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Roadkill

2012–2024Ended13 seasons169 episodes~45 min/epNot RatedMidcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

Ride along with Hot Rod's David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan as they continue their love/hate relationship with hot rods, street machines and other highly strung performance vehicles. In Roadkill, Freiburger and Finnegan hit the road in everything from a 1968 Ford Ranchero to a 1500 horsepower Camaro called the F-Bomb. Just getting to their destination is an adventure.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Roadkill?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Roadkill streaming on discovery+, HBO Max and The Roku Channel (free).

Subscription

Free

Highlights

What stands out about Roadkill?

Roadkill earns 4 badges, led by Top 10% in Reality-TV and Memorable characters.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Roadkill worth watching?

Roadkill's Midcredits score is the 85th percentile of all shows, from 473 ratings across 5 sources. 87% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

85th percentile

Better received than 85% of shows

93rd percentile among Reality-TV84th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)78th
Approval (how many liked it)88th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

77 /100

78th percentile of all shows

83rd percentile among Reality-TV77th percentile among 2010s

Critics 63 · Audience 80

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Big peaks at both ends — people either love this or bounce off it hard.

Approval

How many liked it

87% liked it

88th percentile of all shows

96th percentile among Reality-TV86th percentile among 2010s
87% rated it 7–1013% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

40th percentile

445 ratings across platforms

79th percentile among Reality-TV46th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Up 45% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree that Roadkill is a fun, unscripted car show centered on the hosts' personalities and antics.

Fans praised

  • authentic wrenching with no fake timelines or forced drama
  • genuine humor and self-deprecating hosts
  • educational car tips presented in a fun, accessible way

Detractors panned

  • inappropriate sexualized content not family-friendly
  • obnoxious hosts laughing hysterically at themselves

What stands out

CharactersDivisive85

likeable, self-deprecating hosts Finnegan and Freiburger

Originality82

feels real and unforced vs staged reality shows

HumorDivisive80

lighthearted, never taking themselves too seriously

Atmosphere75

nostalgic, wild wrenching camaraderie

Plot and story70

random build projects with shenanigans

Episodes

13 seasons

Season 13 · 2024 · 13 episodes

  • S13E1

    Junkyard Rescue Hemi Belvedere

    Jan 14, 202444 min
  • S13E2

    Blasphemi vs. F-Rod!

    Feb 22, 202444 min
  • S13E3

    Boat Car Burnouts and Road Trip!

    Mar 10, 202442 min
  • S13E4

    Mazdarati 2.0!

    Mar 7, 202443 min
  • S13E5

    Turbo Edition Mazdarati 2.0!

    Mar 10, 202443 min
  • S13E6

    Trash Turbo Trans Am Transmission Trouble!

    Jun 3, 202443 min

Watch experience

What is Roadkill like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you entertained.

Themes

  • Friendship
  • Purpose
  • Community: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.

Style

  • Playful
  • Warm

Feelings

  • Joyful
  • Warm

What it asks of you

  • Slow burn
  • Casual
  • Easy watch
  • Resolved

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Rural
  • In transit
  • Urban

Story

  • No archetype

How it leaves you

  • Fun
  • Feel-good
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: throughoutWry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Unscripted · 15% of showsNew arc each season
ToneThe show holds its material with genuine enthusiasm and self-deprecating humour, never mocking its subjects or its own premise.
The rideThe series maintains a consistently fun, easy-going vibe — watching the duo enjoy their hobby is the emotional constant, with no major tonal swings.
StructureEach episode follows the hosts on a self-contained car adventure; the series uses no special storytelling devices beyond the unscripted format.
Episode formatEach episode follows the same recurring format — the hosts acquire a car, fix it up on a budget, and go on a road trip — with no continuing narrative thread.
Season formatWhile there are no overarching plots, each season groups a set of self-contained projects; certain season-long gags or recurring cars provide loose continuity.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayViewers are left entertained and grinning after watching the hosts' lighthearted, low-stakes car adventures.
How it ends · evidence
Cyclical ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeRoadkill is a reality series about two car enthusiasts buying, fixing, and driving cheap vehicles; it has no central plot that fits a Booker archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

FriendshipPurposeCommunity: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe show centers on the camaraderie between two friends who share a passion for cars, with their genuine enjoyment and mutual support driving the series.
StanceThe show celebrates the joy of hands-on car building and the friendship it sustains, treating the hobby as inherently worthwhile and fun.

The world

RockDiegetic onlyBackground music · hybrid
SettingVarious junkyards, workshops, and backroads across America where the hosts buy, fix, and drive cheap or abandoned cars.
MusicRock music from the cars' stereos and occasional background tracks underscore the laid-back, garage-friendly atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Roadkill okay for kids?

TV-PG

Roadkill is rated TV-PG.

Ratings in 1 other country
  • NetherlandsAL

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Roadkill have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Roadkill?

Cast

Elana Scherr
as Elana Scherr

Crew

Directed by

Alex Skola, Levi Rugg, Bradford Alicea, Christopher Read, Travis LaBella, Dustin Gould
+2 more, Bradford Alecia, Edwin J. Collins

Written by

Steve Dulcich, Tony Angelo, Lucky Costa, David Newbern, David Freiburger, Mike Finnegan

Produced by

Mike Finnegan, Jerry Pitt, Chenelle Washington, Fay Robles, Cynthia Hogan, Matt Frank
+32 more, David Freiburger, Clint Stringfellow, Mark Lenardon, Duane Sempson, Julia Smart, Mike Suggett, Angus Mackenzie, Brenda Liz De Guzman, Roger Henry, Bart Bidlingmeyer, Kelly Barnhardt, Levi Rugg, Amanda Hyden, Angus MacKenzie, Mary-Kate Fitzpatrick, Siddharth Ganji, David Lee, Gabriel VanHuss, Sophie Benhamou, Declan Fox, Travis LaBella, Brett Adkins, Kristin Curtin, Nolan Haener, Julia Cyr, Taylor Pinson, Dustin Gould, Cole Kerrigan, Stephanie Vartanian, Bobby Akin, Natalie Lucaccini, Jennifer Wynkoop

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