Revealing mistakes: When the Thugs were having a confrontation with Jim, it was pouring rain. The front passenger window of the 1973 Chrysler Imperial were wide open, yet the person sitting there was not getting wet at all.
Anachronisms: All of the cars were fine for 1974 except in several scenes, a 1982 Oldsmobile Delta 88 could be seen.
Anachronisms: The O'Jays song "I Love Music" was not released until February of 1975.
Anachronisms: The Brothers Johnson song "Strawberry Letter 23" was not released until September of 1977.
Crew or equipment visible: As Sue drives away after meeting Jim at the diner, the camera is visible in the triangle window of her car over Terrence Howard's shoulder.
Continuity: When Jim is ironing his suit and Elston comes in to talk to him, the iron is placed with the handle facing away from the suit. When the camera cuts, the iron turns around.
Continuity: During the final butterfly event, the digital display shows the order in which the teams finished. However, a moment later the announcer switches the order of the second and third place teams.
Errors in geography: When the PDR team goes to Main Line Academy for their first meet, the bus is shown crossing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, going into New Jersey. Both Philadelphia and The Main Line (and it's Academy) are in Pennsylvania.
Anachronisms: The shots of the Philadelphia skyline at the beginning of the movie reveal many buildings that were not built in the 1970s when the movie takes place.