7 Editing Fails In Movies & TV Shows You Can't Unsee
Movies and television shows go through a lot before they end up on our screens. There are multiple rounds of editing, continuity checks, reshoots, color grading, and entire teams whose job is to basically make sure every tiny detail lines up from one shot to the next. In theory, nothing should slip through. And yet… things absolutely do.
Sometimes it's something small, like a prop that inexplicably changes between shots. Other times it's a little more obvious, like a modern object showing up in a historical drama. These fails usually last only a second or two, but once you notice them, it's kind of impossible to ignore them. Thanks to platforms like Netflix, HBO Max and Disney+, viewers keep spotting them during rewatches and sharing them online.
Pretty Woman follows Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), a Hollywood escort worker who forms an unexpected connection with wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere). During a breakfast scene, Vivian is clearly eating a croissant while sitting at the table. When the camera angle changes, the croissant magically becomes a pancake instead, which means someone in the editing room missed that switch.
When the movie hit screens in the ‘90s, most people would have missed that goof since they were probably too taken in by the story's modern fairy-tale-like romance. A lot of the movie's charm comes from the chemistry between its two leads. The tone stays light and funny even when the story moves into more emotional territory. It's ideal for fans of rom-coms like Notting Hill (1999).
Friends follows six young adults living in New York City as they manage the general chaos of early adulthood. Most of the story takes place in their apartments or at Central Perk, where the group spends a lot of time talking through whatever problem someone happens to be dealing with. In a few wider shots, especially during the couch scenes, viewers notice stand-ins sitting where the actors should be.
These doubles are normally used during lighting setups, but a couple of those shots slipped into the final edit anyway, which is kind of funny once you notice them. Despite these fails, Friends remains one of the most recognizable sitcoms ever made, and one people still revisit constantly. It's perfect for anyone who enjoys ensemble sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother (2005).
Clueless follows Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), an insanely rich Beverly Hills teenager who spends most of her time shopping and managing her high school social life. After helping a new student gain confidence, Cher starts reflecting on her own relationships and priorities. During a scene where Cher is struggling to drive, her new car loses its side mirror.
But in the very next shot, the mirror suddenly appears again like nothing ever happened, which is one of those continuity slips you can't unsee. But we'll give it a pass since the film did a pretty decent job of adapting Jane Austen's 1815 novel, Emma, for contemporary audiences. Anyone who enjoys stylish teen comedies like Mean Girls (2004) will probably enjoy this one.
Braveheart tells the story of William Wallace (Mel Gibson), a Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against English rule during the 13th century. During one wide battlefield shot, a white car can be seen driving in the distance. It's small and easy to miss at first, but once someone points it out, the medieval illusion kind of falls apart for a second.
Still, the movie's emotional storytelling and massive fight sequences helped define historical epics in the ‘90s. The battles feel muddy, chaotic, and enormous in a way that makes them surprisingly immersive. Even viewers who don't normally watch historical films tend to remember the speeches. It's a must for anyone who loves sweeping historical action films like The Last Samurai (2003)
Gladiator follows Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) after he is betrayed by the Emperor's ambitious son and forced into slavery. Stripped of his rank and family, he eventually becomes a gladiator fighting for survival in the arena. In one of these scenes, a crew member wearing jeans and a t-shirt can briefly be spotted standing near a chariot.
The shot moves quickly, but once viewers noticed it, the mistake became pretty well known. Gladiator also includes another editing fail. During a chariot scene, a gas canister can be seen under an overturned chariot. But luckily, the movie has such an impressive mix of scale and character drama that we can forgive the mistakes. Viewers who enjoy historical epics like 2005's Kingdom of Heaven will love it.
Game of Thrones follows rival noble families competing for control of the Iron Throne in the fictional world of Westeros. Alliances constantly shift as characters try to gain power and survive the political chaos around them. The drama in the final season was so intense that during a feast scene, a Starbucks coffee cup appears on the table in front of one of the characters.
Someone clearly forgot to move it before filming because to-go coffee cups were not exactly standard tableware in medieval fantasy. And in another finale scene, a water bottle can be spotted at the feet of one of the characters. Nevertheless, those minor blips did not detract from the show's very successful eight-season run. It's perfect for anyone who enjoys fantasy series like The Witcher (2019).
Bridgerton takes place in Regency-era London and follows the romantic lives of several aristocratic families. Each season centers on a different love story of a Bridgerton sibling while the wider social drama continues around them. Despite all that attention to historical detail, viewers noticed a band-aid on the ear of Lady Araminta (Katie Leung) during a scene in season four.
In earlier seasons, fans also spotted modern road markings, which definitely shouldn't exist in Regency London. But Bridgerton has never been about accuracy. The series became really popular thanks to its mix of dreamy romance, scandal, and elaborate production design. So perhaps we shouldn't pick it apart too much. It's ideal for anyone who enjoys romantic period dramas like The Great (2020).
