15 Movie Mistakes That Inexplicably Made It Into the Final Cut

Movies can spend millions of dollars on sets, costumes, effects, and countless hours of editing, only for a small mistake to slip all the way through into the final product. Sometimes it is a continuity error that anyone watching carefully could have spotted, other times, a crew member, modern object, misplaced prop, or completely impossible detail pops up in plain sight for just a few seconds. These mistakes are especially funny when they are so obvious that you wonder how nobody noticed them during filming or editing. Once you see them, it can be hard to focus on anything else. Here are 15 wonderfully careless movie mistakes that survived the final cut.

Gladiator (2000)

During the famous chariot race, one of the vehicles flips over and exposes a modern gas canister underneath it.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

During the first meeting between Jack Sparrow and the pirates, a crew member wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses can be spotted in the background.

Django Unchained (2012)

Several anachronisms were deliberately used in the movie, but one accidental detail stands out. A character’s sunglasses and other modern looking elements occasionally make the period setting feel much less convincing than intended.

Braveheart (1995)

The movie is set in medieval Scotland, but a modern car can briefly be seen in the background during one of the outdoor scenes.

Troy (2004)

The filmmakers went to enormous lengths to recreate the ancient world, yet a modern airplane can reportedly be seen in the sky during one shot.

Titanic (1997)

The position and appearance of Jack’s hair and clothing change noticeably between some shots during the movie. The continuity errors are especially easy to spot because the scenes were filmed from multiple angles and edited together.

Jurassic Park (1993)

During the famous scene with the T. rex attacking the two children, the position of the vehicle and several details inside it change between shots.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

During one scene, a member of the crew can briefly be seen in the background. The figure appears for only a moment, but it is a classic example of something that should have disappeared during editing.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Shire is supposed to feel completely removed from the modern world, yet one of the early scenes contains a car in the background.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

During the football stadium explosion, several extras react before the explosion actually reaches them. Their premature movements make the carefully staged sequence look noticeably less convincing when you watch it closely.

Forrest Gump (1994)

The movie contains a famous historical timeline mistake involving Jenny’s letter and the dates surrounding her life.

Twilight (2008)

Edward’s hair and appearance change between shots during several conversations. The continuity issues are especially noticeable because his hairstyle is such a prominent part of his character design.

The Hunger Games (2012)

During the early scenes in District 12, several details in the background do not match the supposed setting and period, and modern objects slip into frame.

The Last Samurai (2003)

The movie tries to recreate 19th century Japan, but a number of small continuity errors appear throughout the battle scenes. Weapons, costumes and positions can change between shots, sometimes within the same sequence.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

During the fight between Rey and Kylo Ren, the positions of their weapons and bodies occasionally change between cuts. The choreography moves quickly, but some of the continuity errors are surprisingly easy to spot once you know where to look.