Movie Costume Malfunctions That Are Hard To Forget
We're all used to seeing our favorite stars adorn the most fashionable garments. Often, the outfits we see in movies inspire collections and our own dress style. But then there are those costumes that are so outrageous; we wonder if the designers were purposefully trying to make the actors look bad.
Here's the ultimate list of movie costume malfunctions you'll want to see! After all, it's not every day that these A-listers get to experience having a bad "outfit" day. Let's see if you noticed these peculiarities, and did you see what they did to Rose in Titanic?—brace yourself!
Lizzie's Wellies
Pride and Prejudice was a romantic drama based on the classic novel written by Jane Austen. The book alone allows you to imagine the characters and their costumes.
In the film, Lizzie was portrayed by Kiera Knightley, and keen moviegoers would immediately notice the wardrobe malfunction on Lizzie's costume. In one scene, Lizzie was wearing a pair of Wellies, a.k.a rubber Wellington boots which were not produced until 40 years later!
What Comes First?
You probably heard of the question "What comes first? The hen or the egg?" and this next movie costume malfunction will leave you baffled. People all around the globe adore the mega-popular 1994 film Pulp Fiction.
The film puts moviegoers at the edge of their seats until you notice that one flaw in the movie's most famous scene. Viewers with a watchful eye will immediately notice the bullet holes on the wall, so what comes first...the flying bullets or the bullet holes?
Too Caught Up In The Future
Filmmakers frequently make a mistake by including an object in a film that did not exist yet. This happened in the popular 1985 film Back to the Future.
In one of the scenes, Marty McFly delivers an amazing electric guitar performance of "Johnny B. Goode." The only flaw in this iconic scenario is the lack of accuracy, as the Gibson ES-345 he was playing didn't come out until 1958.
It Should've Been A Skirt
While Dirty Dancing's cast and production team were having the time of their lives, they forgot to fix one important detail on Baby's wardrobe. In a particular scene, Baby was seen wearing jean shorts. What's the malfunction? Her jean shorts only became fashionable later in the 1980s.
The movie was set in 1963, and it's a bit odd to see the lead protagonist wear a piece of clothing that's not from that time. However, fans overlooked this flaw, which doesn't affect the love story between the movie's two lead characters.
The Redcoats Don't Wear That Shade Yet
The first Pirates of the Caribbean film was set in the 1720s. During that time, the famous red coats, which the British earned their nickname was not yet issued in the military until 1747.
The men during that time wore red, but it was a darker and more inexpensive shade called "madder red." The scarlet coats were only reserved for officers and sergeants.
The Lonely Cowboy
An extra showed up in a particular scene of the film. He was either lost, or he forgot to put his costume on! For those who missed this odd appearance, the extra can be seen in the background of a Pirate movie.
What is that movie? It's none other than Pirates of the Caribbean. The extra can be seen sporting a cowboy hat and a white T-shirt that doesn't look very pirate-y.
Locals Wear Jeans, But Not In This Movie
Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones was considered a masterpiece that you hardly noticed this one flaw. In one scene where Jones was drinking after believing he lost the woman he loved, an Egyptian local passed by.
What's unusual is this man is wearing jeans and a t-shirt, which is not what Egyptian locals wore during the 1930s. Fortunately, the movie was so good you probably missed this tiny flaw.
This Stand-In's Face Was Exposed
On the famous program I Dream of Jeannie, fans were charmed by Jeannie the genie and her mortal husband, Tony. Nonetheless, the show's keen viewers couldn't help but notice something was wrong in the Season 5 episode.
Barbara Eden portrayed both Jeannie and her wicked brunette twin sister in this episode. The stand-in was supposed to be hidden to maintain the illusion, but it was unintentionally revealed in full view.
The Lingerie Didn't Exist Back Then
Anne Baxter portrays the biblical figure Nefretiri in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, and she looks stunning. Despite her attractiveness, observers noticed a few flaws in her Egyptian outfit.
To begin with, her lace bra is visible through the sheerness of the dress. Turquoise clothes could not have been made at that time since the necessary materials did not exist.
The Pink Parasol
Inspired by Homer's Iliad, Troy had considerable success and grossed almost $500 million against its $175 million budget. Everything had to be "big and grand" when it came to this movie, but that doesn't mean it's immune from wardrobe malfunctions.
Everything was almost "convincing" in the movie until you noticed that Paris was protected from the scorching heat by a pink parasol. Umbrellas hadn't been invented during that time, and Greek warriors are not huge fans of frills and the color pink.
The Soldier And His Wrist Watch
Perhaps the most striking film ever created about the Civil War is Glory. That is until you noticed one flaw in the movie. There were no digital wristwatches in 1863.
Wristwatches would not be worn again for another 53 years, but a Civil War soldier has one on his wrist. It's possible that this was an extra who failed to commit to his role, but the fact that it made it into the final cut is astonishing.
Over Groomed
Brad Pitt starred as the hunky Tristan Ludlow in Legends of the Fall in 1994. Moviegoers who have seen the movie cannot deny that Pitt was jaw-droppingly handsome, perhaps over groomed for a movie set in the 1910s.
We couldn't help but feel that men wouldn't look as handsome as Brad Pitt because most males would have bad hair days! Yes, Brad Pitt is handsome but blame his stylists for not playing their part properly.
They Got It Half-Right
We'll give a C for the costume department of The Other Boleyn Girl for getting the right costume for the right era in the movie. They got it half-right, and Natalie Portman wears the correct hood for a woman in 16th century France.
However, they forgot essential details, which are quite important for a woman of rank. The French hood ordinarily had a veil attached, and Portman's stylist should've pulled her hair back underneath the veil.
It Didn't Jibe Well With The Time Period
Singin' in the Rain was a 1952 musical film with many songs that will make people hum along. Despite its elusive score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, the musical has a wardrobe malfunction that keeps it from being totally perfect.
Debbie Reynolds played the role of Kathy Selden in the film. Her performance was stunning, but her wardrobe was a bit off. Her pink dress was flattering on her, but it didn't jibe well in the 1920s.
Exposed Unintentionally
Julia Roberts has one rule throughout her acting career: no nude scenes. Despite her strict rule, a wardrobe malfunction slipped right off her nose in the film Pretty Woman.
In one scene where her character, Vivian, appears to be wearing an ultra-thin nightgown, the camera caught a glimpse of Robert's chest. It's safe to assume that it might be her body double, but Robert's face was actually visible in that particular scene.
Movie Magic
A 1997 blockbuster picture, Titanic swept the globe by storm, smashing box office records and winning nearly every award imaginable. What could go wrong in this movie? Someone appears to have switched the beauty mark on Rose Dawson's face around.
The beauty mark is on the left side of Rose Dawson's face when she first appears. In all other scenes, though, it magically shifted to the right.
How Did It Move So Fast?
The classic film from 1994, Forrest Gump, is considered one of the greatest films ever created. Nonetheless, there are a few errors that have drawn the notice of observant moviegoers.
The iron is shown standing erect on an ironing board in one of the most dramatic moments, but in the next scene, it is lying flat. How did it manage to move that quickly? We guess Forrest isn't the only one running!
Alternating Outfits?
This iconic love scene from the second Star Wars film contains numerous errors. First and foremost, in alternate sequences, Han Solo is shown chained, then unshackled, and then shackled again.
He was unbound again in the cut where he had been frozen. Wait, is he wearing his jacket in one of the last cutaways?
It Keeps On Changing Lengths
There are several errors in The Wizard of Oz, but Dorothy's hair is one of the most irritating. It changes lengths all the time! In alternate scenes and shots, it ranges from medium length to extremely long.
This is because movies are rarely shot in chronological sequence, and reshoots are sometimes required. Today, the actresses would be forced to wear their hair at the same length during the whole filming period.
A Time Where Women Adhere To Dress Codes
When creating a film set in a certain historical period, the smallest details are crucial. Pearl Harbor was set against the backdrop of World War II, at a period when women were expected to follow a strict dress code.
In one brief moment in the film, ladies are shown sporting their bare legs. Women who were fashion-conscious at the time would have worn nylon stockings or at the very least painted on stockings with a line down the back of the legs.
Done On Purpose
The main character in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained is shown sporting a pair of highly styled circular sunglasses. Obviously, such a thing did not exist in 1858 America, when the movie was set.
Many people believe this was an oversight, but it was done on purpose for aesthetic reasons. Tarantino is well-known for his creative freedom.
Lycra Shorts Underneath The Armor
In terms of refining combat sequences, Gladiator was a masterwork. It's a challenging task to ensure the actor's safety while making fights appear genuine.
In one of the combat scenes, Russel Crowe wears a pair of tight Lycra shorts. These shorts didn't appear until much later in history.
They Like Wearing The Color Purple
Many of the more affluent characters in the film Pompeii wore purple robes. At the time, this would have been a risky and daring move.
Nero, the emperor at the time, made it illegal for anybody else to use them. Anyone who disobeyed the law would face the death penalty. Pretty harsh!
Strapped Helmets Did Not Exist Back Then
What's not to like about this classic movie? Beautiful horses, exhilarating racing, and a gripping plot? Seabiscuit is supposed to depict the setting of the Great Depression, and it does an excellent job of doing so for the most part, except for one blunder.
The jockeys in the video are equipped with strapped helmets to protect them. However, these strapped helmets did not exist at the time.
Editing The Odd One Out
You'll notice something strange in the duel scene in the second Harry Potter film right away. One of the film's crew members happened to be present during the time of the shoot.
The editor had to correct this error by darkening the backdrop to be hardly visible to the viewers. They reasoned that they would avoid reshooting the sequence by doing so, but he is still visible if you know where to look!
The Awkward Underwear Shot
Crank: High Voltage features plenty of exposed skin for the males and revealing clothes for the ladies. Amy Smart's character wears the tiniest outfit of the bunch—a pair of itty-bitty bottoms that are more like underwear than shorts.
The odd camerawork didn't help matters, and everyone was waiting for something to go wrong. The camera abruptly moves to her behind, giving viewers an up-close glimpse of her underpants.
Bad Hair Day
Over 30 years later, Jurassic Park still holds up to special effects standards. This is partly due to the meticulous attention to detail that went into building their massive, animatronic T-Rex. Is there something minor that has gone unnoticed?
One of the leading stars had great hair in one picture, but he appeared to be having a bad hair day in the next. This shot should have been evaluated more thoroughly by the film's editing department.
The Malfunctions Went Way Too Far
Samuel Jackson strips down and marches through a mirror in the 2001 drama film The Caveman's Valentine, presumably to show off his buttocks. However, the flaws went too far and revealed more in the camera.
Jackson's front side is shown at a flashbulb moment as his rear is on display. Fortunately, the picture was never released on Blu-ray, sparing the actor from public disgrace.
The Lapels Were Wrong
Although The Untouchables is set in the 1930s, Kevin Costner's outfit looks very 1980s. Even though suits had lapels back then, they were often considerably bigger and more prominent than those seen here.
The lapels of the Depression-era were frequently half-chest-length and pointed. Double-breasted jackets were also common.
Zippers Weren't Invented In That Era
The life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, represented by actor Tom Hulce, is told in this excellent 1984 film "Amadeus." Although the film generally garnered positive reviews from critics, some argued that it depicted Mozart as a bit of an idiot in some instances.
The zippers on the dancers' clothing may be seen if you look closely. Zippers were undoubtedly not created during Mozart's lifetime and were not introduced until 1918.
Clean Dress
The 1969 rom-com musical, Hello Dolly featured a plethora of extravagant, sparkling costumes, which became a huge inspiration for several Halloween costumes. Played by Michael Crawford, Cornelius dances with a stunning young girl dressed in a lavish dress in one important moment.
The dress had ragged, filthy stains from being dragged down the pavement in the first image, but she is wearing a brand new, spotless dress in the second shot. How did she manage to change her outfit in such a short amount of time?
Magically Teleported
This amusing error in The Mummy wasn't spotted by the director before it was released, even though it wasn't a wardrobe mistake. Our heroes are encircled by mummies emerging from the sand during the finale.
They begin shooting and killing them, but viewers witnessed Jonathan and Ardeth switch sides around Rick in a single take. The filmmaker admitted the error and said they had to cut a few scenes to show them moving around, which looked like they teleported from one side.
Waffle Soles
The movie There Will Be Blood also has a wardrobe malfunction which you probably missed. If you know where to look, you'll be able to spot the mistake in one particular scene.
This clever error can be seen just under Daniel Plainview's foot, where the sole of his shoe is visible as he elevates his foot in one of the scenes. In 1898, the design on his soles, called "waffle soles," had not yet been created.
Pants With Loophole
The film Unforgiven became a success and was nominated for Academy Awards and won four of them. Despite its success, the film also has its flaws. In the film, Gene Hackman plays the role of "Little" Bill Dagget, and one of his accessories was a major mistake. His character wears pants with key loopholes that didn't exist when the film was set.
Wardrobe malfunctions may make or ruin a film. Whether these happened unintentionally or for the sake of aesthetics, no great movie is immune from these disasters. The costume of an actor is essential. Even the tiniest of extras are essential. It establishes not only the character but also the film's place and historical period.