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: In the scene when ADD is first leaving to go on tour, they drive past the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the bus driver announces, "On your left..." The shot of the museum as they drive by is the front. The road going by this way dead ends; there would be no way for them to get on the highway or a surface road. (Look on Google Maps. They are on East 9th Street going northwest.)
Factual error: If Billy/Jigsaw's facial muscles and tendons were "completely destroyed" as his doctor indicates, there is no way he would be able to speak normally, and especially not in his original voice.
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: When Einstein is crossing a bridge on his way to the university, two German flags (black-red-gold) are flanking the bridge. The scene is set in 1914, so it should instead be the 'German Reichsflagge' which is black-white-red. Only after WW I, in August 1919, was the black-red-golden flag officially used to represent Germany. (00:38:50)
Factual error: The layout of the Cox's house doesn't make sense. The house is an end-terrace - stairs on the right side (from the front). The stairs rise to the back, and perform a 180 degree turn. The first door on the left is the Cox's bedroom. The wall opposite to the bedroom door would be a solid wall - the partition wall to the neighbouring terrace. Instead it has a well lit window.
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: 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: 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: In the Monday morning shots of New York in the beginning of the film, there is a shot of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline behind it. If this were actually morning, the sun would be behind the camera (East), but it appears to be behind the buildings (West) making this an evening shot. The Circle Line tour boat also goes by, which would not be in service at sunrise.
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: 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: The rocket that little Tran fired at the helicopter towards the climax travels much too slowly. Peck would not have had time to react to it if it moved at a proper speed, much less throw a heavy mechanical device through the air to intercept.
Factual error: After Toorop and the women arrive in Canada, they stay at a motel in Kitimat. The caption on the screen says it's 10 miles from the American border. In fact, Kitimat is more than 370 kms from the American border. There are a number of towns closer than that. The caption also has the latitude for Kitimat three degrees further south than what it really is, which would make it even further from the American border.
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: Harry is supposed to have loaded his gun with expanding bullets before shooting Ray. Then the bullets are supposed to have gone through Ray, causing minimal damage, before blowing Jimmy the dwarf's head off. In reality, the bullets would have expanded upon impact with Ray, tearing up his torso and certainly killing him after the number of shots that he took. If any bullet fragments were to escape and hit Jimmy, they would not have caused the kind of damage depicted.
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: In the first scene, the math problem is wrong. It says "Grave buys a bag of 240 jellybeans. There are 35 yellow ones, 52 red ones, 63 green ones, 26 white ones, 41 blue ones, and 40 black ones." That is 257 jellybeans not 240. Don't ask why I stopped and did that math.
Factual error: When Cam ambushes Ba'al in 1939, he has two Thompson M1 submachine guns. The M1 version of the Thompson wasn't developed until 1942.