1. The Moving Bullet Holes in Pulp Fiction
In one of the film’s most iconic scenes, Jules and Vincent narrowly avoid being shot by a hidden assailant. However, before the gun is even fired, clear bullet holes and scorch marks are visible in the wall directly behind where the characters are standing. This goof is incredibly noticeable once pointed out and appears in multiple early shots of the scene, suggesting the crew forgot to clean the set after an earlier take or angle was shot.
2. The Self-Healing Truck Windshield in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
During the intense aqueduct chase, the T-1000’s massive semi-truck jumps from an overpass. On impact, the truck’s windshield completely shatters and flies out. Yet, in the very next shot, which is a close-up of the T-1000 driving, the windshield is cracked but fully intact, allowing Robert Patrick to menacingly look through it. The instantaneous repair makes the transition jarring for eagle-eyed viewers.
3. The Ancient Roman Gas Canister in Gladiator
A critical battle scene in Ridley Scott’s historical epic features Roman soldiers attempting to flip a chariot. If you look closely beneath the chariot just as it is being overturned, a small, modern-looking metallic object is briefly visible. This object has been identified by viewers as a gas cylinder used for rigging effects, an anachronism hilariously out of place in 180 A.D. Rome.
4. Han Solo’s Freeing Handcuffs in The Empire Strikes Back
As Han Solo is about to be lowered into the carbon-freezing chamber on Cloud City, he is clearly seen being escorted by Stormtroopers with his hands bound in handcuffs. After he has been frozen into the iconic slab of carbonite, the handcuffs have completely vanished. His hands are now unrestrained and slightly raised, palms outward, a necessary change for the mold but a definite break in continuity.
5. Marty McFly’s Changing Skateboard in Back to the Future
When Marty McFly first arrives in 1955 and is pursued by Biff Tannen and his gang, he uses a makeshift skateboard to escape. The first time he grabs it, it’s a simple scooter. He breaks the wooden box off the handlebar and rides it like a board. However, the subsequent close-up and action shots show him riding a board that is a completely different shape and construction, with trucks and wheels distinct from the original box-on-wheels.
6. The Vanishing Croissant in Pretty Woman
In a sweet early morning scene, Vivian (Julia Roberts) and Edward (Richard Gere) are having breakfast. Vivian is initially shown holding and eating a croissant. The scene cuts away briefly to Edward, and when it returns to Vivian, the croissant has magically transformed into a pancake on her plate, and she is holding something else entirely. This sudden food swap is a classic example of a prop error between takes.
7. The Self-Repairing Windows in Spider-Man (2002)
During the final battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, a window behind the Green Goblin is repeatedly shattered. In one shot, the glass is clearly broken and falling apart. However, in a subsequent shot from a different angle just moments later, the same window is perfectly intact. The damage disappears and reappears several times throughout the chaotic fight sequence, proving tricky to maintain consistency.
8. The Dark Knight’s Hidden Flaw
In the otherwise iconic film, one prop mistake stands out: the inconsistent display of Harvey Dent’s (Aaron Eckhart) scars. In some scenes, Dent’s scars are barely noticeable, while in others, they’re prominently displayed. This inconsistency can be distracting and takes away from the character’s transformation into Two-Face. Despite the film’s many accolades, this prop mishap is a noticeable error that even die-hard fans have pointed out. The attention to detail that made the Joker’s makeup and props so believable wasn’t quite matched in this aspect, leaving a small but noticeable flaw in an otherwise masterpiece. Continuity issues can be a real challenge.
9. The Disappearing Wound in Die Another Day
Toward the end of the James Bond film, NSA agent Jinx, played by Halle Berry, is engaged in a sword fight with Miranda Frost. During the duel, Frost manages to inflict a deep cut across Jinx’s abdomen. Yet, when Jinx is seen in the very next scene on the plane with Bond, the visible wound and any sign of a serious injury have completely vanished without a trace, a common occurrence for action heroes with quick healing powers.
10. The Camera Crew Reflection in The Matrix
In one memorable scene from The Matrix, Neo reaches for a mirrored doorknob while visiting the Oracle. Because the doorknob is highly reflective, the camera crew faced a major challenge: there was no way to hide the camera from the shot. Instead of removing the reflection digitally, the cinematographer tried a clever practical trick. He covered himself with a coat and tie that closely matched Morpheus’ outfit, blending in with the characters as much as possible. Even with this effort, the camera operator’s reflection is still clearly visible in the polished doorknob. Fans who later paused the scene noticed the disguised cameraman holding the rig
11. The Shirt Button Switch in The Untouchables
In a crucial scene between Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) and Jim Malone (Sean Connery) when Ness attempts to recruit the veteran cop, Malone’s top shirt button changes its state. In some shots, the top button of his uniform shirt is neatly done up, maintaining a crisp, authoritative look. In other close-ups within the same conversation, the top button is suddenly undone, and the collar is slightly open, alternating back and forth between cuts.
12. The Vanishing Damage on the Porsche in Commando
After Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character, John Matrix, flips a yellow Porsche in pursuit of a villain, he rolls it back onto its wheels and drives away. In the shot immediately following the wreck, the car’s driver’s side is heavily damaged. However, as Matrix speeds off in the very next sequence, the same side of the car is suddenly pristine, with no visible dents or scratches from the previous violent rollover.
13. The Changing Cigarette in The Shining
During a tense moment where Jack Torrance is talking to the ghostly bartender, Lloyd, Jack is initially seen holding a lit cigarette as he approaches the bar. In the following shot, which is a close-up of Jack, the cigarette is entirely absent from his hand and mouth, only to reappear moments later. This small detail proves that maintaining continuity with handheld props is a surprisingly difficult task on set.
14. The Missing Strap on the Backpack in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione are running through the corridors of Hogwarts, they are carrying backpacks. At one point, Hermione’s backpack appears to have a strap missing or hanging loose in one shot as she runs. In the next quick cut, however, the backpack is clearly secured with both straps over her shoulders, perfectly in place, indicating a swift, unnoticed prop adjustment between takes.
15. The Growing and Shrinking Helicopter in The Fellowship of the Ring
In the scene where the Fellowship is walking through the beautiful, misty terrain of New Zealand, some very attentive viewers have noticed an incredibly out-of-place sight. In a brief wide shot of the landscape, a tiny, distant helicopter can be spotted flying in the background, a modern intrusion into the fictional world of Middle-earth, proving that the wide-open skies can sometimes reveal unwanted details.
16. The Mystery Car on the Road in Braveheart
In a wide-angle shot of a battle scene featuring Mel Gibson’s army gathering for a conflict, a small, dark vehicle that looks suspiciously like a modern van or car is visible in the distance on a hillside road. This blink-and-you-miss-it detail shows a contemporary vehicle in a 13th-century Scottish setting, a clear failure to keep the distant background free of modern elements.
17. The Starbucks Cup in Game of Thrones
While not a movie, this famous television goof perfectly illustrates the issue. In a celebratory scene during a feast, a modern-day takeaway coffee cup, clearly identifiable as a Starbucks container, is sitting on the table in front of Daenerys Targaryen. This error gained massive attention online for placing a very 21st-century item into the medieval fantasy setting of Westeros.
18. The Flag Mistake in Oppenheimer
Near the beginning of the film, when Robert Oppenheimer is addressing a crowd, the American flags behind him feature 50 stars. This scene is set in the 1940s, a time when the flag should only have had 48 stars, as Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states. This historical inaccuracy in the set dressing, though minor, is immediately visible to history buffs and those familiar with the period’s iconography.
We hope this list gave you a new appreciation for the incredible effort that goes into achieving perfect continuity on a movie set. With hundreds of shots, numerous takes, and millions of tiny details to track, it’s amazing that so few of these slips ever make it to the big screen. Now that you know where to look, a rewatch of any of these classics might become a hilarious new treasure hunt for you and your friends!
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This story 18 Continuity Goofs You’ll See Immediately Once Told was first published on Daily FETCH
