Television series
Roadkill
- Car-chase action
- Light-hearted
Roadkill is pure automotive chaos: two longtime gearheads acquire decrepit, forgotten cars and immediately thrash them across America in unscripted mayhem. It's joyride television—no manufactured drama, just genuine enthusiasm, mechanical improvisation, and the sound of engines screaming. Perfect for anyone who loves cars, competence, and watching smart people gleefully break things.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you love car-obsessed hosts who treat a rusted hot rod like a toy and would happily watch two buddies argue over carburetors and cheer each mechanical failure.
Skip it if you want polished production, tidy storytelling or a neat arc; this runs loose and scrappy, and the hosts' bickering and goofing off can feel more like a hangout than a show.
What it asks of you: Episodes run about 37 minutes each, with a loose, rambling rhythm, so you can dip in anywhere, though a long run of seasons means it asks for a patient, ongoing commitment.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Grand Tour2016
The same hosts who made Top Gear legendary, now with a bigger budget and fewer network restrictions. More ambitious, more travel, more of the humor that made them famous. Season-long arcs feel earned.
But Stretches to justify its massive budget sometimes. Episodes can feel overly produced, and the formula occasionally repeats itself. Not as loose as Roadkill's improvisation.
Wheeler Dealers2003
Mike Brewer and Edd China (later Ant Anstead) find broken cars, restore them, and sell them for profit. It's methodical, educational, and satisfying. You learn actual skills watching this. The chemistry between hosts is genuine.
But Much slower pacing than Roadkill. Focused on restoration rather than destruction. If you want chaos and acceleration, this is meditative by comparison.
Fast N' Loud2012
Richard Rawlings and Aaron Kaufman transform wrecks into show-stoppers in their Dallas shop. The builds are genuinely impressive, the work is real, and there's actual money on the line. Watches like a high-speed problem-solving session.
But Heavily formatted reality TV with manufactured drama. Less about the joy of driving, more about deadlines and deals. The hosts' personalities feel modulated for camera.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Roadkill
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Christine1983
Both celebrate automotive obsession, but Christine asks: what if that obsession was shared by something alive and evil? Same love of machines, inverted to terror.
A 1958 Plymouth Fury becomes a character in this John Carpenter film—jealous, murderous, and mechanically self-healing. It's horror and car cinema merged perfectly. The machine is the antagonist, and it's genuinely terrifying.
But A supernatural horror film, not a documentary or reality show. If you want real cars and real mechanics, this abandons both for pure genre. Slow first half, and the possessed car plot is absurd by design.
More like this (5)
Street Outlaws2013
Real street racers from Oklahoma compete with genuinely fast cars. The stakes feel authentic, the builds are serious, and you're watching actual racing talent. It captures the outlaw spirit that motivates car culture.
But Relies on reality TV editing and personality conflicts that can feel manufactured. Glorifies illegal activity without irony. Some viewers find it repetitive after a few seasons.
Garage Rehab2017
Vin Diesel and other car enthusiasts help struggling independent garages improve their businesses and automotive skills. Less about thrashing cars and more about mentorship and community. Surprisingly heartfelt.
But The tie-in with Vin Diesel's brand feels forced. Pacing is slower and more narrative-driven. You're watching business improvement, not mechanical chaos.
Jay Leno's Garage2015
Jay Leno walks through his actual collection—hundreds of cars and bikes—talking about why each one matters. His genuine enthusiasm is infectious, and you see machines that exist nowhere else. It's a love letter to automotive obsession.
But More contemplative than action-packed. Episodes are essentially tours and interviews rather than experiments or challenges. Some episodes focus on restoration minutiae that won't grip everyone.
Mad Max: Fury Road2015
Both are love letters to vehicles pushed to absolute limits. But where Roadkill is joyride exploration, Fury Road is weaponized design. Same reverence for machines, opposite intent.
Two hours of vehicular mayhem across a desert, shot practically with real cars, real stunts, and real physics. Director George Miller treats cars as character and weapon simultaneously. Relentless, balletic, and more thrilling than any scene Roadkill captures.
But Narrative and spectacle over everything else. Not a documentary; it's art cinema dressed as action. The dialogue is minimal and the world is post-apocalyptic. Some find it repetitive—ninety minutes of the same chase.
Senna2010
Both are about the relationship between driver and machine, but Senna asks what that costs spiritually and physically. Roadkill is joy; Senna is obsession as burden.
A documentary about Ayrton Senna that captures the pure obsession required to master a machine. It's about speed, ambition, and the cost of perfection. Gorgeously made, deeply human, and the racing footage is breathtaking.
But Formula One, not street cars or custom builds. Heavily focused on one driver's psychology rather than mechanical creativity. Tragic and serious in tone—no humor or hijinks. Requires some interest in racing history.
People
Cast
Recommended by
Pimp My Ride, Junkyard Empire, Overhaulin', Wheeler Dealers, Garage Squad, Fastest Car, Rust Valley Restorers, Car Hunters