What’s the most cringe-worthy car casting in a TV show or movie?

Car casting can elevate a scene—or sink it. When a production nails it, the right vehicle becomes part of the storytelling, reflecting a character’s personality, status, or even serving as a silent co-star. Recent standouts include the meticulously chosen rides in Apple’s sci-fi series “Pluribus” and “Severance,” where every car feels intentional and purposeful.

But when the wrong car lands in a scene, it can jolt viewers out of the moment, especially for enthusiasts who notice every detail. A glaring example? AMC’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s “The Vampire Chronicles” in the show “Interview with the Vampire.” The series takes bold creative liberties with Rice’s gothic horror romance, but none sting quite like the automotive choices for the immortal rockstar vampire Lestat.

Rice’s novels explicitly describe Lestat riding a Harley-Davidson in New Orleans as he grapples with modernity, and ultimately driving a black Porsche—an icon of glitz, excess, and European flair that fits a centuries-old, emotionally damaged, overcompensating immortal. Yet AMC’s version repeatedly casts Lestat behind the wheel of a second-generation Chevrolet Camaro, and later has him name-drop a Ford Mustang. The disconnect is jarring: Lestat is a creature of the modern world who embraces contemporary slang, technology, and culture.

A Camaro or Mustang—while cool—are quintessential American “bro cars,” not the kind of refined, aspirational ride one expects from a vampire who fancies himself a modern-day aristocrat. The choice undermines the character’s identity and feels tone-deaf to anyone who knows both the source material and the symbolic power of cars in storytelling. It’s a missed opportunity to reinforce Lestat’s character through a vehicle that screams “immortal Euro trash with a garage full of Porsches.” The result?

A moment that’s hard to unsee—and one that leaves car-loving viewers gritting their teeth every time the Camaro rolls on screen.