10 Famous Movie Moments Made Possible By Totally Ignoring History

9. The Intense Runway Chase Was Pure Fabrication And The Escape Was Actually Rather "Straightforward" - Argo

Ben Affleck rebuilt his flailing career up from the ground with three awesome directorial efforts in a row, the last of which was 2012's Best Picture winner Argo, which told the real life story of CIA agent Tony Mendez, who helped to devise an intricate plan to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. For the most part, the film proved to be an accurate depiction of actual events, rendered brilliantly by Affleck as a taut, sharp and intense thriller. Unfortunately, the film's now infamous final sequence - in which Mendez and his hostages are pursued out of Iran as their aircraft begins to take off from the runway - was a complete and utter fabrication. Mark Lijek - one of the hostages - described the event as being "straightforward" in reality: "Fortunately for us, there were very few Revolutionary Guards in the area. It is why we turned up for a flight at 5.30 in the morning.. The truth is the immigration officers barely looked at us and we were processed out in the regular way." The jury's still out as to whether Affleck made the right call.