Factual error: The first film takes place from 1991-1992 (the seventh film shows James and Lily's grave, with the correct dates to have the film take place in 1991), however when Harry asks to borrow Ron's Daily Prophet during the first mail delivery, the date at the top reads 2001. (00:52:30)
Continuity mistake: When we see Ron and Harry running into the transfiguration class, Malfoy and Crabbe can be seen working. When it shows a close-up of Malfoy, both Malfoy and Crabbe have changed body position. (00:48:30)
Continuity mistake: When Harry walks into Gringott's for the first time, if you look at the pattern on the floor he jumps forward about 5ft instantly. (00:21:10)
Other mistake: While Harry and his classmates are on their way up to Gryffindor Tower right after the Sorting, Neville reacts with astonishment to a portrait moving. However, we learn in later films that Neville was raised in a magical household (by his grandmother), so he should have been completely accustomed to seeing pictures move. (00:46:30)
Other mistake: Near the beginning, when the Dursleys' house begins shaking, none of the objects fall nor do the curtains shake. (00:11:00)
Other mistake: While Harry is sitting on the troll's shoulders, the troll grabs Harry's right leg and pulls him off, but in the next shot the troll now has Harry hanging upside-down by his left leg. (01:11:10)
Continuity mistake: On the train, when Ron introduces Harry to Scabbers there are two Jelly Slugs lying on Ron's leg - one red-green and one yellowish-brown, but when Ron casts the spell on Scabbers both Jelly Slugs are red-green, and then it switches back again. (00:36:40)
Continuity mistake: When Dudley sits up when Hagrid knocks on the door, he is sat up. Camera cuts and he is sitting up again. (00:12:20)
Visible crew/equipment: In the scene where Harry is left on the door step, when Dumbledore puts Harry down to the right of him the blue screen is visible. (00:03:20)
Visible crew/equipment: After entering the Key room Harry says, "They're not birds... I'll bet one of them fits that door," and as they reach the levitating broomstick, at the bottom right corner of the screen, the shadow of the overhead boom mic moves on the floor. (01:58:20)
Continuity mistake: When Hedwig delivers the Nimbus 2000, as Harry catches it, the curve of the Nimbus' handle, the packaging and the way he grasps it all differ in the close-up and following shot. Then when Ron says, "Let's open it," he moves his goblet and plate to his left towards Hermione's goblet, yet in the next overhead shot his goblet is still on his right. (01:14:50)
Continuity mistake: During the scene with the troll, Hermione crawls over to where the sinks are and if you look at the floor you will see that there are only a few wet spots. In the very next shot, however, the whole floor is soaked (this occurs before the troll breaks all the sinks). (01:10:40)
Revealing mistake: In the shot where Harry is running through the wall for platform 9 3/4, the camera pans down slightly and you can see a rather stiff and fake looking Hedwig wobbling in her cage. (00:33:30)
Continuity mistake: After Harry opens the package with the invisibility cloak, he stands near the red chair and when he says, "I don't know, some kind of cloak," the cards on the back board are visible. As Ron says, "Well let's see then. Put it on," he holds a Bertie Botts box in his left hand and has his right hand in the box. Next shot facing Harry, Ron visibly holds the box with his right hand and the positions of the pillow, cushion, envelope and letter differ on the red chair. As the next shot opens facing Ron, he holds the box in his left hand and his right hand is in the box. Then in the next shot facing Harry again, the bottom card on the back board is gone. (01:27:50)
Continuity mistake: When we first see Hermione on the train, her tie is crooked. When she sits down, as Ron is about to change Scabbers yellow, her tie is straight and it remains that way while she is seated. When she leaves and turns around to tell Ron about the dirt on his nose, it is crooked again. (00:36:05)
Continuity mistake: When Harry receives his letter from Hogwarts, he opens it and it looks like one letter standard size. When the shot changes, it looks like a card (but we saw Harry unfold it). And when they are in London, right before they enter The Leaky Cauldron, it's standard size again but now there is more then one letter. Notice the folded left hand corner. (00:15:50 - 00:18:35)
Revealing mistake: After Hagrid says, "Dry up, Dursley, you great prune," in the next shot just as Vernon fires the bent gun, before the hole actually appears, the light at the muzzle end illuminates the floor above and the outline of the pre-made hole is visible. (00:13:35)
Continuity mistake: When Harry, Ron and Hermione go to the third floor corridor for the first time, they all run into the corridor with Fluffy in and close the door. In the next shot, Ron walks through the door again and closes it again. (00:59:40)
Visible crew/equipment: When Harry, Ron, and Hermione are struggling in the Devil's Snare, a puppeteer can be seen on the left of the screen, working at least some of the masses of tendrils. (01:52:00)
Revealing mistake: During the chess game the Queen attacks the Knight's horse that Ron sits upon. In this close-up just before the spear actually hits the side of the horse, the large hole, used to aid the stunt, is visible in the belly of the horse between the stirrups towards the hind legs. This hole is not in previous shots. (Visible in fullscreen DVD.) (02:05:10)
Suggested correction: Not every magic household has moving pictures in the house.
lionhead
No, but being raised in the magical world he will have come across moving portraits. A good example (tho not explained until book 5) is at St Mungo's. He visits his parents regularly. The hospital has portraits there that would move. Thus seeing the one move at Hogwarts shouldn't have startled him.
Ssiscool ★
I am now doubting it's Neville who is saying it. Can't be sure it's his voice. It can also be he is mentioning they are portraits, not photographs that are moving. Maybe moving paintings are rarer.
lionhead
It could be Dean Thomas. He's a muggleborn. And his first knowledge was when he had a letter, same as Harry.
Ssiscool ★