Continuity mistake: Near the beginning of the film, after Jack rescues Elizabeth and her father gives her a jacket, she stuffs the medallion down her shirt, Jack then takes her hostage, where the Medallion is visible around her neck. (00:17:00 - 00:19:00)
Audio problem: At the blacksmith shop, just after Jack says, "You need to find yourself a girl mate," Jack pulls an all wood mallet from the wood ledge above and it actually makes a long metallic rasping sound, which is completely out of sync with the action. In a previous shot Will does a somersault and he grabs a sword hanging from the wood post. When he pulls it off the all wood ledge, it too makes a sharp metallic rasping sound. This is obviously done for dramatic effect. (00:24:25)
Factual error: Elizabeth would not have slept undercovers, nor would she have needed a bed warmer in Jamaica in an un-air conditioned room.
Suggested correction: This is not an error, but it could easily be a personal preference of Elizabeth. Even today, people sleep with heat blankets in moderate temperatures just because they like it that warm. Also, the climate in 18th century Jamaica was highly likely different from today's climate. But even in present times, I have had nights on holiday in Jamaica that felt quite chilly to me.
Deliberate mistake: During the pirates' attack on Port Royal, when they go about cutting and slicing, it is very obvious many times, especially in close-ups, that fists, weapons, etc., do not make contact, and the victims usually have a delayed reaction or react before actually being hit. This type of thing occurs numerous times aboard Interceptor, on Tortuga, and Isla de Muerta. (00:31:20)
Continuity mistake: When Jack is knocked out by the bottle he has one hand raised with a gun to shoot Will but when he is seen on the ground both his hands are up by his head. The gun-hand yes, fine, but the other one would be by his side or in a different position at least.
Continuity mistake: Will has a small tear in his shirt at the right shoulder. Sometimes it's bigger, sometimes it's smaller, and the shape changes throughout the movie. (00:48:30 - 01:22:50)
Continuity mistake: As Jack and Will are duelling while standing on the cart, and then up on the beams, in wide shots, Will's hair is pulled back perfectly in the ponytail, but in the close-up shots he has loose hair on the sides that is not held in the ponytail. This type of thing occurs numerous times in the film. (00:25:20)
Revealing mistake: During the first blood ritual and other moments in the film, you can tell that Geoffrey Rush's (Barbossa) eyes are yellowish only because he's wearing colored contact lenses. (01:12:45)
Continuity mistake: In the scene when Jack is on the Interceptor for the first time a white X is formed with straps on the guards' uniforms. A few minutes later the strap moves up 3 buttons.
Continuity mistake: Just after Jack and Will have duelled, Jack gets knocked out by the drunken Mr Brown. Norrington looks at Mr Brown and says his line, yet when the camera cuts to a different view, he is now looking at Jack and not at Mr Brown. (00:25:55)
Continuity mistake: Elizabeth holds the medallion chain over the edge of the railing. In the first shot she says, "I'll drop it," the chain dangles down with the excess chain over her fingers. In the front close-up of her arm, only the bottom chain is dangling. In the back close-up of her hand, with Barbossa in the background, the medallion and chain dangle shorter now, with the excess chain over her fingers. This takes place before she says, "There's no point in me keeping it." (00:38:50)
Continuity mistake: The right side of Elizabeth's face is twice slapped very hard (first by Boswain and second by Barbossa) but she never has a noticeable bruise, swelling, or other injury to her jaw or cheek.
Continuity mistake: When Elizabeth is taken aboard the Black Pearl, Bo'sun slaps her face. Bo'sun's hand never makes any contact with Elizabeth's face, but the sound effect makes it very convincing. Also, in the first side shot of the slap, when Bo'sun starts to say, "You'll speak..." it's the back of her left hand that touches her cheek, and we can see the white corner of her night gown under the robe sleeve. In the next front shot, it's the palm of her hand that is touching her cheek now and the white night gown doesn't show at the sleeve. (00:38:10)
Revealing mistake: After Will throws the small axe at the pirate and it hits him, he picks it up again and runs away. But the axe has no blood on it. The pirates do leave blood on weapons, as shown when Elizabeth stabs Barbossa later.
Revealing mistake: After the pirates open the gate on the Governor's property, they run towards the mansion and in the shot from behind they are casting shadows on the ground to their right. In the next shot from Elizabeth's window, they are casting long shadows directly in front of themselves. (00:31:55)
Continuity mistake: Anamaria's hat is turned, so the flap is on the side of her face when she says, "It was a good plan. Up till now." In the shots before and after, the flap of her hat is in the front. (01:23:00)
Continuity mistake: The position of Barbossa's white shirt collar varies within wide and close-up shots, during the first blood ritual with Elizabeth. (01:10:05 - 01:14:40)
Continuity mistake: When the Pearl chases the Interceptor the sea changes frequently from rough, to (relatively) calm sea. That cannot change that rapidly.
Other mistake: When we see Jacoby lying face down with the axe in his back, we can see how far the axe sticks out. It's not deep enough in his back to stick out with that weight of wood and metal. That axe would never stand upright, it would fall to the side.
Continuity mistake: When Elizabeth is dining with the captain of the Black Pearl, he takes out the medallion, and the medallion's position changes during shots on his hand. (00:53:40)
