Factual error: In the scene in Costa's apartment after the failed baiting ploy, Costa describes himself as a loner who "bought a gun for a false sense of security", appeared to have had it with him during the evening, and gave the impression that he bought it after he witnessed the murder. Although IlIeana mightn't know, the Montreal police in the room might (should) have wondered about this. Even if legal, it is very difficult to acquire a restricted weapon (handgun) in Canada, the process taking one month to as many as six or more for clearance and permits, let alone courses and examinations. In addition, concealed carry of a weapon is prohibited for civilians. (01:00:25)
Factual error: In the scene straight after the opening credits we are taken to Baker Street where construction work is being done. This work is identified by a sign with a logo as being for the underground line. The logo type face was developed by a Mr. Edward Johnston for London Underground from 1913 but the distinctive typeface used in the film was not in place until 1919. This is obviously long after the 1891 setting of the film.
Factual error: The villain performs his hit at the beginning of the movie by remotely changing the GPS destination of a cab, so they head to the wrong place and into an ambush. Assuming that neither the cabbie or Pope notice the change on screen, and that his sophisticated software silenced the voice announcement of the course being recalculated, and makes the new place also marked as the old one (it is after all a god-like movie software), the trick is done on on a London black cab, whose drivers are notorious for "The Knowledge", aka being required to learn the entire topografy of the city in one of the most demanding training courses in the world, and not using GPS. It'd be definitely unlikely for the cab driver to be totally unaware, to the point of Pope himself noticing first that they are at the wrong place.
Factual error: Otisville Prison was not in the direction Monty's father was driving. He said he would take the Henry Hudson Parkway north and later continue on the Taconic Parkway. The Taconic runs due north toward Massachusetts on the east side of the Hudson River. Otisville is 30 miles west of the Hudson.
Factual error: Contrary to what the movie states, priests can be elected Pope - they are simply elevated to the rank of Bishop before taking the office.
Suggested correction: Him being only a priest was simply an excuse not to elect him. Those who did not want him to be pope were trying to find any reason to keep it from happening.
Factual error: Lt. Caffey (Tom Cruise) wants the two marines to plead guilty and take a deal because he doesn't want the to "spend the rest of their lives in Leavenworth (prison)." The United States Disciplinary Barracks is indeed located in Leavenworth, Kansas. And the US Army and US Air Force send convicted felons there to do their time. However, Marines and members of the United States Navy are sent to Portsmouth Naval Prison in New Hampshire. It is run by the Marines.
Suggested correction: It's perfectly within character that Caffey wouldn't know this. He's been in the navy a short time, never tried a case in a courtroom, and is generally uninterested in military protocol.
Factual error: The heist took place in April 2015 but the car registration plate of the ex copper is a "16" plate, which wasn't available until March 2016.
Factual error: A plastic bucket is seen. Plastic buckets were invented in the 60s. (00:50:05)
Factual error: When Bradley Cooper calls Louis C.K. he asks him, "Where are you?" Given he's just called him on his office number, rather than a carphone, he knows exactly where he is.
Factual error: When Jordan tries to escape with his daughter in the Mercedes, he pulls the parking brake with his hand (a hand-type parking brake) to stop the car, but that car (Mercedes Benz SL Class R129) is only available with a foot-type parking brake, making his action impossible. (02:43:35)
Factual error: In the early part of the movie, there is a shot of the outside of Triple O's bar. The scene takes place in 1975 and "Coors" is advertised on the outside of the bar. Coors beer was not available in Boston/East Coast in 1975. It was only available from the 1980's.
Factual error: In Federal Reserve cash processing facilities, multiple denominations of money are never allowed to mingle.
Factual error: When Marylin Rexroth's ex-husband dies, she inherits his money because he had not removed her from his will after divorcing her. Under California Probate Code ยง 6122(a)(1), the dissolution of a marriage automatically revokes any disposition or appointment of property made by the will to the former spouse.
Factual error: When Cruella first drives her iconic car, being in Britain the driver's seat should be on the right side, not the left.
Factual error: Near the beginning of the movie the main character's father shoots a man during a card game. He fires 8 shots from a six shot revolver without reloading.
Factual error: When Christian Slater and Minnie Driver are trying to get out of the water before it reaches the transformer, there is a real big problem with this scene. If there really was a flood and it was rising that high, the city should have shut off the electricity to the entire city, to prevent any electric hazards that may happen in that situation.
Factual error: Tony Gregory, the politician that Veronica meets, is seen wearing a suit and tie. Tony Gregory the TD, made a point of never wearing a tie.
Factual error: The motel's billboard advertised HBO, which did not exist in 1971 when the movie was set.
Factual error: At the end of the film, SGT Angel gets into his Police car Subaru Impreza, and on the bonnet it has the writing 'Sandford Constabulary'. This is incorrect, it would in fact be 'Gloucestershire Constabulary' as established at the start of the film that Sandford is in Gloucestershire. A Constabulary is always named after the County, never after a tiny village within that County. (01:49:35)
Factual error: In the scene where the fire department responds to the fire, the engine is 42. Yet all the fireman's hats say 6. The engine company, station etc. would all be the same number so their helmets should have also been 42.