7 Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee

The 1999 release of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace marked the beginning of the Star Wars prequel trilogy— a cinematic event that drew in fans, both new and old. Stepping back into a galaxy far, far away, audiences were eager to see what came before Luke Skywalker’s journey and how the Republic became the Empire. For all its epic scale and groundbreaking visual effects, however, the film was not without its flaws. While some of these missteps could be chalked up to writing or character choices, many are clear continuity errors and logistical goofs that slipped past even the production crew. These minor mistakes are impossible to ignore once you see them, forever changing the way you watch some of the film’s most iconic scenes. 

From disappearing props to head-scratching plot holes, here are seven mistakes from The Phantom Menace that you will never be able to unsee.

1. The Opening Scrawl

Star Wars is iconic for many reasons, but perhaps none more famous than the opening scrawls that set the stage for the space saga to come. In the opening scrawl for The Phantom Menace, the details tell us that “the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict.” 

Though Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are immediately identified as those Jedi Knights, one of them— Obi-Wan— has not yet achieved the rank of Knight. In fact, Obi-Wan is still Qui-Gon’s Padawan, as noted many times throughout the film. Though Obi-Wan would eventually go on to be one of the most famous Jedi Knights, he still had not taken that step yet.

2. The Vanishing Lightsaber

The epic final duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Maul is one of the most thrilling sequences in the entire saga. As the iconic “Duel of the Fates” plays over the scene, a small but significant error happens right as the battle is about to end. As Obi-Wan and Maul fight to the death, Maul removes his hand from his double-edged lightsaber to push Obi-Wan into a reactor with the Force. To do so, Maul very clearly uses his right hand.

However, when the camera pans back to Maul, his left hand is raised and his right one now grasps his lightsaber. Though the error can easily be chalked up to multiple shots of the same scene, Maul’s skills with the Force ultimately are no match for Obi-Wan, regardless of which hand he used.

3. R2-D2’s Misplaced Lens

Even the beloved astromech droid, R2-D2, isn’t safe from continuity errors. In a close-up shot of Anakin’s Naboo fighter during the space battle, R2-D2 can be seen perched in his socket. However, for a few frames, his primary lens is on the wrong side of his dome. This brief but noticeable mix-up likely happened when the digital effects team was creating the CGI version of the droid for the scene.

Given the extensive use of practical effects mixed with CGI throughout the film, this mistake is a clear example of the challenges of maintaining visual consistency. While most of R2-D2’s appearances are flawless, this one misplaced lens stands out as a minor error. Even the most advanced special effects can sometimes contain tiny, human-made mistakes.

4. The Droidekas’ Broken Blasters

The Droidekas, also known as destroyer droids, are introduced as a new threat with their deflector shields and rapid-fire blasters. They were an enemy not to be taken lightly, capable of holding their own against even Jedi Knights. However, in the hangar battle scene on Theed, a curious production mistake happens. As the Droidekas are seen firing their blasters, the camera shows their guns recoiling and the tell-tale shooting sounds, but in several close-up shots, no laser fire is actually coming from the weapons.

This error is a simple but clear oversight of visual effects. The sound effects and physical movement of the props are there, but the digital component—the laser blasts themselves—are missing. This detail is especially noticeable during the fight, where the lack of blaster fire from what should be an active threat can pull a viewer out of the moment. It’s a small mistake that slightly undermines the threat of the droidekas.

5. Obi-Wan’s Shifting Lightsaber Hand

During Obi-Wan’s intense duel with Darth Maul, there’s a quick-cut continuity error regarding which hand he is using to hold his lightsaber. In one shot, he is holding Qui-Gon’s lightsaber with his right hand as he lunges at Maul. In the very next frame, however, he is suddenly holding it with his left. 

The quick change in Obi-Wan’s hand is a clear example of an editing inconsistency that happens when multiple takes are used to create one fluid sequence. Obi-Wan shifts his grip without any apparent in-scene reason, a small detail that reveals the filmmaking process. For dedicated fans, spotting this kind of mistake can be a fun game, but it’s a definite goof in an otherwise masterful fight scene.

6. The Podracer’s Faulty Design

Anakin’s podracer is the heart of a major action sequence, but a closer look at its design reveals a scientific error that would prevent it from ever working. The engines of the podracer are shown with their fans turning in the wrong direction, pushing air away from the engine instead of sucking it in. This design flaw means that in reality, the vehicle would either fail to move forward or simply explode upon startup.

While this may be a minor point for some, it’s a glaring mistake for anyone with a basic understanding of physics. The engines are blowing air, which would send the podracer backward, not forward. This detail, however, could be a stylistic choice on the filmmakers’ part, going for a visual spectacle over realistic engineering.

7. Outer Rim Credits

One of the most glaring plot holes in the film is the issue of Republic credits on Tatooine. When Qui-Gon Jinn and the group need to repair their ship, they find that their Republic credits are worthless in the Outer Rim. This forces them to rely on Anakin’s pod racing winnings to get the parts they need. This plot point frankly makes no sense in terms of the common-sense workings of a galactic economy.

The Republic is the largest government in the galaxy, so it’s illogical that their currency would be completely worthless on a major trade planet like Tatooine. The problem of Republic credits is clearly used as a plot device to move the film forward and force the connection with Anakin. The fact that the Jedi, with all their resources, couldn’t find another way to acquire local currency or barter for the parts makes this a simple mistake that could have been avoided with writing alone.

Did you spot any other mistakes in The Phantom Menace? Let us know in the comments!