Hollywood's greatest directors are often praised for their attention to detail, but even the most meticulous of them can make mistakes. From continuity errors to prop slip-ups, these blunders have made it past the cutting room floor and into the final cut of some of the biggest Hollywood movies. Here are ten of the most famous movie mistakes that somehow made it past the editing room.
- Julia Roberts' Pancake Blunder in Pretty Woman
In the iconic rom-com that made Julia Roberts a household name, a continuity error made its way into the final cut. In one shot, Julia's character Vivian Ward takes a bite out of a croissant during a hotel breakfast with Richard Gere's Edward Lewis. When the camera pans back to her, she's holding a half-eaten pancake instead of a croissant. This blunder is a reminder that even the smallest details can make a big impact on the viewer's experience.
- Pink Towel in Jurassic Park
In Steven Spielberg's epic 1990s blockbuster film, John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) insists on opening a bottle of champagne with Ellie (Laura Dern) and Alan (Sam Neill). But before he does, he begins buffing some glasses using a white towel. In the next shot, Hammond's towel has somehow turned pink. This mistake is a funny reminder that even the smallest details can be missed during the editing process.
- Bullet Holes in Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino's classic crime film is packed with memorable moments, but one continuity error stands out. When one of Brett's associates bursts out of the bathroom, firing six shots at Jules and Vincent (Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta) but missing every one, eagle-eyed fans may have spotted a continuity error. The bullet holes appear in the wall of the apartment behind Jules and Vincent before the shots were fired.
- Fake Baby Doll in American Sniper
Who could forget this glaring gaffe in Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning war drama? After returning home following four tours of Iraq, Chris (Bradley Cooper) cradles his newborn baby daughter – who is quite obviously a fake baby doll. This might have been due to the strict labor regulations in California, where part of the film was shot, which state that children must be at least 15 days old and, up until six months old, can only be employed once for two consecutive hours.
- Brown Eyes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Die-hard Harry Potter fans may have already spotted this one. In the film series, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is frequently told that he has his mother's blue eyes. But in a flashback scene to Lily's childhood, her eyes are brown. This blunder is a reminder that even the smallest details can be missed during the editing process.
- White Car in Braveheart
A modern white car is briefly seen in the background of Mel Gibson's 1995 historical epic about the legendary 13th-century Scottish warrior William Wallace. During a scene where the opposing English cavalry charge over a mound, a car appears in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
- Mimming Street Sweeper in Quantum of Solace
Another one that should have been left on the cutting room floor. In Daniel Craig's 2008 Bond film, a street sweeper appears behind the title character as he receives a text message on the dock. But rather than actually sweeping the ground, his broom is several inches from the floor as he mimes sweeping.
- Visible Gas Cylinder in Gladiator
In Ridley Scott's turn-of-the-millennium blockbuster, a visible gas cylinder strapped to the bottom of a chariot is exposed when it flips over during a battle scene in the Colosseum.
- Black Pumps in The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy's iconic ruby slippers remain one of the most iconic props from the classic 1939 musical starring Judy Garland. In one scene, when Dorothy and the Scarecrow are pelted with apples by a talking tree, a glimpse of the Kansas farm girl's footwear flashes on the screen – showing her sporting black pumps rather than ruby slippers.
- Wrong Direction in The Graduate
Dustin Hoffman broke into Hollywood playing 21-year-old college graduate Benjamin Braddock in the 1967 comedy-drama. In one scene, Benjamin drives across the Bay Bridge to visit Elaine (Katharine Ross) at Berkeley as Simon & Garfunkel's iconic track 'Mrs. Robinson' plays in the background. However, he's actually heading westbound towards San Francisco – the opposite direction of Berkeley. These movie mistakes are a reminder that even the most meticulous of directors can make blunders, and that sometimes the smallest details can make a big impact on the viewer's experience.
