‘Skyfall’ Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee

From the Istanbul opener to the moody finale in Scotland, ‘Skyfall’ delivers stylish set-pieces—but a closer look reveals some surprising slip-ups hiding in plain sight. Below are ten on-screen mistakes—continuity blips, factual flubs, and production shortcuts—that sharp-eyed fans have documented over the years. Consider this your spotter’s guide for the next rewatch.

Shanghai gloves switch mid-scene

During the Shanghai high-rise sequence, Bond tails the assassin Patrice without gloves, but after the assassination and during the brief struggle at the window, he’s suddenly wearing black gloves. The cut makes it look like the gloves appear between shots rather than as a deliberate costume change. Viewers can catch the swap as Bond grips Patrice before the fall. It’s a classic continuity mismatch within a single location and action beat.

Bolt-action rifle behaves like semi-auto

Patrice’s sniper rifle is shown operating as a bolt-action during the hit, which requires manual cycling after each shot. Moments later, as the fight spills on, the rifle appears to fire multiple times without the manual re-cocking that a bolt-action demands. That behavior doesn’t align with how the depicted weapon type functions. The inconsistency happens within the same Shanghai set-piece.

District line chase filmed on Jubilee line stock

The Underground pursuit is presented as happening on the District line from Temple, with District/Circle signage added for the scene. In reality, the production filmed at the disused Jubilee line platforms at Charing Cross and used a Jubilee line train dressed with District line maps and a Wimbledon destination. It’s a neat filming workaround that leaves behind mismatched rolling stock and route dressing.

Temple becomes Embankment… then Temple… then Embankment

When Bond boards at Temple and rides one stop, platform signage initially still reads “Temple” as he steps off, only to change to “Embankment” a moment later in the same departure sequence. The quick swap gives away the composite shooting and editing used to stitch the chase together. Watch the platform name boards as he exits the train for the blink-and-you-miss-it sign flip.

Train carriage numbers change during the chase

Carriage identification numbers visible on the Underground train aren’t consistent across cuts. Early shots show numbers beginning with “96” and ending in “69,” while later shots in the same sequence display different end numbers like “424” and “224.” Those digits are printed on the exterior, so the swap is a straightforward continuity error between takes.

Sliding the escalator where you can’t slide

Both Silva and Bond slide down the smooth center panel between escalators during the station chase. On London Underground escalators, that center area carries hard, vertical barriers and warning fixtures specifically to prevent sliding. The set-dressed escalator lacks those anti-slide obstructions, making the stunt possible on screen but not representative of a real station layout.

Background actors jump around on the stairs

As Silva descends a staircase in the Underground, the extras to his left don’t match between consecutive shots. Two men are present in one angle, but in the next, only one (and a different individual) occupies that space. It’s a simple background continuity hiccup that pops when you alternate the edits.

Charing Cross playing dress-up as Temple and Westminster

Every Underground scene that’s supposed to be Temple or Westminster was actually filmed at the closed platforms of Charing Cross. The production re-branded the station with District/Circle signage for close-ups, but the architecture and train stock reveal the true location. This filming choice explains several geography quirks fans have mapped out in the chase.

M’s seat swaps sides in the Jaguar getaway

During the courthouse escape, M is seen buckled in on the rear offside seat behind Bond. A few seconds later—caught in the rear-view mirror—she appears on the opposite side of the rear bench while still belted. The mirror shot exposes the left-right continuity reversal within the same dash to safety.

A bus route that doesn’t belong on Whitehall

As Bond sprints through Whitehall, a Route 38 New Routemaster bus is visible behind him. The 38 doesn’t run down Whitehall, so the shot showcases a vehicle that wouldn’t normally appear on that specific street. It’s likely a production placement that inadvertently conflicts with the actual route map.

Enjoy spotting these on your next viewing—and tell us in the comments which ‘Skyfall’ slip-ups you’ve noticed that we missed!