Factual error: A fire is raging in a hardware store. The sprinklers come on. After the fire is out, the sprinklers shut off. Without anybody shutting them off. That's not the way automatic sprinklers work. Once the fusible link melts, they are on continuously until manually shut off at the valve, usually outside of the building. (01:35:20)
Factual error: The family supposedly left Ex-Yugoslavia (what part isn't made clear exactly) "because of the war", but the only conflict still going on there in 1999 (when the family is still there in the opening scene) was the NATO bombing of targets in Serbia in order to get the Serbs to lay off Kosovo, and that was long over by Christmas of that year.
Factual error: In the flash back with Jesse and Walter, they are eating at the Owl Cafe. Outside, a mountain and dirt road can be seen, indicating they are out in some rural area in the desert. The Owl Cafe is actually in Albuquerque and is nowhere near a mountain or desert landscape. It is on one of the busiest streets in the city, surrounded by other businesses such as gas stations, restaurants, and hotels. There is another Owl Cafe in San Antonio, New Mexico, but that one looks nothing like the one in the flashback (it also isn't near a mountain and is surrounded by paved roads).
Factual error: She fires the entire magazine of a Glock into the alligator's mouth. When it is empty, rather than the slide locking back and the trigger freezing, there is an audible click every time she pulls the trigger. This could not happen.
Factual error: This is set in 1966. The soldiers are all using the Aussie version of the M16 which was introduced in Vietnam by their military in 1967 with limited use and only became more widely used somewhat later.
Suggested correction: There's no such thing as an Aussie version of the M16, they were all made in the USA by Colt, or its contractors. I assume the poster means the M16A1, identifiable by the bolt assist lug on the right hand side and closed flash suppressor.
Factual error: Laura, Aiden, and Mia often complained about how cold it was in the cabin. Mia kept her jar with the Sea-Monkey on her bedroom window sill - right next to the frosted/iced-over windows. The Sea-Monkey's habitat should not be exposed to direct sunlight and, more importantly, the Sea-Monkey needs to be kept in room temperature water or between 70-76° F (higher for hatching). Mia's Sea-Monkey could not survive under the conditions she kept it in at the cabin. (01:22:37)
Factual error: There is a modern digital electric meter in the record store - not what it would look like in the era of the movie.
Factual error: Fire extinguishers should be prominently displayed with no obstructions around them. The fire extinguisher was attached to a wall between the door and window, but it was partially obstructed or concealed by (artificial?) tree leaves. It also looked like the tree and plants might have been on a table that sets below the fire extinguisher, which could block the approach (wasting valuable seconds). (00:39:25)
Factual error: The German character plays a record on his gramophone 'Four Last songs' by Richard Strauss, composed in 1948. The film is set in 1945-46.
Factual error: The royal parade is supposed to be of the Yorkshire Hussars, but the filmmakers instead borrowed the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, complete with guns. Although the uniform was similar, the Yorkshire Hussars was a cavalry regiment until the Second World War, when it became an armoured regiment. It was never an artillery regiment.
Factual error: At presentation of the Medal of Honor, the US Air Force Secretary reads the citation that states William H. Pitsenbarger was an Airman First Class (E-3 with 2 stripes) but in the battle scenes William H. Pitsenbarger is wearing the insignia of a 'Buck' Sergeant (E-4 with 3 stripes). (00:14:29 - 01:43:55)
Factual error: Drinking a juice box in 1977. They didn't appear in the US until 1980.
Factual error: Peg turned state's witness against other debt collectors (who were convicted thanks to her testimony) and her "deal" with the prosecutor cleared her of all debt-related charges. However, her destruction of evidence (52,437 debt sheets) could not be overlooked or forgiven and she had to serve time in confinement. Peg said, "Luckily, half my jury had their debt erased in the fire, so I got a lighter sentence." This would NOT happen in court! Potential jurors are questioned to make sure they are non-biased, know little if anything about the case, do not have a vested interest (they are neutral and detached) in the outcome, etc. Each side (prosecution and defense) is allowed a certain number of peremptory challenges (allowing them to dismiss a certain number of potential jurors). Screening questions to potential jurors in this case would include whether they currently have debt, which creates bias and would result in dismissal as a juror. Jurors also would NOT determine her sentence. (01:27:46)
Factual error: In 1915 Tolkien was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He (plus various other officers) is constantly shown in the film wearing bright metal cap badge, collar badges and shoulder titles on his Service Dress tunic and greatcoat. However, in the Lancashire Fusiliers officers did not wear shoulder titles on their SD tunics/greatcoats, and their cap/collar badges would have been in a darkened bronze finish, not bright metal (which was for Other Ranks and NCO's).
Factual error: It's a hard winter everywhere is film except in the scenes that take place in Denver. In one scene when Coxman kidnaps Viking's son, there are full leaves on trees and cherry blossoms. Moments prior there's a frozen tundra shot coming into Denver.
Factual error: Russell said he served twenty-one years in prison because his last offense - possession of 30 grams of marijuana with the intent to distribute - counted as his "third strike" under California's "Three Strikes And You're Out" statute. When he was on the internet trying to locate his father (instead finding his obituary from 2001), information on the computer indicated it was now 2012. This would mean Russell was incarcerated since 1991 - and further indicates he was sentenced about three years BEFORE California's "Three Strikes And You're Out" statute was implemented. Also, 30g of marijuana is the limit for "personal use", so he wouldn't have been charged with intent to distribute. (00:16:15)
Factual error: The 2012 NBA conference semifinals took place between May 12th and May 26th of that year. Passover in 2012 began on April 6th and ended on April 14th. A Seder would not have taken place during the semis of that year.
Factual error: Attorney Aegis inappropriately rounded up/down a couple common statistics pertaining to the infamous Ford Pinto case, which resulted in a total that didn't add up: "it would cost the company $11 per Pinto to fix the problem. But with 12 million [should be 12.5] of 'em on the road, that would cost $137 million compared with $50 million [should be 49.5] to maintain the status quo. $137 million to fix a $50 million problem..." But 12 million x $11 = $132 million [not $137 million]. (00:24:38)
Factual error: At the beginning of the movie Richard Jewell is playing an arcade shooting game, this is being upscaled on an HD LCD monitor which were not used in arcade games at the time.
Factual error: The scene where the Jeep gets stopped with its front tires on a lava flow wider than the hood and a lava flow under the cargo area is unrealistic. The lava or rising heat would be enough to damage belts/hoses. Zhang Nan would not be able to stand on the Jeep's hood that long (without injuries/burns) due to the intense heat. Crouching near lava is not as hot, so a person could withstand the heat for a few seconds under certain conditions, but not minutes like Zhang did standing on the hood. (01:09:53 - 01:10:25)