12 Geographical Inaccuracies in Movies That We All Missed

To imagine that the legendary film Casablanca has a geographical inaccuracy in one of its scenes seems unusual. However, considering the era of the film, it is understandable. Now that we can use the internet and access so much information so quickly, you might be tempted to think that films are very accurate when it comes to history and geographical details. And you might just be surprised to know that’s not the case.

At Bright Side, we looked into some of the strangest geographical movie mistakes that very few people have noticed before. We recommend that you read to the end, we left a bonus there.

1. X: First Class

In X: First Class, something caught the eye of the audience in Argentina. It’s just a little mistake, but it’s worth noticing. When one of the characters travels looking for revenge, a cold and mountainous landscape appears with the caption: Villa Gesell, Argentina. The problem is that Villa Gesell is a coastal place, with no mountains at all and a huge beach.

2. Mr. and Mrs. Smith

The film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, features some romantic scenes in Bogotá, Colombia. It shows a small town that’s extremely hot, with palm trees and colorful houses. However, Bogotá is a big city, with large buildings and a rather cold climate. Quite the opposite of what is portrayed in the film.

3. Jurassic Park

The acclaimed film Jurassic Park is also not exempt from these geographical errors. At around the thirteenth minute, one of the characters appears sitting in a café in front of a dusty beach in, according to the film, San José, Costa Rica. However, San José is a cosmopolitan capital city with no ocean or lakes nearby.

4. Pacific Rim: Uprising

The film Pacific Rim: Uprising was released in 2018. During its final battle, which takes place in Tokyo, the great Mount Fuji can be seen next to the city. However, Mount Fuji is 130 km away from Tokyo, and can only be seen in the distance on a very clear day.

5. Another Day to Die

In Die Another Day, James Bond’s trademark character appears to be surfing magnificently in the sea between North and South Korea. This is something that is impossible since in these areas there are no waves that can be surfed like we see in the film.

6. Fool’s Gold

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey’s romantic adventure, Fool’s Gold, has one little incorrect detail that’s worth mentioning. Scenes set in Key West, Florida and the Bahamas feature mountainous landscapes. However, these regions are actually flat.

7. Troy

In 2004, Troy was released, starring Brad Pitt. In one of the scenes, a couple of cute llamas appear walking among the villagers. However, these animals come from South America. In Turkey, where Troy is believed to have been located, there were no animals even remotely similar to llamas.

8. Mission: Impossible II

At one point in the film, Tom Cruise, the star of Mission: Impossible II, appears in Seville, Spain, as the city celebrates a festival where figures of saints are burned. In reality, this event, known as Las Fallas de Valencia, is actually held in Valencia, quite far from Seville.

Moreover, the figures used are usually of public celebrities or popular icons, but never of saints.

9. Krakatoa: East of Java

Krakatoa: East of Java is a classic adventure and disaster film that was released in 1968. This film has one of the most naive geographical errors in the history of cinema. It appears in its title—the Krakatoa volcano is actually located west of Java.

10. Independence Day

During one of the scenes of the acclaimed film, Independence Day, we can see the Empire State Building, New York’s icon, incorrectly located in the center of the main street. However, connoisseurs of this city know that this is not the true location of this great tower.

11. 50 First Dates

50 First Dates takes place in Hawaii, and most of the scenes were shot there. Though, there is a small detail that only the trained eye can see. During one part, while the protagonist is playing golf, a large island is visible on the horizon. However, in O’ahu, where the story takes place, it is not possible to see any of the other Hawaiian Islands.

12. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

The latest installment of this epic saga, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, has several geographical errors. Among them, presenting Mexican music, dialects, and iconography when, in fact, the film takes place in Peru, almost 5,000 km away from Mexico...

However, one of the biggest mistakes that were made was to place the Mayan pyramid of Chichen Itza, which is located in Mexico, in the Peruvian jungle.

Bonus: The chest in Pirates of the Caribbean

The first film in the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, The Curse of the Black Pearl, features a historical flaw rather than a geographical one. The plot revolves around a cursed Aztec chest. However, representations of the Inca god Huiracocha can be seen on the front of the chest. This same god is carved into the center of the Puerta del Sol, located in Bolivia.

Why do you think these geographical errors are made in films? Is there a mistake you have noticed in another film?

Got some cool photos or stories and want to be featured on Bright Side? Send them all right HERE and right now. Meanwhile, we’re waiting!

Tom Cruise’s dedication to his family is evident from his early years. Despite the glamour surrounding his life, he faced a challenging childhood, taking on significant responsibilities to support his mother and sisters. Born in New York in 1962, Cruise’s family frequently relocated due to his father’s unstable career. Diagnosed with dyslexia at seven, he attended 14 different schools. At 11, after his mother left his father, Cruise began working various jobs to support his family. His mother’s deteriorating health further increased his responsibilities. However, his bond with his mother remained strong, and she played a pivotal role in encouraging his acting pursuits.