These Unbelievable Wardrobe Fails Ended up on the Big Screen and Nobody Noticed

It turns out that even big-budget blockbusters aren't exempt from the occasional slip-up. Someone call the costuming department, because these wardrobe fails haven't gone unnoticed...

The Ten Commandments (1956)

When Nefertiti is seen wearing a teal silk dress in The Ten Commandments, costume designers made an accidental no-no. The movie was supposed to have taken place between the 16th and 13th centuries, during which the only way to dye silk was with natural tints. A blue dress wouldn't have existed at that time.

La La Land (2016)

In this scene from La La Land, Mia and Sebastian get into the middle of a road rage kerfuffle. Even though Sebastian was wearing a brown shirt during the incident, when he returns to his apartment to talk to his sister, the shirt is magically blue. In the next scene, Sebastian is practicing the piano in the brown shirt from earlier. The film's director, Damien Chazelle, recognized the continuity issue in the audio commentary.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Wonder Woman may have been one of the highest-grossing films of that year, but it turns out that even Gal Gadot makes mistakes. In the scene where Wonder Woman is running through a muddy battleground in the midst of a violent war, her uniform and boots somehow remain in pristine condition. In the next scene, her boots were mysteriously mud-free.

The King's Speech (2010)

Colin Firth earned critical acclaim for his performance as Prince Albert in The King's Speech. He even took home an Academy Award for Best Actor. In one scene, Firth is sporting an Irish kilt when he should have been wearing a Scottish Balmoral kilt.

Troy (2004)

In Troy, Orlando Bloom can be seen riding his horse through town beneath a pink parasol to keep him cool, his Trojan men following in suit. However, this type of umbrella was invented by Greeks in the 5th century BCE—800 years after Troy was conquered.

Zootopia (2016)

In Zootopia, Judy the rabbit comes home from work. She is seen wearing a pink, scoop-neck t-shirt when watching her "Carrots for One" TV dinner in the microwave. When she sits down to eat, she's wearing her patrol uniform once again. According to the director, in an earlier version of the film, Judy changed out of her work clothes into comfy clothing.

Django Unchained (2012)

This Tarantino feature follows Django (Jamie Foxx) as he navigates the violent reality of slavery in the early 1800s. The film made almost $300,000,000 at the box office. Although Foxx's character spends most of the movie wearing sunglasses, sunglasses weren't actually invented until 1929.

Almost Famous (2000)

In 1973, 15-year-old William (Patrick Fugit) follows a band throughout their many exploits. William can be seen here wearing a Black Sabbath t-shirt that was first manufactured in 1997. Since the film is set nearly two decades prior, this would have been impossible.

The Untouchables

In this 1987 crime film, Kevin Costner plays a prohibition agent set on taking down legendary crime boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro). Although he can be seen here wearing a suit with labels, lapels were not popularized until much later.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

When Bruce Banner attempts to escape with Thor and disguise himself in the audience, he's suddenly covered in some sort of neon green powder. However, in the next scene, Banner is squeaky clean. At least he's still green on the inside.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

In the first installment of the Captain America franchise, Peggy Carter, Cap's love interest, is depicted with a shoulder-length hairstyle. Although her hair does appear to fit the fashion of that era, women serving in the military during the 1940s had to tie their hair back; it wasn't allowed to touch the collar of their uniform.

Back to the Future

In the pivotal school dance scene, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is jamming out on the guitar—which happens to be an ES-345 Gibson from 1958. However, McFly wouldn't be able to have played "Johnny B. Goode," because he was transported back to 1955.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

The first installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean saga had one minor flaw. When Captain Jack arrives at Port Royal, the British soldiers holding him at gunpoint are wearing red coats. The British Empire didn't issue these uniforms until 1747, but the movie takes place in the 1720s.

Public Enemies (2009)

Johnny Depp plays John Dillinger in Public Enemies, a charming bank robber in Depression-era America who J. Edgar Hoover and the newly-formed FBI considered a pest. Here, Dillinger can be seen wearing a modern, sleek robe that no one would have been able to afford at the time, nor would they have worn it in the first place.

The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

Natalie Portman starred alongside Eric Ban and Scarlett Johansson in The Other Boelyn Girl, a period piece about Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. In the film, Portman can be seen with a French Hood and her hair down. However, since the movie was set in the 1500s, Portman should have had her hair pulled back with the veil covering it entirely.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Even though the cast of Dirty Dancing was indeed having the time of their lives, no one in costuming seemed to notice that Baby's denim shorts were a bit ahead of their time. The film took place in 1963, but denim shorts wouldn't become a fashion staple for another two decades.

Pretty Woman (1990)

Everyone was so distracted by Julia Roberts and Richard Gere getting hot and heavy in Pretty Woman that they missed one important detail. When the scene opens, Vivian is wearing a long nightgown. By the time it's over, her nightgown has become significantly shorter.

Julius Caesar (1953)

This 1953 history drama forgot to leave behind its '50s garments. At the time, bullet bras were the most common type of women's undergarment. Unfortunately, since the movie takes place in 44 B.C., the bullet bra was a bit ahead of its time.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Although the Nazi costumes in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade might seem factually accurate, there was a major flaw with the depction of their uniforms. The Nazis can be seen with a number of medals on their uniforms, but medals like this were not added to uniforms until after the end of World War II. Since the film was set in 1938, World War II had hardly begun yet.

Glory (1989)

Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman starred in Glory, an American Civil War film about the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Here, one of the soldiers in the film can be seen wearing none other than a digital watch. Digital watches weren't invented until 61 years later in 1923.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Jim Mortia can be seen here wearing a headset beneath his cap, but it's fairly common knowledge that soldiers wouldn't have had access to that kind of technology during World War II. In fact, that kind of advanced technology would not be developed for another sixty years.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a blockbuster hit, but that didn't prevent a few minor errors from making their way to theaters. For instance, a scene meant to take place in 1945 depicts Brad Pitt in aviator sunglasses. Aviators were not invented until 1952, seven years after the scene was set.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

This 2001 war drama featuring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, and Kate Beckinsale depicts women in knee-length dresses and skirts without stockings. Back in 1941, it would have been highly frowned upon for a woman to have left the house in bare legs.

Have you watched seen a movie and observed something a little out of place? Most of the classic films you know and love are full of surprising wardrobe malfunctions.

Gladiator (2000)

If you squint, you can just make out Russell Crowe's nude high-waisted shapewear peeking over the top of his gladiator costume. It doesn't take a history degree to know that Spanx didn't exist in the Roman Empire. If they had, Marcus Aurelius would have been depicted with a striking hourglass figure.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Although young Harrison Ford is quite the eyeful as it stands, don't miss the guy in the background who seems to have mistakenly walked into the wrong dimension. Jeans and a t-shirt aren't exactly common attire for the 1930s. Maybe he was just ahead of the times...

Pride & Prejudice

Pride & Prejudice was published by Jane Austen in 1813, and the movie was intended to reflect that time period. Lizzie (Keira Knightley) can be seen above trekking through a muddy field in rubber boots, but rubber boots weren't even invented until 1853. If they wanted to maintain historical accuracy, Knightley would probably have had uncomfortably damp feet after this scene.

Legends of the Fall (1994)

Brad Pitt's locks were lovely as ever in Legends of the Fall, where Pitt starred as Tristan Ludlow. The film was set in 1910, but that didn't stop Pitt's character from forgetting to shave. Men with stubble and long hair wouldn't become socially acceptable until fifty years later.

Pretty Woman (1990)

Vivian and Edward sure shared some crazy chemistry on screen, but their connection wasn't enough to rescue the film from a few continuity errors. In the scene where Richard Gere is watching I Love Lucy, Julia Roberts unties his tie; in the following scene, his tie has been re-tied, but in the scene afterward, it's untied once again.

Papillon (2017)

Rami Malek plays Louis Dega, a French millionaire who has been sent to serve time at French Guiana after forging official notes. When a prisoner is set to be executed, the prison master tells the other prisoners to place their hats on the ground. However, in one shot of the scene, Malek's hat is nowhere to be seen.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Tom Hanks, Vin Diesel, and Matt Damon star in this war 1998 war drama about the search for Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. The movie takes place during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II; although the soldiers can be seen above wearing black jump boots, this style of shoe wasn't invented until the 1950s.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

This 2002 crime film, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, and Tom Hanks, was supposed to take place in the 1960s. Adams can be seen here wearing wire metal braces, but that type of dental wear didn't become popularized until the 1970s.

Good Night and Good Luck (2005)

The historical drama Good Night and Good Luck, about a conflict between a veteran television reporter and a U.S. senator, stars David Strathairn, George Clooney, and Robert Downey Jr. Set in the 1950s, the film features officers wearing name tags. However, name tags like this would not have been worn by military personnel until 1967.

The Color Purple (1985)

The Color Purple follows several African American women living in the south during the 1900s. As moving as the film might be, it also features Danny Glover sporting a clip-on tie—an accessory that wasn't invented until 16 years after the film takes place.

Seabiscuit (2003)

Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, and Chris Cooper join forces to care for an undersized, temperamental racehorse named Seabiscuit in this 2003 sports drama. Maguire plays the jockey, Red Pollard, but his jockey gear is ahead of its time. The chinstrap helmet wasn't invented until 1956 when the movie takes place in 1938.

Sense of Sensibility (1995)

This 1995 Jane Austen adaptation tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they come of age. However, the baby in the film is wearing far too modern a diaper for the late 1700s. At the time, babies would have only worn cloth diapers.

My Girl (1991)

My Girl is a heartbreaking coming-of-age story following an 11-year-old whose mother died giving birth to her. Anna Chlumsky, who plays the main character Vada Sultenfuss, can be seen wearing a mood ring. The movie was set in 1972, but mood rings only became popular in 1975.

The Last Samurai (2003)

In The Last Samurai, Tom Cruise plays an American military officer brought on by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in modern warfare. However, Cruise's samurai armor was actually used 250 years before the time period during which the movie is set.

The Notebook (2004)

The Notebook tells a love story between Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, and James Marsden. In the scene where Lon is waiting for Allie after recovering from injuries he sustained in the war, his hair goes from brown to black and back to brown.

Amadeus (1984)

This 1984 period piece explores the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the 18th century. While the costuming is elaborate and superb, you might notice that they were designed with zippers. However, zippers weren't invented until almost 100 years after Mozart passed away.

The Great Escape (1963)

This 1963 film tells the story of Allied POWs who escaped a German Nazi camp during World War II. Steve McQueen plays Captain Virgil, an American whose clothes are way too modern for someone who spent time as a Prisoner of War.

Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975)

 This Australian mystery drama follows the young women at a private school near Woodend, Victoria on the morning of Valentine's day in 1900. During the time the film was set, none of the girls would have worn their hair straight, down, and parted down the middle—their hair would have been tied up, or at the very least curled for volume.

Gangs of New York (2002)

In Gangs of New York, the 2002 crime drama directed by Martin Scorcese, Leonardo DiCaprio plays a young Irish immigrant seeking revenge on his father's killer. The film takes place in 1863. In one scene, a firefighter can be seen wearing a uniform far too modern for the nineteenth century.

The Mummy (1999)

In The Mummy, some treasure-seeking explorers accidentally unearth a 3,000-year-old legacy of terror in the form of a mummy. When Rick and Evelyn are traveling through a tunnel in the City of the Dead, Rick is wearing a leather band on his wrist, but it disappears and reappears in every other shot.

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Although Singin' in the Rain was set in the late 1920s, Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) can be seen wearing a pink tulle dress. This type of fashion was clearly a product of the 1950s, but perhaps that was overlooked in favor of convincing the audience that Moses' toses were roses.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Daniel Day-Lewis plays a miner-turned-oil magnate in There Will Be Blood. Fortunately, the only thing wrong with his performance had to do with his footwear, not his acting. Day-Lewis can be seen with waffle sole boots even though the movie takes place in the late 1800s; waffle soles weren't invented until the 1970s by Nike.

Ben Hur (1959)

Charles Heston was unaware that the Star of David he bore in Ben Hur wasn't actually authentic. In fact, the first record of the Star of David having been associated with Judaism was in the 12th century; the six-pointed star has no biblical or Talmudic authority.

Unforgiven

When a sex worker is disfigured by a pair of cowboys, the town sheriff (Gene Hackman) isn't happy about the act of abuse. Hackman's character can be seen wearing pants with belt loops in one scene, but belt loops only became popular in the 1920s. Unforgiven takes place in 1880.

The Tudors (2007)

Fashion was a notable part of The Tudors, a Showtime drama focusing on the early years of King Henry VIII's nearly forty-year reign. In the show, women donned ruff collars around their necks. Western European women would probably not have worn this accessory in the 1500s—the look was actually considered scandalous for its time.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Set in 1194, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves follows nobleman crusader Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) as he breaks out of a Jerusalem prisoner with fellow prisoner Azeem (Morgan Freeman). In the film, Robin Hood receives a telescope as a gift from a friend—but the device wasn't invented until centuries later in the 1600s.

Pompeii (2014)

Emperor Nero echoed the sentiments of Edna Mode: no capes. In 2014's Pompeii, some generals can be seen sporting purple capes, but Nero was known for putting anyone who wore purple capes to death.

American Hustle (2013)

2013's black comedy American Hustle was inspired by the FBI Abscam operation of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The award-winning picture features Louis C.K. as Stoddard Thorsen, who can be seen wearing a Rolex above. However, this type of Rolex was first produced in 2010, but the movie takes place in the 1970s.

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Ingrid Pitt stars alongside Clint Eastwood, Richard Burton, and Mary Ure in this movie about a team of Allied soldiers who stage a dangerous rescue in the midst of World War II. Pitt plays Heidi, a German waitress, but her hairdo is far too 1960s for the time period.

Schindler's List (1993)

Somehow, every woman in the 1993 drama Schindler's List managed to keep their armpits and legs smooth while in concentration camps. Not only was this historically inaccurate—women didn't typically shave at that point—but there was no possible way for anyone to have shaved their bodies in that situation.

Braveheart (1995)

This Mel Gibson film was one of the most successful movies of the 1990s. Set in the 13th century, Braveheart shows Gibson in a Scottish kilt. These types of kilts were not worn by Scots until hundreds of years later in the 16th century.

Quadrophenia (1979)

The rockers and the mods come head to head in this angsty London drama. Featuring music composed by The WhoQuadrophenia is set in the 1960s. However, one of the rockers can be seen wearing a Motorhead shirt—a  band that formed 20 years later in 1979.

The Informant! (2009)

Matt Damon and Joel McHale star in the Informant!, a biographical crime comedy in which the employee of an agricultural corporation agrees to wear a wire and investigator his employers on behalf of the FBI. In one scene, the FBI officer is golfing in Hawaii with special Nike golf shoes. These shoes were only manufactured in 1996 even though the movie takes place between 1992 and 1994.

Closer (2004)

In Mike Nichols’ Oscar-nominated film adaptation of Patrick Marber’s book, Natalie Portman plays a young American exotic dancer in London. Although Nichols reportedly removed all of Portman’s previous nude scenes in post-production, Portman's bra slips down about an inch too far while speaking to Clive Owen. Whoops!

Titanic (1997)

There was one small wardrobe malfunction in 1997's critically-acclaimed Titanic. Rose Dawson (Kate Winslet) has a beauty mark on the left side of her face when she's first introduced to the audience, but the mark suddenly moves to the right side of her face for the rest of the film.

Ricochet (1991)

In Ricochet, a 1991 thriller-drama, Denzel Washington’s character spends some time in the buff in a men’s locker room. At one point, Denzel leaps up and hides when a woman enters the room, exposing more than he originally intended.

The Wedding Singer (Adam Sandler)

1998's hit romantic comedy The Wedding Singer features Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler sharing some lovely onscreen chemistry. Despite this, Barrymore's hairstyle is a far cry from the 'dos of the 1980s, when the film was supposed to take place. It looks much more 1990s.

John Carter (2012)

Lynn Collins, who plays Princess Dejah Thoris in John Carter (2012), requested alternations for her costume design. Collins believed the design should show more skin. Even though the costume differed from what the director had originally imagined, the book describes the outfits to be even skimpier.

Next Post →

The More You Know

  • The first TV commercial didn't air until the 1940s.
  • There's a Russian village where every resident is a tightrope walker.
  • When a piece of bread is toasted, it's called the "Maillard reaction."
  • Before mating, the female giraffe will first urinate in the male's mouth.

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.