Factual error: A native French speaker like Monique would never mistake the word 'testicle' for 'tentacle'. The French word for 'testicle' is 'testicule' and the word for 'tentacle' is 'tentacules' - both are pronounced almost identically to the English form. She'd have to confuse the two words in French, and not even a non-English speaking French person would make a mistake like that. Monique's English is very good. She'd be perfectly aware of what she was saying.,.
Factual error: The electric guitar Marty plays at the "Enchantment Under the Sea Dance" is a Gibson ES345. This guitar model debuted between 1957 and 1958 yet he's supposedly playing it in 1955. It would have been more accurate to have him using a Fender Telecaster (1950) or Stratocaster (1954) or a Gibson Les Paul (1952). (01:23:50)
Factual error: When the evangelist first enters the mansion, Mrs. Peacock calls him a beatnik. However, the movie is set in 1954, and the word "beatnik" was not coined until 1958. (01:15:25)
Factual error: There is absolutely no way to fit three people in the cockpit of a single seat F16 fighter. There is no large empty space behind the pilot's seat - there is a bulkhead, and behind that a rather obtrusive jet engine. Even the two seater training version of the F16 cannot accommodate three people - there is no space behind either seat large enough for a third person, which this mockup has.
Factual error: There are no palm trees in Nebraska, visible when Wolf Scott surfs the Wolfmobile. (00:59:45)
Factual error: When Mouth flattens the tires on Brand's bike, all he does to let the air out is take the valve caps off. There's actually a valve in the valve stem that needs to be depressed to let the air out. The cap is just there to keep dirt out of the valve, simply taking it off wouldn't let the air out.
Factual error: In the culminating scene where Fletch is held at gun point and escapes by turning on the gas valve in the fireplace and then igniting the vapors into a ball of flame, he actually turns the valve into the off position (valve is perpendicular to the pipe). (01:32:00)
Suggested correction: The valve was in closed position (perpendicular). He opened the valve (turned parallel to pipe).
Factual error: When the CIA guys are 'invited' to the secret underground base via the highspeed drop platform - shouldn't they be flying off at the speed the platform is descending?
Factual error: There's a couple of scenes where Izzy goes into a speech about how he came to America when he was 10, and he owes so much to that country. The historical Izzy Einstein came to America when he was 15.
Factual error: Towards the end when Pee Wee is being chased through the sound stage, he comes out through the open doors and the red light is flashing that indicates that filming is going on. But if the light were on, the doors would not be open. They also take a while to open, so it's not like they could have just swung open right before Pee Wee got there. (01:14:30)
Factual error: The word 'magician' is spelled 'magicinan' on the cart when Nicholas bends down to collect the spiders web. (00:50:30)
Factual error: The KGB agent hunting Jonathan is carrying a Spanish Campo-Giro pistol. There's no way a KGB agent would carry a foreign sidearm in a Soviet Bloc country, especially one that was phased out of service in the late 1920's.
Factual error: When John Cusack is talking to Daphne Zuniga in the swimming pool, watch for the view of the window. There is a palm tree growing at this Northeastern, snow covered college campus. (Obviously an oversight when filming in California, but a mistake nonetheless.)
Factual error: Young David focuses his telescope at the moon. A close up shot then shows a circular view i.e. it is supposed to be the view through the telescope. Both the moon and the clouds in focus. With a telescope the depth of field is short and, with the moon in focus, the clouds would actually be blurred.
Factual error: Softball games are played with only seven innings.
Factual error: In the beginning when the college grads are making drinks in the blender, they're using Citrus Hill orange juice. The movie takes place in 1971 and Citrus Hill wasn't on the market until the mid 80s.
Factual error: The Air America helicopter that flew Tom Hanks and company out to the site was a Bell 212 (Twin Huey) The movie allegedly takes place in 1962. That model Huey was not introduced until 1968.
Factual error: Blossom is driving a 1958 corvette in 1955.
Factual error: Near the end, Angelo Partanna gets off an A Train at 18th Avenue to meet Charley. The A Train has never stopped at 18th Avenue. (01:50:00)
Factual error: In the shot of Florence with several bridges and the river shown, cars and motorbikes can be seen going across the lowest bridge in the shot. (00:10:10)