Factual error: In the yard scene when Dewey tries to change the switch, the throttle lever slips from idle to full power. This would not have been possible. Throttle levers are notched, and require significant force to move.
Factual error: The 20 banknote shown is multicoloured, but the real one is plain blue. (00:40:40)
Factual error: Frank and Elise approaching to Venice by train. Train announcement says "Arrival at train station Santa Lucia in ten minutes". Landscape from the train window is green and hilly. I'm from Venice and no way you find such landscape 10 minutes from Venice Santa Lucia. Most probably you would see a gray Mestre, Venice inland city, or a completely flat and not green land (for at least 30 minutes from/to the train station of Venice). (00:19:30)
Factual error: When Ewan McGregor drives to Belmont MA to visit Paul Emmett, he checks the mailbox to see whose mail it's addressed to. It shows the name Paul Emmett, address, Belmont MA 02324, which is the wrong zip code; it is the zipcode for Bridgewater MA, and Belmont MA should be 02478.
Factual error: The Lyceum Theatre, referenced in the film, did not exist in 1828 as it was not built until 1834.
Factual error: In the flashback, when Teddy was among the soldiers liberating Dachau, there is a semi-circular sign above the gate that says "Arbeit Macht Frei". Dachau had a sign with those words on it, but its sign was oblong. The sign at Auschwitz was that shape.
Factual error: Bobby extracts two teeth to get the combination to the next room. When he looks at the teeth, the numbers are on the tooth root. To do this would be impossible without removing the teeth first. (01:02:05)
Factual error: As the three Israeli agents are stepping off a plane in Israel in 1966, one of the cars viewed behind them is a 1978 Olds 98 (with its late 70's square headlights). (00:01:45)
Factual error: In both scenes with Brian, Aron's boss, he is wearing a T-shirt that can be identified as being a product of the website www.someecards.com. This website did not launch until 2007, but the movie is set in 2003.
Factual error: When Talbot is first in Gwen Conliffe's shop in London, there is a vase of flowers containing Stargazer lilies. The Stargazer lily wasn't created until 1978 by Leslie Woodriff.
Factual error: The construction of Hadrian's Wall as shown at the end of the film is not historically accurate. A wooden wall was constructed first with a deep ditch on either side. One of the ditches should be visible as the characters approach the wall but it is not. The stone wall shown being constructed was not added until later and then it was constructed in sections. It did not become a continuous stone wall until some years later. In addition, the stone wall shown is not wide enough. Hadrian's Wall is around 2 meters wide at the top and even today you can comfortably walk on top of it.
Factual error: In the scene where Natalie Portman travels from her house to Lincoln Center she is riding the 1 subway train. The model train shown is a R142, which only serves the 2,4,5 trains. The one 1 train line is actually served by the R62A.
Factual error: During the breakfast scene with the bacon a box of Cheerios is seen on the counter with the red check mark on it. This indicates that the cereal is American Heart Association approved. The check mark campaign didn't begin until 2009 even though the movie supposedly takes place 3 years prior, in 2006.
Factual error: In the scene when they are leaving the Pittsburgh Zoo, the sign indicates to turn right for Interstate 79. However Intestate 79 is about 15 miles to the west of the zoo. Also, it is suggested that Interstate 79 is the turnpike (a tolled road), when actually Interstate 76 is the turnpike and Interstate 79 is not tolled.
Factual error: Sam is driving through a tunnel and there are also other cars driving through it. However, there are two X signs displayed in the tunnel, which should indicate that the road has been closed off and that no-one should be driving through it. (00:06:00)
Factual error: During the scene where they deliver electroconvulsive therapy to Kristen, the physician is seen holding the patient. Considering the level of charge delivered, the physician should have received a shock along with the patient.
Factual error: Given the destruction from the nuclear blast threw the truck in the air, the rest of the surrounding area would also have experienced similar destruction. However when they are walking away from the truck to another town in a nearby field, there is no visible impact of what was a recent nuclear explosion anywhere to be seen.
Factual error: The attack on the OPEC meeting in Vienna takes place on December 21. Yet, when Carlos' team exits the tram, the trees are full with green summer leaves and the sun shines as it would on a high summer day.
Factual error: In the chase scene where Lou is running after the derelict, they pass a number of vehicles parked and driving on the streets. All of them are correct period vehicles for the late 1950s, except for a white semi truck which is from at least the mid 1990s. The grille and headlights on the truck are the giveaway. (01:23:20)
Factual error: Edgar's license plate is "FROG BROS", but California only permitted up to seven digits at that time. It wasn't until 2014 when eight or nine digits were permitted, but even then only in "very rare cases." (00:27:40)