Can You Spot the Lies in These Famous Movies? Take the Challenge!

In “Braveheart” (1995), what is an anachronistic element?

Kilts

Swords

Castles

Horses

Kilts, as depicted in “Braveheart,” were not worn in Scotland until the 16th century, which is several centuries after the time of William Wallace in the 13th century.

In “Gladiator” (2000), what mistake is made about Commodus?

He killed his father

He died in the arena

He was a skilled fighter

He loved gladiatorial games

In reality, Emperor Commodus did not die in the gladiator arena but was assassinated in a conspiracy by his own inner circle, contrary to the film’s portrayal.

What does “Titanic” (1997) inaccurately portray about the ship’s musicians?

They played for hours

They played modern music

They all survived

They played as the ship sank

The film shows all of Titanic’s musicians going down with the ship while playing, but in reality, not all of the band members died; some survived.

In “Pearl Harbor” (2001), what aspect of the attack is exaggerated?

The number of planes used

The duration of the attack

The role of Doolittle’s Raid

The number of ships sunk

The film exaggerates the impact of Doolittle’s Raid on the course of the war following the attack on Pearl Harbor, attributing more strategic significance to it than was accurate.

How does “The Patriot” (2000) incorrectly depict British soldiers?

They wore red uniforms

They burned down churches

They used muskets

They rode horses

“The Patriot” inaccurately depicts British soldiers as burning down a church with people inside, an event that has no historical basis during the American Revolutionary War.

In “Pocahontas” (1995), what is historically inaccurate about the protagonist?

She was a teenager

She married John Smith

She spoke English

She helped her people

In historical records, Pocahontas did not marry John Smith; she married John Rolfe. This is a common misconception perpetuated by various retellings including the film.

What error does “300” (2006) make about Spartan warriors?

They fought shirtless

They used spears

They had helmets

They were outnumbered

In “300,” the Spartan warriors fight without armor for dramatic effect; however, historical Spartans wore body armor in battle to protect themselves.

In “Amadeus” (1984), what is falsely implied about Mozart’s work?

He was poor

He composed alone

Salieri helped him compose

He disliked performing

“Amadeus” falsely implies a rivalry where Salieri plays a role in composing some of Mozart’s work, which is entirely fictional and not supported by historical evidence.

Which of these is a fabrication in “Argo” (2012) about the escape?

The airport chase

The film script

The Canadian ambassador’s role

The Hollywood connection

The dramatic airport chase scene in “Argo” is a complete fabrication; the real escape was tense but involved no such physical chase.

In “The Imitation Game” (2014), what is misrepresented about Alan Turing’s team?

They were all British

They disliked Turing

They solved Enigma alone

Turing led the team

The film suggests that Turing’s team alone was responsible for breaking the Enigma code, which diminishes the efforts of Polish cryptographers who made significant earlier contributions.

In “U-571” (2000), what is inaccurately portrayed?

Americans captured Enigma

Germans wore uniforms

Submarine was grey

Torpedoes were used

U-571 inaccurately credits Americans with capturing the Enigma machine, when in fact it was British forces who first captured Enigma-related materials during World War II.

What is wrongly shown in “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)?

All soldiers were American

Normandy landing inaccuracies

Germans had superior numbers

Tanks were not used

Saving Private Ryan depicts the Omaha Beach landing with some minor inaccuracies in the layout and sequence of events, although it is largely praised for its realism.

Which detail in “Elizabeth” (1998) is historically incorrect?

Elizabeth was Protestant

Elizabeth loved Dudley

Mary of Guise was assassinated

Elizabeth rode horses

In “Elizabeth,” Mary of Guise is shown being assassinated as part of a plot, whereas in reality she died from natural causes, specifically edema.

In “Lincoln” (2012), what aspect is exaggerated?

Lincoln’s height

Lincoln’s influence over Congress

The Civil War’s end

Abolitionist stance

Lincoln exaggerates Abraham Lincoln’s direct influence over individual members of Congress in passing the 13th Amendment, simplifying the complex political maneuvers involved.

What does “A Beautiful Mind” (2001) omit about John Nash?

His mathematical theories

His Nobel Prize

His mental illness

Other family members

A Beautiful Mind significantly omits the presence and impact of John Nash’s other family members, particularly his son born out of wedlock and his first wife.

What mistake is made in “Apollo 13” (1995) regarding Swigert?

He caused the failure

He was a rookie

He didn’t want to fly

He was not trained

Apollo 13 incorrectly implies Jack Swigert was merely a last-minute addition or a rookie, though in reality, he was a fully trained astronaut who was part of the backup crew.

In “The King’s Speech” (2010), what is misrepresented?

King George VI’s stutter

Timeline of therapy

Churchill’s support

The king’s advisor

The timeline of King George VI’s speech therapy is compressed and dramatized for effect; his work with Lionel Logue started several years before the abdication crisis, not just at its onset.

In “JFK” (1991), what is controversially depicted?

Oswald acted alone

Multiple shooters

Conspiracy theories

Kennedy’s policies

JFK controversially depicts various conspiracy theories surrounding President Kennedy’s assassination, which are largely based on speculation and have been widely debated and criticized for accuracy.

Zuckerberg’s personality

Creation of Facebook

Eduardo’s contribution

Sean Parker’s role

The Social Network exaggerates and dramatizes Mark Zuckerberg’s personality traits and interpersonal conflicts, creating a more contentious portrayal than what might be factual.

What is inaccurate in “The Queen” (2006)?

Queen Elizabeth II’s response

Prince Charles’s role

Public reaction

Blair’s influence

The Queen inaccurately dramatizes Queen Elizabeth II’s response to Princess Diana’s death, suggesting a more severe emotional detachment and resistance to public sentiment than what was reported by insiders.