Factual error: At the end when they are loading Dewey into the ambulance on the stretcher, it is standard procedure to put the patient neck brace when they receive any type of unknown injuries (stab wounds) to their back as Dewey did - it was notably absent.
Factual error: When the plane takes off headed for Las Vegas, the shot out the window below shows runways 35 and 41. Runway 41 is impossible because ALL runways at airports are only numbered 1-36.
Factual error: We learn that the previous sheriff, Charlie Wade, took revenge on anyone who smuggled illegal immigrants across the border in the late 1950s - we are shown the smuggling, as Eladio Cruz hides a group of Mexican men in a watermelon truck to take them across the border. However, in the 1950s, the border was not fortified the way it is now - the smuggling shown would simply not have been necessary.
Factual error: Several times during the highway scenes if you look closely you can see that some of the cars and trucks are early 90s models even though it's supposed to be 1986 or 1987.
Factual error: Throughout the movie, we can hear Ash's motorcycle shift gears, but we can see that his hands never disengage the clutch, a must do for a smooth shift like we hear.
Factual error: There is a major error in the scene where Geena Davis steals the tractor trailer. They show a closeup of the brake line between the truck and the trailer being cut. The problem arises when fluid starts pumping out of the line and Geena screams because she's lost the brakes. First, every tractor trailer is equipped with air brakes, so there is no fluid in the lines to leak. Second, if these air lines are severed it causes the brakes on the trailer to lock up and drag the truck to a stop.
Factual error: When Mel Gibson is leaving NYC by car they come out of the Lincoln Tunnel onto route 4, that is impossible. The only way out of the Lincoln Tunnel is onto route 3. Then when they are driving through New Jersey on route 4, Mel Gibson says "There is the exit for 208." While you can get to 208 from route 4, they were driving on route 4 east, heading back towards NYC, not route 4 west which is the way onto route 208 they showed in the movie.
Factual error: The motor cycle race on two Ducatis: they race from downtown Atlanta to Stone Mountain. They are on a road called Freedom Parkway. It exists primarily to get to and from the Carter Center Library - it doesn't go anywhere beyond that really. In the film they race for miles to Stone Mountain, it's about 45 minutes outside the city, and to get there you have to take three different highways. They arrive on one that doesn't exist.
Factual error: In the beginning the guy shooting pool gives a CD to Richard Gere, he says that the song they were listening to is the fourth song when in fact it's the first song on the album.
Factual error: Toward the end of the film, Matthew McConnaughey is in his office late at night and hears someone outside (it turns out to be his wife). However, McConnaughey draws a revolver from his desk drawer and we can hear (but not see) him pulling the hammer back to cock the gun. Problem is: When pulling back the hammer on a revolver, the cylinder turns to rotate the next bullet into position. The cylinder did not turn. The sound we heard was obviously added by the sound editors after the scene was shot.
Factual error: When Smith shoots the first man with his twin .45s, the man flies back about 30-40 feet. In reality, he might fall back a foot or two, but he certainly wouldn't be propelled anywhere by simple bullets.
Factual error: In the bank robbery scene the signs in the teller windows say FIDC. The correct abbreviation is FDIC.
Factual error: When Gotti is outside kicking over trash cans while the surveillance photos are being taken, a series of 1990s vans are seen driving down the street, though the scene takes place in the 1970s.
Factual error: A cigarette cannot ignite petroleum fumes as it does not burn hot enough. This is a common mistake found in a lot of movies.
Factual error: When the policemen enter the hotel room to arrest Begbie, who is trashing the place, they are wearing Scottish-style flat check-band police caps. But this scene is set in London, and in the early 1980s (when the film and book are set) the Metropolitan police all wore the famous 'bobby' tall black helmets.