The twist worked so well back then because technology wasn't advanced as it was now. Today they would never get away with a "slip" like that..people would google so fastbut back then we just enjoyed the movie without our faces on the computer or phones. I was 9 when this came out, and I actually saw this before the first movie.

The only actual twist was that Will was Ben's son. In fact, we could have somehow learned that the radio contest was a ploy to get them on the island from the very beginning and it wouldn't have
ruined
the movie. Just as long as it wasn't revealed that Will was the fake DJ.
"Hello, Dexter Morgan." - Arthur Mitchell

I didn't know it was the wrong answer, and I was way past my teens. But that was the first clue something was up for fans that knew the correct answer. Once they got to the island, everyone was on the same page.
If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

Now that you mention it, shouldn't that have kind of ruined the ending for people who knew the right answer?
Reportin' live for Black TV: White folks are dead, we gettin' the f*@# outta here!

When I seen it I was about 17 too, I knew the answer seeemd wrong right away, but was not 100% sure what the right answer was, so I kind of forgot about it until it was brought up again at the end.

I was 17 and didn't know. I'm horrible at geography. On top of that kinda just don't really care, either.
It's a sad thing that your adventures have ended here

I was 8 too. I thought the capital of the United States was Tallahassee!

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