Factual error: Part 5, chapter 7. As the guards arrive at Moore's house, he comes out with a long-barrelled revolver, a Buntline Special. In 1932, none of these actually existed - there is a myth that Ned Buntline made 8 guns with such long barrels, but there is no proof they were actually made. Even if the myth should be true in the context of the book, it also states that 7 of the 8 recipients sawed off the barrels to regular length. Colt did eventually make "Buntline Specials", but not until the 1950s.
Twotall
11th Feb 2024
The Green Mile
11th Nov 2023
What If...? (2021)
What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger? - S1-E1
Factual error: When Stark starts telling about the Tesseract, the colonel shows surprise that Nazis were in Norway. Peggy answers with "Close. HYDRA." The scene is set in 1943, and Norway had been occupied by Nazi Germany for three years already. Them being in Tønsberg should not come as a great surprise to an Allied commander. (00:07:10)
Suggested correction: I feel like this falls under the "Not a mistake because it's an alternate universe" umbrella. We're in an entirely different universe with a different timeline in this episode.
The show also makes a point that the only difference should be the minor choices or events befalling the MCU characters, and how these minor things have huge consequences for them, basically creating a new alternate timeline. Basic world history before these events is not affected by the new timeline.
Basic, unaltered world history does not apply with this because we are talking about an alternate WWII from the beginning. One with Schmitt/Red Skull as propaganda minister of Hitler, Hydra superseding the SS, super soldier serum, Stark tech, the Tesseract, etc. It is not WWII as we know it, even without the "what if."
11th Nov 2023
What If...? (2021)
What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger? - S1-E1
Factual error: In the intro, we are shown how Nazi Germany spreads across Europe - but after showing Denmark being conquered, it is shown to start spreading across Sweden. Sweden was never occupied by the Germans in WWII.
Suggested correction: I feel like this falls under the "Not a mistake because it's an alternate universe" umbrella. We're in an entirely different universe with a different timeline in this episode.
The show also makes a point that the only difference should be the minor choices or events befalling the MCU characters, and how these minor things have huge consequences for them, basically creating a new, alternate timeline. Basic world history before these events is not affected by the new timeline.
Suggested correction: The black spot spreading is not representing territory physically conquered by the Nazis, but more of their sphere of influence expanding. It is a steady spread and not a true representation of the war's progression. You can notice how Switzerland is also covered by the black, even though it was neutral during the war. Nor was Italy conquered, but their ally instead.
26th Nov 2022
Under the Eagle
Factual error: In Chapter 14, Cato is being awarded a grass crown for saving his centurion and the standard of his company. The grass crown was only given to generals or other higher officers, for rescuing an entire legion or army, and it had to be acclaimed by the entire legion he rescued. As an optio, Cato would be ineligible for a grass crown, his actions would not qualify for it, and he is said to be unpopular with his company, so a unanimous vote is highly unlikely.
27th May 2016
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Factual error: Every time the name of the Swedish princess is spoken, it is pronounced "till-dee." This is understandable for the majority of the characters, who speak English as their first language, but in the scene where the Swedish prime minister is interviewed about the disappearance, he also pronounces it "till-dee." He should have used the Swedish pronunciation, "till-deh."
24th Sep 2014
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead (2014)
Factual error: Just like in the previous movie, Herzog is referred to as "colonel", in particular in the WWII museum where Martin reads about his history. But both in the museum's picture of him, and throughout the movie, Herzog is wearing the uniform of a SS Standartenführer. To hold a title of Oberst (colonel), he would have been a member of the Wehrmacht, regular army, not SS.
6th Oct 2011
The 13th Warrior (1999)
Factual error: The Vikings follow the Norse religion, and make several references to it throughout the movie. But when waiting for the first Wendol attack, Herger states "The All-Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago". In Norse mythology, the All-Father (Odin) did not weave the skein of life, the Norns did.
Suggested correction: The movie takes place in the 900s AD, and Norse myth wasn't put in writing until centuries later with the Prose Edda in 1220. Prior to that, it was spread through oral tradition; who's to say the details didn't change/update in the retelling over the next couple of centuries?
8th Dec 2010
Winter in Madrid
Factual error: In chapter 8, Barbara is thinking about bullfighting, and how she had seen the horses being disembowelled by the bulls. But Barbara didn't arrive in Spain until 1936, and since 1928 horses used in bullfighting have been legally required to wear protective padding that prevents them from being injured by the horns (so the horses can be reused in other corridas).
4th Jun 2010
Solomon Kane (2009)
Factual error: Early on in the film, Kane takes refuge in a monastery. But the movie takes place in 1600, and by this time all the monasteries in England had been taken over and dissolved by the Crown (Henry VIII).
26th May 2010
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Factual error: After locking his sons in the wine cellar, Henry remarks "The royal boys are aging with the royal port". But "port" refers to a specific type of fortified wine that was not made until about 1670, and it was not given the name "port" until the end of the 17th century.
7th Feb 2009
Dead Snow (2009)
Factual error: Herzog is referred to as "Oberst" (Colonel) both by The Wanderer and in the end credits. But both he and his men wear SS uniforms and insignia, where standard military titles were not used. Herzog should have been called the SS equivalent "Standartenführer".
3rd Jun 2008
Roma
Factual error: In chapter IX "Friend of the Gracchi", Tiberius Gracchus writes a letter home just after the destruction of Carthage, saying the farmland was plowed under with salt, to prevent anything from growing there. But recent (21st century) studies have shown that no record of such an event exists, and that the story of the salting of Carthage is a 20th century fabrication, made more than 2000 years after Tiberius Gracchus lived.
3rd Jun 2008
Roma
Factual error: In chapter XI, "Caesar's Heir", the murder of Julius Caesar is depicted taking place in the Senate Hall. But in reality, the assassins abandoned this plan, and instead lured Caesar into the portico of a nearby theatre and killed him there.
31st Mar 2008
Amistad (1997)
Factual error: The scene where the defense team walks on the docks, counting out loud in Mende, in the hope of discovering an interpreter, actually happened - but it was professor Gibbs who did this himself, not Roger Baldwin.
2nd Mar 2008
The Sleeping Doll
Factual error: In chapter 11, when different types of liars are described, one of those listed is High Machiavellians, and it is said this name comes from "the ruthless Italian prince". But Niccolo Machiavelli was never a prince, but a diplomat and politician. His most famous book is called "Il Principe" (the Prince), but he himself did not hold that title.
14th Jan 2008
It
Factual error: In chapter 18, when the Losers are in the kitchen of 29 Neibolt Street, Bill mentions that the FBI has a training range consisting of a false street with pop-up targets at Quantico. However, the scene is set in 1958, and the infamous "Hogan's Alley" at Quantico was not established until 1987.
27th Feb 2007
Rome (2005)
Factual error: Cicero's secretary, Tiro, is seen throughout the series wearing a plaque around his neck marking him as a slave, and here Cicero tells him, "You've been freed in my will". However, Tiro was freed in 53 BC, several years before the events depicted in the series.
12th Nov 2006
Rome (2005)
Factual error: Caesar was not murdered on the Senate floor, as depicted in the series. That was the conspirators' plan, but when they learned that Mark Anthony was coming to meet Caesar, they instead lured Caesar into the portico of Pompey's theatre and killed him there.
Suggested correction: The reason the senate was meeting in a different place is because the Senate house had been burned down a little while before so they met elsewhere during its reconstruction.
30th Jul 2006
K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
Factual error: The film takes place in 1960, but the propaganda film shown by the Political Officer includes TV footage from the Civil Rights demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama in May 1963.
1st Jun 2006
The Long Walk
Factual error: In Chapter 13, it is said that April 31st had been the final day to drop out voluntarily. April only has 30 days.
Join the mailing list
Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.