Factual error: At the end of the film, Wyatt and McQuarry each take a briefcase containing $5 million dollars. $1 million dollars in $100 dollar bills (highest denomination in circulation) weighs approximately 22lbs = 110lbs for $5 million. $5 million in $100 dollar bills is also approximately 3445 cu. in. in volume. This would not likely fit in the cases they are carrying, and would not be as easy to carry as they are.
Factual error: Although correctly addressed as "captain" towards the end of the film, Richthofen continues to wear the rank insignia of an oberleutnant (lieutenant).
Factual error: Jennifer Lawrence uses a Bic lighter that has a child-proof safety device on it. The film is set in 1976. Bic lighters did not have safety devices on them until the 1990's. (00:57:25)
Factual error: Towards the end of the movie, George W. Bush is seen walking through the Cross Hall of The White House towards what is in reality The East Room. Behind him we see a large staircase with a plant next to it on the other end of the hall. These should not be there: that is where the door to the State Dining Room really is. In the next shot we see W. coming upstairs from a winding staircase that doesn't exist.
Factual error: There is a running camera shot at the UN of national flags, the current Canadian flag is displayed but it was first introduced in 1965, the movie scene is suppose to take place in 1964.
Factual error: TSA regulations strictly prohibit passengers from leaving an airplane once they have boarded, regardless if the doors are still open, except during an emergency situation. However, Dennis was permitted to leave to look for Will.
Factual error: The Major and the band are (correctly) summonsed to appear before a magistrates' court for driving without insurance, but then appear before a judge in full robes. Judges do not sit in magistrates' courts.
Factual error: When Caroline is opening the envelope from Dr. Henry, she removes a wad of cash. They are modern bills; the large corner numbers weren't introduced until the late 1990s. (00:32:30)
Factual error: When Troy calls to Gabriela from the rooftop, the clock on the school's facade reads about 7:46, but the sun is almost directly overhead. There's no way it's quarter to eight in the morning.
Factual error: When Nick leaves from his home in New Jersey to play a gig with his band in New York City, an exterior shot shows his car traveling on the multi-lane ramp that serves the Lincoln Tunnel. On this ramp, vehicles must be heading into the tunnel toward NYC, or exiting the tunnel from NYC. Nick's car is shown arriving from NYC into New Jersey- the wrong direction.
Factual error: When the captain is arguing with the Armed Services Committee chairman, Homeland Security is mentioned. However this movie takes place prior to Desert Shield, and the Department of Homeland Security wasn't created until over a decade later.
Factual error: When Harvey sets up his very obvious "SOAP box" and gives his first speech, modern vehicles can be seen parked along the curb behind him, most obviously the small US Postal van and UPS truck. A little later, a 2000s era black SUV is at the curb when Harvey steps out of his camera shop.
Factual error: When Virginia is attacked by Gosta's cats and throws herself down the flight of stairs to get them off her, her clothes aren't ripped or messed up afterward the way they should have been after such a vicious attack.
Factual error: As the cars travel over 1950s Westminster bridge, the modern red route lines can be seen on the road.
Factual error: Near the end of the movie, a front view of the overdosing/overdosed twins shows Robert putting the dying twin's head on his lap. A close-up of the dead twin shows blood covering most of the left side of her face and a blue tinge on most of the right side, apparently meant to indicate developing livor mortis (bluish color after death). This twin just died, so it is too early for livor mortis to be visible. Livor mortis is not visible to humans until about two hours after death, but the process does begin sooner (about 20-30 minutes after death). Moreover, the writer failed to show the first stage of death - pallor mortis. The twins were Caucasians with blonde hair, so the dead twin would first turn pale (from blood draining from veins in the skin) about 15 minutes after death. The sudden oozing of blood from the dead twin's forehead was also not an accurate portrayal - she was dead, so her heart no longer pumped blood (so gravity takes over, draining blood). (01:39:58)
Factual error: During the airport scene, the 737 shown is a model from 1984 or newer, with distinctive large diameter engines. The movie is set in 1976, when all 737s had long narrow engines.
Factual error: Ben stops at a rest area near Hope, BC. He is headed for Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Leaving the rest area, he turns right, as he should, to head for Vancouver. The highway sign points left for Hope, BC, and right for Vancouver. I've been at this rest area, and the direction he turns toward Vancouver is correct. However, the next shot shows him going through Hell's Gate tunnel, which is north of Hope. He would have had to turn left, go through Hope, and 40 or so miles north to go through the Hell's Gate tunnel. The next scene shows him on the ferry to Vancouver Island, which was in the direction he was headed when he turned right from the rest area. There would be no reason for him to turn around and go through the tunnel, as he was already heading in the right direction.
Factual error: The SS Officer is repeatedly addressed as "Herr Oberst". This is a Wehrmacht rank designation, and could possibly have been correct for them addressing an SS officer, but fellow SS officers would have used the correct term "Standartenführer" (without the "Herr"). On one occasion the lower rank SS officer is address as "Herr Leutnant" which is equally wrong, should be "(Ober)sturmführer"
Factual error: When Mulder avoids hitting the truck, in the shot from the inside of the car he turns the wheel full left which means that the car should start to spin anticlockwise. However, in the next outside shot the car spins clockwise. (01:16:25)
Factual error: The movie is supposed to be set in Texico New Mexico, however there are mountains in the background. The closest mountains are near Albuquerque, NM while the area surrounding Texico is completely flat.