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I think the concepts of "meme", "misheard lyrics", and "context" explain a lot of the Mandela Effect.
I think that when things "aren't as we remember them to be," a reasonable explanation for it is that we're remembering a meme _about_ those things and not the things themselves.
Some examples:
- "Life was/is like a box of chocolates." I recall many enjoyed copying Forrest Gump's style of speaking along with some of his words. Consequently it made sense for folks who were momentarily 'channeling' Forrest Gump to say, "Life IS like a box of chocolates," even though the actual word in the film, appropriate to the context of its utterance, is "WAS". The "IS" version became the meme that spread through the culture.
- Same with "Luke - I am your father!" versus "No - I am your father." Quoting "No - I am your father" would have made relatively little sense if spoken in some odd moment outside of the film's storyline. But saying "Luke - ..." has the effect of placing the present moment's statement into the 'Star Wars' context in the minds of the listeners. Thus "Luke - ..." became the meme that spread.
- Not mentioned in the above video but one well-remembered "Mandela Effect" involves the fact that nowhere in the original Star Wars film does anyone say, "May The Force Be With You". Rather the film contains lines like, "The Force is strong in that one," and more pointedly, "Use The Force, Luke." However, I think "May The Force Be With You" may have been part of the publicity and promotional effort at the time of the film's release. In particular, I had a large blue pin-on button that had those words in white letters against a blue starry background. I have no idea where that button came from - it was given to me by someone else - but perhaps it was handed-out during premieres of the film. (?) The point is, it was already becoming a meme even at the time of the film's initial debut, though not a direct quote from the film.
- JFK's limo - I recall it as having 6 seats, which makes sense, allowing for a driver and Secret Service agent in front, Gov. Connally and his wife in the middle, and JFK and Jackie in the rear seats. Four seats would not have made sense, despite what separately-made films and museum models might show. The separate films and models may have given rise to a meme that has become the memory for many.
Regarding misheard lyrics, here's comic Holmes Nelson with a very funny routine based on that phenomenon. He introduces each bit of song with his own misheard version of the lyrics. Once he's done that, we mishear them the same way. :)
Is it a beautiful day in "this" neighborhood, or a beautiful day in "the" neighborhood? The two are close enough to be heard either way, initially, and "the" is easier to say and sing, so I expect it became the meme.
Internet's lyrics listings are not really much help on this, as so many of them are derived from mishearing the lyrics as they're sung versus finding the original lyrics written down. Lyrics to Mindy Smith's "Santa Will Find You" at elyrics.net still include this: "If you're listening for reindeer and sleigh bells As they jingle and tap on the roof You're awake, piled in blankets With your cousin Sacramone." Yet I believe the actual lyric is, "If you're listening for reindeer and sleigh bells As they jingle and tap on the roof You're awake, piled in blankets With your cousins at Grandma's." :) I think my version actually makes sense, yet the "Sacramone" one has become at least a low-level meme because "Internet says so."
"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb" versus "The lion shall lie down with the lamb" - Again, I think the "lion" version became the meme, as there are other passages in the Bible where lion and lamb are mentioned together, and "The lion shall lie down with the lamb" conveys much more clearly an idea of peace and an end of violence.
Finally: "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." This turns out to be the conclusion of a parable told by the one known as Jesus and not something that one was saying of himself. It's at the end of a parable in which a not-so-nice ruler left his servants in charge of "pounds" or "talents" while he went off to receive a kingdom. On his return he praised those who had made a profit for him and rejected the one who had only kept his pound/talent safe. The not-so-nice man says to that servant, "Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?" Shortly after this parable, the one known as Jesus made his way to Jerusalem where he let the moneychangers at the temple know what he thought of them. Context is important.
Dunno what to make of C-3PO's silver leg, though. :)
