Making movies requires a lot of discipline, long hours, and incredible attention to detail. Every frame is shot with such care that even minute details are added and removed every second.
However, small and even big productions commit silly mishaps. These can happen due to several reasons—improvisation due to a lack of resources, a demanding schedule, or a simple mistake. Whatever the causes are, these movie mistakes are always good for a laugh, and at times, a hilarious meme.
Let’s go over some of the best movie mistakes in the history of cinema. Once you see them, you can’t unsee them.
9 Movie Mistakes That Caught Everyone’s Eye
1. The Doorknob Reveals a Bit Too Much: The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix redefined what a sci-fi thriller can achieve with its groundbreaking storytelling and shots that no one could have imagined pulling off. It presented us with a dystopian world where machines rule, and humanity suffers from a spiritual limbo. The cinematography of The Matrix is so well done, yet the fans spotted a mistake that the makers tried very hard to hide.
In a scene where Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) shows Neo the door, and he opens it. As Neo touches the doorknob, we get a close-up of the doorknob, in which we can clearly see both of their reflections. But if you look closely, you can see an exposed camera lens. The makers, along with the editor, did a good job in camouflaging the lens with Morpheus’s black coat and green tie. Despite their best efforts, the camera lens still peeks out, which is in no way even a small dent in the cult status of The Matrix.
2. The Bullet Hole Botch: Pulp Fiction (1994)
No doubt, Pulp Fiction is one of the most iconic movies, which changed the course of cinema and defined pop culture.
After an intense back-and-forth about Marsellus Wallace’s (Ving Rhames) wife’s (Uma Thurman) foot massage, Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) arrive at an apartment to confront a bunch of guys for backstabbing their boss. The scene progresses with Jules and Vincent shooting them.
It ends with another gunman appearing from behind the door, who shoots multiple rounds at both the hit men. Surprisingly, bullets miss them both, as we can see the bullet holes behind Jules. But the bullet holes were already there on the wall before the shots were fired. Maybe the production design department wanted to play a prank, and it was not just a divine intervention.
3. The Stormtrooper Head Bonk: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
Nobody can deny the power of the Force when it comes to the Star Wars franchise’s legacy. But Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope features one such split-second moment, which would make Darth Vader’s army look somewhat silly.
The stormtroopers in Star Wars are famous for their white color, mechanical attire, and also a strong will to kill the enemy. But in one scene, a group of stormtroopers enters the chamber previously occupied by the rebels, and one of them bumps his head against the top of the door. It instantly made me chuckle despite the danger-inducing background score, which was supposed to remind me of stormtroopers’ intimidating nature.
4. The Notorious Starbucks Cup: Game of Thrones S8 E4 (2019)
Apart from the dragons, amazing costume production, compelling story, and star actors, Game of Thrones is also known for a Starbucks cup’s day out on the set.
In S8 E4 of Game of Thrones, one picture broke the internet and became the butt of pop-culture memes. A Starbucks cup was sitting right in front of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) during the celebration feast in “The Last of the Starks.”
Although the cup made an appearance for only two seconds, it quickly became popular—even big productions have a few slip-ups while filming. Moreover, the art director, Hauke Richter, further informed that the cup did not belong to Starbucks at all, but to a local Northern Irish cafe. This minute error was probably due to the intense and demanding shooting schedule.
5. The Breakfast Dilemma: Pretty Woman (1990)
Pretty Woman is definitely one of the most elite romance films, with its perfect casting and a mature take on unlikely love. The movie follows Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), a sex worker who strikes up a romantic relationship with one wealthy client, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere).
In one breakfast scene, Vivian asks Edward about his line of work, to which he replies that he buys companies. As the small talk continues, Vivian, in her robe, picks off pieces of a croissant while sitting at the table. While intercutting, her croissant gets magically replaced by a pancake in her hand. Moreover, there is also a continuity error in the bites that she takes from the newly appeared pancake.
6. Time-Traveling Guitar: Back to the Future (1985)
When you talk about the time-travel movie genre, Back to the Future is an undeniably timeless classic. It follows Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), who goes back in time with a time machine to ensure that his parents fall in love.
In the climax dance sequence of the movie, Marty (Michael J. Fox) sings a song while holding a guitar as people dance on the dance floor. The problem is that Marty is playing a Gibson ES345, which wasn’t publicly released until 1959, while the past sequences in the movie take place in 1955. However, this might not be a flaw and is most likely a creative decision, but it still makes for an insightful “you can’t unsee” moment.
7. The Doll Baby: American Sniper (2014)
Clint Eastwood directed a real-life-based movie, American Sniper, which shows Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a disciplined, country-first sniper soldier who can headshot the enemy from miles away. But he is also the guy who can replace a baby with a plastic doll and never let us know—the lies of cinema.
In one scene, Chris and Taya (Sienna Miller) discuss Chris’s lack of commitment toward the family. During the emotional talk, they both take turns holding the baby, which looks almost lifeless. The baby doesn’t move even a finger, nor does it make any sound. This is because Clint Eastwood used a plastic doll on the day of the shoot, as he had to improvise with no babies on set. If you look closely at the scene, you can’t unsee it.
8. The Starbucks in the Back: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
In Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the ninth movie by director Quentin Tarantino, meticulously mixes fiction and reality, centered on Sharon Tate, played by Margot Robbie.
Tarantino spent millions of dollars transforming modern Los Angeles into the once stylish and glamorous L.A. of 1969. However, one real flaw was spotted by the people, which one can’t just unsee. When Sharon goes for a walk outside and observes her film poster outside the Fox Bruin Theater, you can spot the Starbucks in the background as Sharon talks to the woman at the ticket counter. At the time, Starbucks never even existed in L.A.
9. Self-Healing Lamp: Spider-Man (2002)
The beloved and iconic Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise is known to be an almost perfect one, except for a lamp that magically repaired itself in one of the shots of Spider-Man (2002).
In the scene when Peter Parker realizes he’s got powers, he tests out his web-shooting ability in his room. He accidentally pulls a green lamp from the table just beside the main door, and narrowly dodges it while it shatters against the wall. But the noise attracts Aunt May (Rosemary Harris).
Peter quickly holds the door and makes her retreat. But the same green lamp magically reappears on the table beside the door, fully intact. It’s not just a chiseled body, perfect eyesight, superhuman strength, and webs that Peter (Tobey Maguire) acquired from the spider; it seems like he acquired some Doctor Strange powers, too.
Summing It Up
Which of these movie mistakes did you spot while watching them?
Let us know in the comments.