Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin showed us a whole new world, filled with magic and adventure. The film helped breathe renewed life into one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time.
But by no means is it without fault and the film, like most, is far from perfect. Have a look and check out these 10+ mistakes in Disney’s live-action Aladdin that fans didn’t catch.
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1. Does the Genie not understand what a mammal is?
While singing the “Prince Ali” song, one of the lyrics talks about Ali’s “exotic type mammals.” However, at this exact moment, we see ostriches entering the palace grounds.
Ostriches , as I’m sure you know, aren’t mammals at all. They’re egg-laying birds.
2. What happened to the suit of armor?
While in the throne room, Jafar is trying to convince the sultan to invade a neighboring country while Jasmine looks on.
But as soon as she exits the room and the camera cuts back to Jafar, the suit of armor somehow seems to have vanished.
3. Aladdin’s hair keeps on changing length!
At the beginning of the film, before Aladdin meets the Genie, his hair is medium length. After he becomes a Prince, it shortens.
Then, when Genie’s spell is broken and Aladdin returns to his normal self, his hair is somehow even shorter?!
It also switches from being perfectly brushed, to messy and disheveled when Aladdin dances in front of Jasmine.
Is it weird that I find this so annoying? I can’t help it!
Back and forth and back and forth, aren’t they supposed to pay people in order to avoid this happening?
4. Bound books were incredibly uncommon.
In the film, we see shots of both Jafar and Jasmine’s respective libraries. The only problem is that at the time, bookbinding was reserved for holy books.
Everything else would have been written on parchment and scrolls.
5. Where did Jasmine’s earrings go?
When Jasmine’s handmaiden, Dalia, helps her take off her necklace, we can clearly see that her earrings are still in place.
But as soon as Jasmine turns around to face her, somehow the earrings are nowhere to be seen?
6. Didn’t those guys have flagstaffs a second ago?
Make sure to watch closely during the “Prince Ali” song sequence.
The members of Ali/Aladdin’s entourage wearing the green turbans switch from carrying flagstaffs to marching along with their arms at their sides.
7. Where did the purple tape get to?
As Jafar convinces the sultan to plan his invasion, Jasmine suddenly walks into the room. If you notice the bottom of her dress, you’ll see that it’s covered in purple tape.
A couple of cut scenes later and the tape is gone!
8. Iago is on the wrong continent.
The markings on Iago, as well as his plumage, make him undoubtedly a red macaw. These beautiful birds are native to the Americas , not the Middle East.
Which makes you wonder: how did Iago get there?
The Americas wouldn’t be discovered for at least another three centuries, and it would be next to impossible for a bird to migrate that far.
Also, Iago would more than likely feel pretty out of place in the middle of the desert. Macaws prefer lush tree canopies when it comes to building their nest.
9. Jasmine’s fashion sense is all wrong.
The dresses that she wears throughout the film would be incredibly uncommon in the Middle East at that time. Jasmine’s fashion is much more in line with places like India or Central Asia.
While we’re on the subject, the Genie is a bit off too.
He looks much more like a Hindu god, rather than a deity of the Muslim faith.
Everything from the Genie’s jewelry, his clothing, to even the blue color of his skin, all of it is reminiscent of the Hindu god, Krishna .
10. Why was Abu allowed to enter the Cave of Wonders?
As the Cave of Wonders takes form, the great sand lion warns “Only one may enter!”
If that’s true, then why is Abu allowed to enter alongside Aladdin? Isn’t that a huge rule violation right from the start or does he not count?
Furthermore, if Abu technically “doesn’t count,” then why does the Cave of Wonders start collapsing when he touches the forbidden treasure?
You can’t have it both ways!
He either counts and shouldn’t have been allowed entrance to the cave in the first place, or he doesn’t count, hence him touching the treasure shouldn’t have mattered at all.
Also, why doesn’t anything happen when Abu accidentally touches a few of the gold coins?
It happens right before they stumble upon the magic carpet. So why didn’t anything happen then?
Does it maybe have something to do with your intention behind touching/taking the treasure?
11. Aladdin freezes.
When Jafar freezes Aladdin and Abu when they make to grab for the lamp, something strange happens!
Abu’s tail is curled, but the way it is curled changes between shots, shattering the illusion (if you noticed it, that is).
12. Aladdin is saved from drowning.
Which, of course, we could not be happier about.
But there is a continuity mistake! After he is saved from drowning and is on the couch, his hair and his face are soaking wet, but his clothes are completely dry!
13. Aladdin is almost distracted.
At the start of the movie, you’ll notice that Aladdin is talking to a woman, who is trying to distract him, asking about Abu.
In the shot from behind, Aladdin lowers her arms while speaking to her.
However, it doesn’t match the shot that comes right after.
In the following shot, Aladdin has his arms raised and he’s looking at something that is hanging from the market stall.
14. Orange and yellow.
Aladdin is selling the necklace that Abu stole, and while it happens, Zulla throws him a bag of dates.
Behind him though, two women, one in an orange veil and the other with a yellow one, actually change position between shots.
15. Is that a phone?
When Genie saves Aladdin from drowning, Aladdin takes his time recovering (as one would).
However, if you look at the pocket of his pants, you can see an outline of what it is either a phone or a radio mic.
16. The visible crew equipment.
During the scene where Aladdin and Jasmine have to run away from the guards, he counts to three and jumps from a roof.
While it is definitely a very cool scene, there’s a huge mistake in it.
During the overhead shot, there’s a mat on the landing point so that the actor (or stunt double), will have something comfortable to land on.
It disappears in the next shot, but it is very visible since it’s a bright white.
Better luck next time.
