Factual error: When Ed and Lorraine Warren are trying to convince the lawyer to represent Arne, there are is a copy of "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel" on the shelf behind them, which was published in 2004. The film is set in 1981.
Factual error: There is a calendar in a scene towards the end of the movie which shows the date as Wednesday April 30, 2021 but the calendar does not align to the days of a real calendar. That date will be a Friday. (01:25:54)
Factual error: The scope Jim is using is completely wrong (yes I know he tested the wind using dirt) but as a U.S.M.C. Marksman his scope would have had mil-dots on both the horizontal and vertical bars. (00:04:24)
Factual error: After Mohamedou's torture scenes, the CO of GITMO holds up a letter from the Dep. Of Defense in Mo's face, stating that his mother had been detained. In the bottom left corner of the letter, it is written as "Department of Defence", which is the UK spelling. (01:41:27)
Factual error: During the briefing, Waller shows the map of the island of Corto Maltese. The map positions the fictional island in the Caribbean (it says "Mar Caribe"), but she says it is "off the coast of South America." The map does have also a set of precise coordinates in one of the middle quadrants; 45°43'36.0"S 56°32'58.2"W, which would place it far west of Argentina, surely nowhere near "Mar Caribe." (00:22:10)
Factual error: The telephone for the phone bank doesn't have a phone jack cord connected into the back of the telephone. (01:15:14)
Factual error: Lady Gaga is painting her toenails listening to some music on her portable cassette player. It's 1978, and walkman-type players were introduced the year after. (00:11:00)
Factual error: There is a "Covered California" sign in a window. The referenced health insurance exchange did not exist during the 1990 time setting of the movie. (00:20:58)
Factual error: The Channel 5 WNP Newscaster said, "it is now believed he [District Attorney Berdido] and his family were killed..." and running along the bottom of the screen was "4 confirmed dead in Fort Lauderdale gas explosion." This was a LIVE report showing two streams of water onto the house still burning inside. An investigation would barely, if at all, be started at this time and no-one would be "confirmed dead" this early. It would not even be known if anyone was home when the house exploded. (00:04:34 - 00:04:55)
Factual error: Dr. Boxer is told the experimented upon baboon died. He asks that an autopsy be performed. Autopsies are performed on humans. A post-mortem examination on animals is called a necropsy. (01:01:45)
Factual error: The Sheriff's car had "POLICE" written across the rear end, but with the exception of Allegheny County, deputies in Pennsylvania do not have police powers. They are County employees who carry out court orders (e.g, serving warrants and subpoenas) and work in court houses keeping order. They also transport prisoners and issue gun permits. It would be atypical for a Deputy sheriff to do routine patrol like Deputy Myers was doing. The sheriff's car should have had "municipal" or government plates. (01:16:18)
Factual error: When "H" is shooting at the target, the paper holes are wrong. Bullets make clean precise holes on paper targets. (00:08:20)
Factual error: The Academy of Sciences Glacier is at 80° north latitude, which means the sun doesn't rise at all between Oct 21 and Feb 21. Dan visits in Dec/Jan (his suburb is still covered in Christmas decorations when he gets home) but the sun is well above the horizon in Russia. (02:07:18 - 02:07:53)
Factual error: When the maid is shot with the shotgun, she flies back multiple feet. In reality, it would only be 1 or possibly 2 feet. (00:25:20)
Factual error: The Black Watch sergeant major wears a crown over three chevrons, which was the correct rank badge for a company sergeant major until 1915. However, this is at least 1916 (as conscription has started and the men are wearing steel helmets, both introduced in 1916). CSMs had been redesignated as warrant officers in 1915 and now wore a crown on the lower sleeves instead.
Factual error: Paul made a big deal out of son-in-law Jeff getting the New York "brownstone" [worth several million dollars], but an exterior view of Jeff looking out a window shows he is NOT in a true brownstone. This must be an end unit, but a brownstone should have all brick on the exterior side - not brick part-way and cement blocks the rest of the way. (00:38:39)
Factual error: After Ressler tells McChesney he wouldn't be surprised if one day she's tracking down sequence killers, McChesney replies, "Not sequence killers. Serial killers. That's what they should be called." But it was Ressler who claimed he coined and is often credited with coining the term "serial killers" (at least in the U.S). ** After showing pictures of some of Bundy's victims, Ressler is shown and it is pointed out, "He [Ressler] is credited with coining the term 'serial killer'." (1:31:30). (00:26:40)
Factual error: Teenagers Claire and Fiona would have been carded and not permitted to enter the "Saints and Sinners" bar because they were under age 21, but they were able to sit at a table and get served alcohol. (00:51:37)
Factual error: Before Tom landed in the puddle, there was water dripping or it was raining on it, but it wasn't raining when he was on the rooftops. After Tom landed, the water drops/rain suddenly stopped. Even if the water drops were from earlier rain running off the roof or other parts of the building, they would not be hitting the whole way across the puddle or that far away from the edge of the building. (00:02:34)
Factual error: On Saturday morning Gwen and Finney were watching cartoons. This was the day after she spent the night at her friends house which was a Friday night. The cartoon that was on the TV was Davey and Goliath. This cartoon only aired on Sunday mornings.
Suggested correction: "Davy and Goliath" aired on Saturday or Sunday mornings, depending on the TV station. And, according to Wikipedia, it "premiered in syndication on 2/25/61 as a Saturday feature."