Factual error: Throughout the film, the helmet plates worn by the London Policemen are the 1930's pattern with the George V cypher in the centre. In 1912/13 they would have repeated the officer's collar number in the centre. The helmets themselves are also British military pattern blue cloth helmets with Police fittings added, rather than the correct Police pattern ones.
Factual error: A library assistant is showing his cellphone to a Fed. The Fed pulls out his gun and shoots the assistant from about 8 inches away into his left temple. Another Fed, standing to the immediate right of the assistant is shown after the shot. But there is no blood or material spray on him at all. His white shirt is immaculate. In fact, there is no blood anywhere.
Continuity mistake: The handful of yams (pureed) that Glory throws onto the left side of her bowl is spread out, relatively flat, and spans close to the bowl's rim. Suddenly, the yams are piled higher and further away from the bowl. The yams on both sides appear to vary, but other views are too short to be confirmed (without pausing). (00:48:11)
Revealing mistake: At the cocktail party in his honor, Rita Richards introduces herself. Joaquin Phoenix's scotch is in a transparent plastic cup, and you notice what happens in most movies, here with particular clarity; when he brings it to his mouth, he does not take even a sip, but just pretends. (00:06:05)
Continuity mistake: Near the beginning of the movie when Joy is in her airline's company uniform and getting ready to go to work, the knot on her scarf changes from loose to tight several times in the different shots.
Other mistake: When Otto Preminger calls Trumbo from his car to announce that Trumbo's real name would be credited for Exodus, Preminger tells him to look at the front page of the New York Times. The problem is that Trumbo has already picked up the paper from his counter and is reading before Preminger even tells him which newspaper features the article.
Continuity mistake: The resident bully approaches Mara once her rather embarrassing mum left. Mara turns around and tries to power her way out of the predicament; in the background, the girl with the bright red dress has her arm across her waist, but at the cut she has both arms behind her back. (00:02:40)
Visible crew/equipment: When Davis comes out from the train with the headphones on in the subway just before starting to dance, a cameraman filming the scene can be briefly seen reflected on the train door's glass. (01:08:00)
Character mistake: The girl scores a goal in the soccer game but it does not actually go into the goal, so everyone is celebrating a miss. (00:02:00)
Continuity mistake: As Sean Penn arrives in the bar at the beginning of the movie, Annie is engaged in conversation with another man, saying "We have to meet the new Minister of Health." You can spot her in the group shot and she has her elbow on the table and leaning her head against the hand. In the close-up her position is completely different. (00:03:00)
Factual error: The movie is set in the late 90s but in the parking lot scenes, the pair are surrounded by cars as new as 2012.
Continuity mistake: At the very start of the movie as the 2 guys walk down the alley way, the one in the black jacket lifts his arm up as he passes the rubbish bin. In the next shot from the front both his arms are in his pockets and the rubbish bins completely disappear. (01:00:00 - 01:01:00)
Continuity mistake: The blood on the good guy's white shirt continuously changes through the last chase. (01:22:00 - 01:26:00)
Factual error: Dev Patel is standing in front of Trinity College's statue of Issac Newton. Directly behind the statue is a marble wall with names carved into it. This wall is a list of the members of the college who died in World War II. It would not have existed in 1914.
Factual error: Evita Peron died in 1952. In this movie, the doctor finishes embalming her during the Coup d'état that deposes her husband...in 1955.
Factual error: The girls missed the bus for the football match because one of them got stuck. Luckily they manage to stop a passing truck and ask for a lift to overtake the bus, which, they stress, was bringing the girls "to Trabzon." When their custodians see them cheer on TV and drama ensues, the match is Galatasaray (GS) vs Trabzonspor (TZS); the home team is Galatasaray, so they should be playing in Istanbul. (00:27:30 - 00:29:30)
Factual error: Jack is addressed by everyone as 'Airman', not as the correct 'Corporal'. The rank of Airman does not even exist in the RAF.
Continuity mistake: Charlie's mock trial: the latina maid walks up the stairs, with Sebastian saying "OhmahGod, thank you." In the foreground, London is holding her goblet with her right hand, but in the next shot she has it in her left. (00:05:15)
Continuity mistake: When Zipper drops her off at her car at the beach, Marnie is wearing boots when she gets off his motorcycle. When she walks to the car she's wearing shoes.
Continuity mistake: When Nicolas Cage is standing on a roof top patio with the oil industry financier, an orange disappears. The oil guy is peeling an orange as he talks to NC and then when Cage leaves the scene the orange is gone without it ever being eaten or discarded. (01:00:00 - 01:05:00)