scene from Oppenheimer showing a 50-star flag error, a notable movie mistake in classic films to watch for.

    After the successful Trinity test in 1945, people in a crowd are holding small US flags with 50 stars on them (offset rows). At the time there were only 48 states and the flag had 48 stars in even rows. The 50 star flag didn't exist until 1960, after Alaska and Hawaii were made states in 1959.

    Jon Sandys Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Plane Loses Two Engines From A New Angle

    Scene from The Usual Suspects showing a movie mistake with a plane losing two engines from a new angle.

    Right before they rob the police car, a Boeing 747 (four engines) is seen in shots of the plane coming into land. When the plane is shown from behind, it is a Boeing 767, with only two engines and fewer main landing gears. (00:30:10)

    jle Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Knowing this, filmmakers put safeguards in place in the form of script supervisors. “It’s their job to notice every last detail, right down to how much liquid is left in a cup,” said Smith, who took on this role in her most recent film, Three’s a Crowd (not yet available to the public).

    A script supervisor closely observes each scene, watching out for anything that may affect continuity, including costumes and prop placement. “They make notes on any continuity errors and alert the director,” Smith explained. “At the end of each shooting day, they also prepare a daily report to track the progress so far.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #7

    Cup Changes From Blue To Clear

    Scene from American Pie showing a movie mistake where the cup changes from blue to clear between shots.

    In the bedroom scene the girl is holding a clear cup full of beer. The camera goes off her and when it comes back she is holding a blue cup. The camera goes back off her then on her and the cup is clear again. [This mistake does not appear in the unrated version - the blue cup scenes were shot specifically to secure an R rating from the MPAA because the contents are obscured.]. (00:13:20)

    unknown Report

    #8

    Tall Wood Stool Shrinks To Half Its Height

    Scene from High School Musical 2 showing a movie mistake with a wooden stool changing height.

    At the start, when the camera pans through the doorway of Ms. Darbus's classroom, Zeke sits on a tall stool that is about 3 feet high. Oddly enough, in the following shots, the munchkin stool he now sits on only reaches the height of about 1 foot. (Did they really think we wouldn't notice?) The wood stool also moves forward a few feet. (00:00:50)

    Super Grover Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Frodo's Scar Changes Sides

    Scene from LotR showing a movie mistake with Frodo's scar changing sides in classic film continuity.

    In the second half of the film, Frodo has a scar on his lower right cheek, close to his chin. Many times throughout the rest of the film the scar changes position and size on his right cheek. It also appears on his left cheek in flipped shots (most obviously on the slopes of Mount Doom when Sam is cradling his head). (02:31:05 - 02:34:00)

    Super Grover Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Smith admits that being a script supervisor can be quite tedious, as even the smallest details must be carefully examined.

    “Whilst working on my recent film, my biggest issue with continuity was the direction of the mugs between shots,” she shared. “I only realized after filming a few scenes that the mug handles had changed direction, which would make the mugs appear to jump around in the final cut. To fix this, we added an extra shot of the actors turning the mugs around.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “A lot of my time on set was spent with my head down, vigorously writing notes for future shots as well as for the editor,” she added. “It’s a very difficult job, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when the finished product is on point.”

    #10

    Bridge Section Gone But It Still Casts Shadow

    Bridge section missing but still casting shadow, showcasing a notable movie mistake from the classic film Speed.

    If you look at the missing part of the bridge, and look at the shadow underneath, the shadow is of a full bridge. (01:02:35)

    unknown Report

    #11

    Plane Number Changes

    Plane number changes highlighted as a movie mistake in Terminator 3, showcasing classic movie mistakes you missed.

    When John and Catherine are in the hangar at the runway, the Cessna's tail number is N3035C. When the plane is shown in the air, the number is N3973F. When they land, the tail number has changed back to N3035C. (01:22:25 - 01:25:50)

    unknown Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #12

    Guns Disappear During Bullet Time

    Scene from The Matrix showing guns disappearing during bullet time, highlighting a notable movie mistake in classic films.

    On the skyscraper, when Neo and Trinity [end] all of the soldiers, Agent Brown comes to the roof. Neo immediately draws his guns and fires until both of his clips are empty. After that, Neo drops his guns, just as Agent Brown aims at him. During Bullet-Time there are no guns on the floor. When he hits the ground, then the guns are left and right of his legs. (01:41:50)

    uknown Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    Crew Neck T-Shirt Changes To Henley T-Shirt

    Scene from Harry Potter showing a costume mistake with a crew neck t-shirt changing to a henley shirt movie mistake.

    There are two scenes during which Harry is shown having visions of the Dept of Mysteries while he is asleep. The first scene occurs after Harry's confrontation with Seamus in the Gryffindor common room. There are shots of Harry lying in bed wearing a short sleeve, crew neck tee shirt, but when he is startled awake by the vision of Voldemort, he sits up wearing a buttoned henley tee. The next day is the first day of Defence Against the Dark Arts class with Umbridge. That last shot of Harry in the henley tee shirt was cut from a later scene. Later in the film, when Harry has the vision of Arthur Weasley's attack, he is wearing the henley tee shirt. (00:34:00 - 01:09:35)

    Super Grover Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Jessica's Brown Boots Morph Into Pumps

    Scene from classic movie showing a continuity error where brown boots change into pumps in a movie mistake.

    When Jessica walks from the house to the barn at the end, she is wearing knee high brown boots. By the time she reaches the barn they have been replaced with court shoes.

    Super Grover Report

    #15

    Wreckage In Background Disappears

    Scene from Star Wars Episode III highlighting a movie mistake with disappearing wreckage in the background.

    On Utapau, when Obi-Wan faces off with Grievous, Grievous sends 4 MagnaGuards against Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan Force-pulls something from the ceiling to crush the droids. But in the ensuing fight between Obi-Wan and Grievous, the ceiling thing and crushed droids are gone.

    Casual Person Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #16

    Door Opens Before Man Swipes Card

    Scene from Die Another Day showing a door opening before a man swipes his card, highlighting common movie mistakes.

    When Bond is in the car following the goons heading into the facility, it shows the techie guy scan a card and then swipe it to open a door. Before he swipes it, the door is already opening. (01:13:15)

    Ssiscool Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #17

    Ship Design Changes While At Sea

    Scene from Titanic showing ship design mistakes with changes while at sea highlighted in movie mistakes.

    The design of the ship's bow changes significantly while at sea. The white form on top of the bow used for mooring first does, then doesn't have an indentation on top, possibly with a bolt in the center. The point where the curved railing meets the straight side railings either is or is not connected by a top horizontal bar, and the gap between the vertical posts changes size. Another mistake on this site mentions the anchor design change, but also the metal walkway is made of tubular metal bars -or- flat bars that are more numerous and closer together. (00:30:15 - 01:21:00)

    johnrosa Report

    #18

    Shirt Changes From Long-Sleeved To Tank Top

    Scene from The Fast and the Furious showing a shirt changing mistake, highlighting movie mistakes in classic films.

    When Jesse is going to race Johnny Tran at Race Wars for pink slips, and Johnny Tran pulls up in his Honda S2000, Tran has on a black long-sleeved shirt. When the camera goes from side to front view, Tran has on a black tank top. (01:12:41)

    unknown Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #19

    Gas Canister In Back Of Chariot

    Scene from Gladiator showing a gas canister mistake behind a chariot highlighting movie mistakes in classic films.

    In the "Battle of Carthage" in the Colosseum, one of the chariots is turned over. Once the dust settles you can see a gas cylinder in the back of the chariot. (01:22:55)

    unknown Report

    #20

    Stunt Cable Visible

    Scene from a classic movie showing a visible movie mistake with a stunt cable highlighted in the shot.

    During their fight at Orthanc, in the wide overhead shot, as Saruman flies backwards towards the large doors, the wire attached to the back of Christopher Lee's outfit is visibly pulling his clothes. (00:50:45)

    Super Grover Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #21

    Visible Modern-Day Plastic Water Bottle

    Scene from Sweeney Todd showing a visible modern-day plastic water bottle, highlighting movie mistakes you missed in classics.

    At the end of the song "Wait," when Sweeney and Lovett hear Anthony running up the stairs, Sweeney runs behind the door to his shop. For a quarter second, as Sweeney places his back against the wall, there is a modern-day water bottle on the window ledge. This, however, cannot be seen on the DVD or Xbox, though on laptops and probably computers also, when streaming you can see it around 00:43:10. (00:43:10)

    Super Grover Report

    #22

    Louboutin Signature Red, Then Tan Soles

    Close-up of movie shoes showing a continuity mistake in classic films with changing sole colors in The Gentlemen.

    When Pierce's wife is walking in her auto shop they pan down to show her red Louboutin heels, then they cut to her walking in her office, and when they show her shoes again they have a tan sole.

    Super Grover Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #23

    Windscreen Repairs Itself

    Helicopter windscreen mistake in Terminator 2 movie scene showing self-repairing glass error.

    The T-1000 punches his body through the window of a helicopter to get inside. An instant later, the hole in the windshield is gone. (01:56:35)

    unknown Report

    #24

    Eyeline Suddenly Changes

    Scene from The Mummy Returns showing a movie mistake with sudden eyeline change, highlighting common movie mistakes.

    In the beginning when Brendan Fraser is looking around the tunnels he turns around to see his kid and they scream. As they are screaming they are at eye level but when a few seconds later when they are standing the kid is like 2 feet shorter then Brendan Fraser, and if you look around there is nothing for the kid to have stood on. (00:05:55)

    unknown Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #25

    Camera And Reflector Screen Mounted On Boat Bow

    Scene from Jaws showing movie mistakes with a camera and reflector screen mounted on the boat bow in the water.

    When the fishermen start out on the hunt, Ben Gardner appears in a close-up leaning on the windshield at forward deck, while talking to his boatmate about how stupid some of the others are. In the next wide shot of the boats, Ben's green boat is towards the left of the screen, and the large reflector screen and camera, that are mounted to the bow of his boat, are visible in front of the forward window where Ben was seen in the previous shot. (00:30:25)

    Super Grover Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #26

    Visible Crew And Camera

    Scene from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves showing visible crew and camera as a notable movie mistake in classic films.

    When the men are pushing the catapult to the gate look at the far left of the screen for a few seconds you can see a crew member in a baseball cap and then a large movie camera. There's also a twig palisade next to him where two more crew members are visible.

    Sacha Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #27

    Page Flips Itself To Show Different Photo

    Scene from P.S. I Love You showing a movie mistake with a photo on the wall flipping itself, a classic movie mistake revealed.

    When the dry cleaning arrives and Holly lays it out on the table, right behind her is the large flip-over wall hanging, with a picture of balloons. When she pulls the leather jacket out of the plastic, the wall hanging is flipped open to a picture of a bird. (00:53:10)

    Super Grover Report

    #28

    Roof Becomes Solid - Glass Panels Vanish

    Scene from Transformers Revenge of the Fallen showing a movie mistake with roof glass panels vanishing.

    The Saturn that Mikaela is driving has a moonroof that encompasses most of the roof, over the front and back seats. When the Decepticon Grindor captures them, in the interior shot looking up at Leo as Grindor seizes the Saturn, the car has a solid roof over Leo, which is also seen in the interior shot as they fall. (00:54:05 - 00:55:05)

    Super Grover Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #29

    Hands Jump In And Out Of Pockets

    Scene from Indiana Jones with a movie mistake showing hands jumping in and out of pockets in a classic film moment.

    At the beginning when Indy is talking to Spalko, his hands keep alternating from being in his pockets to just resting at his sides between shots.

    Cubs Fan, edited by Super Grover Report

    #30

    Swap Sides Between Shots

    Two dancers from Chicago with side swaps between shots, illustrating common movie mistakes missed by viewers.

    In the final scene where Roxie and Velma are dancing in the concert hall, Roxie is on the right and Velma is on the left. They then turn around, and from behind (same point of view as before) they're suddenly the other way around. (01:44:20)

    User Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Add New Image This post is a community curated image gallery Add Image
    Add New Image

    Add Your Photo To This List

    Please use high-res photos without watermarks

    Upload Photo

    Not your original work? Add source

    Publish