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38 Mistakes You Never Noticed in Your Favorite Family Movies

Tim Hayne
June 18, 2015 - 1 min read

Family movies may be fun, sugar-coated fare, but they're not immune to errors, and we have the evidence. From classic animated films like "Beauty and the Beast" to live-action flicks like "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," here are 38 of the worst "oops" moments we could find in your favorite family movies. Photos courtesy of Moviemistakes.com

'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' (1971)

Everything is fine and dandy in this opening musical number from "Willy Wonka." That is until the Candy Man inadvertently smacks a young girl in the chin (for better visual evidence, check out the full clip here -- it happens at the 1:58 mark).

'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' (2001)

In "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (aka "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone") there's a shot of Prof. McGonagall in which you can clearly the wires that keep the candles afloat.

'The Goonies' (1985)

As the Fratellis drive away outside the lighthouse restaurant, Mikey's rain coat is clearly torn along the left sleeve. In following shots, however, Mikey's coat is without any tears. Mikey's secret talent: needlework.

'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (2005)

When Charlie is shining Willy's shoes near the end of the film, you can see the reflection of a crewmember in Willy's glasses.

'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982)

When Elliot burps in the classroom, the pencil on his desk disappears during several shots. You can also see the papers magically changing positions.

'National Treasure' (2004)

Benjamin Gates's (Nic Cage) younger self is played by a boy with brown eyes. Cage has blue eyes. Interesting casting choice.

'Napoleon Dynamite' (2004)

When Pedro (Efren Ramirez) is sitting at the table in the cafeteria and Napoleon (Jon Heder) sits down with him, Pedro’s right arm is under the table. In the next shot both of his arms are on the table.

'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' (2001)

When Harry's broomstick tries to shake him off because of the spell, you can see a metal seat on the broom. This was presumably to make the broomstick more comfortable for Daniel Radcliffe to sit on (though, you'd think there would be a spell for that).

'Toy Story 2' (1999)

In this scene from 'Toy Story 2,' Hamm shuts off the television with the remote. When we get a look at the TV, however, there's no reflection of him or Rex to be found.

'Mary Poppins' (1964)

When Mary reads the measuring tape, the message reads top to bottom (as depicted in the close-up), but Mary is seen reading the message from left to right.

'Enchanted' (2007)

When the animated Giselle is singing and brushing her hair, the reflection of her "one true love" is visible in the mirror. The problem? The image of her love is not reversed in the mirror!

'Monsters, Inc.' (2001)

When George comes out of the door with the kid's sock stuck to him, the sock's toe points inward toward the middle of his back. When the CDA rushes in to remove it the sock toe faces outward.

'Aladdin' (1992)

While the palace guards are arresting Jafar, no one has noticed that the curtains have magically disappeared. It had to be Genie, right?

'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (2002)

Presenting our first visible crew member of the list. Someone get that guy some wizards robes!

'The Princess Diaries' (2001)

Mia accidentally hits the softball at Josh's groin, but in reality, the ball hit him in the stomach. This is an error we can (hopefully) all excuse!

'Groundhog Day' (1993)

When the same things happen over and over again in a film, you're bound to get something wrong. In this scene, when Bill Murray's character Phil comes around the corner, you can see a woman carrying a yellow shopping bag and walking with a friend -- something that goes on for the first few days. However, on the last day, the woman is walking by herself.

'Beauty and the Beast' (1991)

The case of the disappearing apron. In this scene from 'Beauty and the Beast,' Belle somehow makes a wardrobe change in the blink of an eye. First you see the apron, and then you don't.

'Tangled' (2010)

Just before Flynn cuts off Rapunzel's hair, his right wrist is visible and shackle free. In the next shot, however, Flynn's wrist is bound in shackles.

'Jumanji' (1995)

In this "Jumanji" still, the license plate in the top photo clearly reads "G2298." After the cop car goes airborne, however, the plate changes to "CFJB95." Also, with a different bumper, it's clear they are two separate vehicles.

'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)

When Roger and Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) are about to crash in the cab, there is a shot of an open bridge. As they jump onto the same bridge, they crash into a traffic barrier that has mysteriously appeared.

'Gone with the Wind' (1939)

When Scarlett's father announces that the war is over, Melanie can be seen standing empty-handed on the stairs. However, in the next shot of her (still on the stairs), she is holding her baby.

'Despicable Me 2' (2013)

When the minion dressed as a maid answers the door, there is only a vacuum on the carpet. After he gets snatched, however, an umbrella holder magically appears next to the door and the vacuum has shifted positions.

'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

Anything can happen in the land of Oz. You even have the ability to cry straight from your eyebrows. Just ask the guard in the green get-up.

'Race to Witch Mountain' (2009)

The taxi loses its driver's side mirror in a car chase, yet the car has both side mirrors when exiting the scene.

'Matilda' (1996)

Since Matlida has special powers, we should let this one slide. However, the giant cross missing on the chalkboard is pretty obvious. Another case of something being there one moment, then vanishing the next.

'High School Musical 2' (2007)

This scene still boggles the mind. One moment, Zeke is sitting on a stool big enough for his feet to dangle from it. A second later, it's become a mini-stool. Didn't anyone on the set notice? Zeke, speak up for yourself!

'Home Alone' (1990)

After slipping on the ice, Marv (Daniel Stern) attempts to hook his crowbar on the sill of the door to keep from falling. After eventually falling, it becomes clear that the crowbar is actually not fashioned to the sill, but rather is hanging and swinging by a wire.

'Ghostbusters' (1984)

The newspaper photo of the Ghostbusters from the middle of the movie is the same shot we see at the end. So, these guys fight ghosts and travel through time? We smell a 'Ghostbusters 3' plot line! 

'It's a Wonderful Life' (1947)

Even a film as beloved as this one is bound to have a few mistakes. In this particular scene, where George is about to jump off the bridge, the snow momentarily cuts out.

'Home Alone 2' (1992)

Man, we miss Kevin McCallister and his crazy antics. In this scene from 'Home Alone 2,' he's being chased by Marv and Harry through New York City. To evade them, Kevin buys a necklace, breaks it and throws the pearls on the ground. Problem is, the "Sticky Bandits" end up slipping on twice the amount Kevin had originally put there.

'Miracle on 34th Street' (1994)

The second Mara Wilson film on this list (seriously, whatever happened to her?) features bangs that grow by themselves in a matter of hours. We guess miracles really do happen.

'Honey, I Blew Up the Kid' (1992)

Directors don't always have a big special effects budget. Still, the filmmakers behind 'Honey, I Blew Up the Kid' could have just cut this scene out. That way, we wouldn't have gotten to see actress Keri Russell's stunt double, who looks nothing like her.

'The Karate Kid' (1984)

Similar to the mistake we saw in 'Matilda,' this scene from 'The Karate Kid' uses two different notes Mr. Miyagi left Daniel. One has an exclamation point, the other does not. So much for self-discipline.

'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' (2005)

We respect the fact that family movies shouldn't be gratuitous about violence. But in this scene from 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' they could have been a little more realistic about Peter getting stabbed in the arm. The sword is barely touching him.

'The Little Mermaid' (1989)

Our last animated mistake comes courtesy of 'The Little Mermaid.' When Ariel and Eric are sitting in the boat, Ariel's hair is down. In the next shot, we see a reflection of her shadow in the water, which clearly shows the mermaid's hair in a ponytail.

'Cheaper By the Dozen' (2003)

This 2003 comedy starring Steve Martin was a huge box office success, despite the scene above, where a boom microphone is clearly visible behind the comedian.

'Back to the Future' (1985)

Great Scott! The odometer in Doc Brown's DeLorean has different readings several times in this scene, as does the trip counter. Also, if you look closely at the needle, you can tell that it's a different display being used.

'Spy Kids' (2001)

More boom mics! In this scene from 'Spy Kids,' a giant microphone is clearly visible in the reflection of the car's window. Whoops.

movie mistakes
Tim Hayne
Article by Tim Hayne
Freelance Writer

Tim Hayne is former Executive Editor of Moviefone.

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