10 SHOCKING Mistakes in Popular Christmas Movies
Did you know that The Wizard of Oz has over 434 mistakes? That’s nothing compared to Albert Hitchcock’s The Birds, which enters the ring with a whopping 552 mistakes. While Christmas movies might be magical, they aren’t magically mistake-free. Like the other films we mentioned, they, too, have their fair share of mistakes. In fact, we’ve compiled a list of the most SHOCKING blunders in the Christmas films we all know and love. Did one of your favorites make our list?
1. Vera-Ellen trips over Danny Kaye – White Christmas (1954)
When it comes to Christmas classics, White Christmas is at the top of the list. And even though most of us movie buffs agree that it’s much flawless from start to finish, that doesn’t mean it’s truly without a flaw! In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Vera-Ellen actually trips in one of the film’s most iconic dance scenes. At around 3:30 in the video we linked above, Vera-Ellen trips over Danny Kaye’s outstretched leg as she twirls around him. She gracefully recovers and finishes the routine without a hitch.
2. The leg lamp’s missing cord – A Christmas Story (1983)
Even if you’ve never watched A Christmas Story, you’re probably at least familiar with the leg lamp. The unforgettable scene has spawned countless ornaments, T-shirts, replicas, and even a popular catchphrase (“Fra-gee-lay”, anyone?). Though iconic, it isn’t without its shortcomings. In fact, it has two in one scene! When Ralphie’s dad first hoists the lamp from the box, eagle-eyed viewers may note that there’s no place to attach a shade, implying it’s more of a statue than a lamp. It also doesn’t have an electric cord until the Old Man plugs it in later in the scene.
3. An impossible pizza delivery – Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone is a classic (even though the premise would never work with today’s technology). And speaking of technology, that brings up our next Christmas blooper! After his family leaves for Paris without him, Kevin orders a pizza and sets up one of the film’s most quotable scenes. But there’s only one thing: How did he order a pizza when the phone lines were down? He didn’t have a cell phone and didn’t leave the house to order his pizza in person. Despite this gaping plot hole, we love and laugh at this scene every time we watch it.
4. A different Dudley – The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
Cary Grant was a lot of things, but a figure skater, he was not. Look closely at “Dudley” during the scene where he teaches Julia how to spin, and you’ll probably notice that he looks a little different than Cary Grant. This version of “Dudley” appears to be shorter and has dark-rimmed glasses. That’s because Eugene Turner, a professional figure skater, performed those spins. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t add that Grant learned how to ice skate for the role and did his own skating for all but the most difficult scenes.
5. Incorrect tombstone – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Many people call It’s a Wonderful Life their favorite Christmas movie, and it’s definitely high on our list, too! But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. At least, not in a technical sense. If you’re a math whiz, you might have already caught this next mistake! Clarence tells George that his brother died at the age of 9 because he wasn’t there to save him from falling through the ice. However, the inscription on the tombstone shows that Harry was born in 1911 and died in 1919. That would make George’s brother only 7 or 8 years old.
6. Red Delicious apples – The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
What do you get when you combine The Muppets with Charles Dickens’s beloved novella? The Muppet Christmas Carol, of course! A favorite of both the young and the young at heart, we adore this version. (Who doesn’t love Kermit the Frog, right?) But like the other entries on our list, The Muppet Christmas Carol has a mistake or two. One takes place at the beginning of the movie. Gonzo shouts that he and his sidekick (AKA Rizzo the Rat) have red delicious apples. But they didn’t receive that name until 1914—decades after the story!
7. Bing Crosby’s Merry Christmas – A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas Story is on our list again! This mistake involves a certain Bing Crosby. Songs from Crosby’s 1945 album Merry Christmas can be heard in the background as the Parkers open their presents (including the iconic pink bunny onesie that Ralphie loathes). There’s only one problem with that. The movie is set in 1939, and Crosby didn’t release Merry Christmas until 1945!
8. A “blanket” of snow – The Santa Clause (1994)
If you’ve never seen The Santa Clause, do yourself a favor and watch it! It’s one of our favorites and a subjective ten out of ten. But, as you probably already guessed, The Santa Clause isn’t perfect—and the opening scene is proof. In the video above, at around the 0:10 mark, Santa’s foot catches on the edge of the “blanket” of snow covering Scott’s roof. And when we say “blanket”, we mean it in the most literal sense. The piece of fabric folds under Santa’s feet, proving the snow isn’t snow at all!
9. Disappearing Tide – Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone makes our list yet again! After Kevin goes shopping alone, he buys Tide detergent, which is seen around the 0:38 mark. His shopping bags break on the way home, causing all his purchases to spill out across the sidewalk. Interestingly, no Tide detergent falls out with the rest of the items. Maybe one obvious product placement was enough!
10. The case of the missing piano – Holiday Inn (1942)
Pretty much everyone has heard “White Christmas” at least once in their life. What some people might not know is that the beloved holiday anthem didn’t debut in the movie of the same name. It actually debuted in 1942’s Holiday Inn, which stars Bing Crosby. When Jim (Crosby’s character) introduces Linda Mason to the song for the first time, he sits down at the piano. But if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll note that there’s no piano on the audio track, even though Bing’s fingers glide across the keys as if he’s playing!
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Originally published December 23, 2024
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