12 Movie Moments That Completely Ignored the Real History

Even the most expensive historical films aren’t immune to hilarious mistakes. No matter how much research the creators claim to do, movie magic sometimes forgets about real history. From medieval heroes using gadgets invented centuries later to costumes that would’ve shocked high society of the time, these slip-ups are hard to miss once you spot them.

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

Something strange is going on with Elizabeth’s nails in this movie. When she’s grown up and examining the pirate medallion, the close-up shows her nails cut short, which actually fits the fashion of that time. But when the kidnapped Elizabeth appears onscreen, she suddenly has a fresh French manicure — looks like the pirates must have opened a nail salon on the ship.

Stranger Things (2016)

The series Stranger Things is not really historical, but the costume designers very carefully recreated the outfits of the mid-80s. Such meticulous work on the characters’ looks caused a lot of positive feedback from the audience, but still there were some small mistakes.

For example, these wide elastic bands were an integral part of the 80s and 90s fashion. But since they were patented in the US only in 1987, children probably couldn’t wear them in 1985, in which the series takes place.

Little Women (2019)

The story of the 4 March sisters unfolds during the reign of Queen Victoria. At that time, essential parts of a woman’s costume included a corset, petticoat, bloomers, and hoop skirt. However, in order to better convey the individuality of each heroine, the costume designers omitted certain elements from the looks of Beth and Jo. Jo prefers a vest over a corset, and Beth comfortably does without a crinoline.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813. In the Hollywood adaptation, Lizzie wears Wellington boots. The only problem is, they weren’t produced until 40 years later.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Robin Hood appeared in English folklore, literature, and ballads as early as 1377. In the movie starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, Robin uses a telescope. This device was only invented in the 17th century.

The Mummy (1999)

In the movie The Mummy, Evelyn is getting ready to cross the desert on a camel. However, she’s dressed as if she’s about to perform a belly dance. No sun hat, no thick scarf to wrap her face in case of a sandstorm. It’s odd that her companions didn’t warn her about how she should be dressed.

Gladiator (2000)

In the Oscar-winning movie, Lucilla and Maximus wear fur-trimmed cloaks in scenes set in the forests of Germany. The logic seems clear — it should be colder there than in their Roman homeland. However, the ancient world was somewhat different.

Wearing fur back then was considered the prerogative of none other than the crude barbarians, against whom the Romans so fervently fought. Thus, it is extremely unlikely that the emperor’s daughter or the high-ranking Roman general would ever wear something like that.

Sense and Sensibility (1995)

The movie was based on the 1811 novel of the same name by Jane Austen. And yes, diapers did exist even in the early 19th century. They were made from cloth and towels. In the movie, however, the director and costume designers decided that this detail wasn’t particularly significant and opted for quite modern materials instead.

Aviator (2004)

In one of the scenes, Robert Gross appears in thin rimless glasses, which look too modern for the 1920s. At that time, small round lenses in a metal frame were widespread.

Amadeus (1984)

Throughout the movie, zippers appear here and there in many outfits. A very convenient device. However, zippers were invented only 120 years after the death of the great composer.

A Dangerous Method (2011)

In one scene, Keira Knightley appears on screen wearing nothing but a corset, which completely goes against how this garment was actually worn. Women of that time were required to wear a chemise underneath, and the corset would be laced over it.

Here you’ll discover 12 fascinating facts about ancient civilizations that even dedicated history lovers might not know.