7 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee

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40 years after its debut, “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” continues to be cherished as a significant milestone in cinematic lore, marking the end of one of the most legendary trilogies ever devised. The film’s grand battles, heartfelt character development, and pioneering special effects have etched it into our collective consciousness. However, even the most intricately designed movies can harbor small inconsistencies – instances that, once spotted, become hard to overlook. These minor flaws, ranging from continuity issues to behind-the-scenes revelations, provide an enlightening peek at the world of filmmaking. They don’t detract from the movie’s enchantment, but rather imbue it with a charming human touch, underscoring that even in a distant galaxy, flawlessness is an unattainable ideal.

Get ready to reevaluate your perspective on specific moments from the legendary movie, “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” as we bring attention to some of its most noteworthy cinematic flaws.

1) Lando Calrissian’s Reversible Outfit

During the preparations for battle aboard the Millennium Falcon, an unusual incident takes place when Han Solo hands over his cherished spaceship to Lando Calrissian. In a single scene, Lando’s outfit appears reversed, with the strap of his shoulder holster pointing in the opposite direction. Furthermore, his rank insignia seems to have moved to the other side, resulting in a brief inconsistency within the visual narrative.

This temporary mistake, often found in movies, is called a continuity error. It usually happens because a negative was accidentally flipped during editing. Although it was promptly fixed in later scenes, sharp-eyed viewers can’t forget it once they’ve been told about it. It serves as a reminder of how swift the process of filming and post-production truly is.

2) Princess Leia’s Disappearing and Reappearing Helmet

During her first meeting with the Ewoks on the moon of Endor that was covered in forests, Princess Leia takes off her helmet, keeping it in her grasp. This gesture, aimed at demonstrating her harmless intent and possibly revealing a hint of vulnerability, appears to be repeated.

In the following scene, Leia mysteriously takes off her helmet once more, giving the impression that the earlier event was forgotten. This seemingly minor inconsistency in continuity, when noticed, becomes an unexpected joke and points out a slight editing mistake in an otherwise engaging moment of the story.

3) The Revealing Ewok Costume

When the protagonists get apprehended by the Ewoks, C-3PO is erroneously perceived as a deity, causing these small, furry creatures to pay him reverence. On one occasion, a closer inspection of an Ewok bowing down discloses something unexpected.

From the openings for the eyes and mouth on the Ewok costume, you can see the eyes and mouth of the person wearing it. This brief peek at reality, unexpectedly, interrupts the illusion, revealing the human aspect hiding within the charming facade of the creature.

4) Luke Skywalker’s Miraculous Grip

As Luke Skywalker teeters dangerously on the edge of the Sarlacc pit, seemingly headed towards certain death, he astoundingly performs a daring move to propel himself back onto the skiff. Upon closer examination of this crucial instant, there’s a subtle inconsistency in the way his hands are positioned.

At first glance, it seems like only Luke’s one hand is holding the board, using just his fingertips. But in the subsequent shot, both of his hands are tightly gripping the plank, enabling him to exert the force required for an impressive ascent that befits a Jedi. This swift edit cleverly hides a challenging physical stunt.

5) Darth Vader’s Erratic Helmet Dust

During the intensely emotional and tense scenes where the Emperor torments Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader is frequently seen in close-up, prompting viewers to wonder if this could be the moment when Vader chooses to save his son. Throughout these dramatic instances, a slight discrepancy can be noticed regarding his famous helmet.

In the same scene, Vader’s helmet alternates between looking immaculate and heavily dusty, creating a minor but obvious inconsistency that might draw attention away from the seriousness of the moment.

6) Princess Leia’s Shifting Birthmark

Within Jabba the Hutt’s palace, there is a subtle shift in the location of a distinctive mark on Princess Leia’s back, visible during several scenes. This birthmark seems to move from one side of her back to the other.

This odd movement in the birthmark’s position appears to match the flip of Jabba’s tail as it moved. It’s plausible that this discrepancy could have arisen during post-production, where the negative was accidentally reversed due to the intricate editing needed for Jabba, a puppet character. Given the extensive editing limitations associated with such a detailed model, it is reasonable to infer that this may have resulted in a mirrored image.

7) Anakin Skywalker’s Disappearing Eyebrows

In an intense and heartrending moment during the movie Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker uncovers Darth Vader’s mask to find Anakin Skywalker, who had been redeemed but was near death. The original Anakin from the film was easily distinguished by his prominent eyebrows. However, a minor modification was made in the 2004 DVD edition, as the updated version no longer featured those eyebrows.

Although digitally erased, parts of Anakin’s left eyebrow are noticeable in certain frames, and its size seems to vary at different instances. This inconsistency suggests that the editing adjustment wasn’t perfectly uniform across the entire scene.

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2025-07-10 16:42