These Are the Worst Car Castings in Movies and TV

Car cameos in movies and TV are often treated as throwaway props, but when directors and set designers get it wrong, the results can jolt viewers out of the story.

From anachronistic rides in period pieces to implausible rides for characters, Hollywood’s car casting sins run deep. Here are some of the most glaring examples that have irked automotive enthusiasts. The 1929 Duesenberg in Bazmark Films’ adaptation of The Great Gatsby is a prime offender.

Set in 1922, the film’s cars are frequently from later decades—chosen for style over historical accuracy. Then there’s the AE86 Toyota Corolla in Bridesmaids, driven by a struggling Wisconsin bride-to-be.

The rust-free hatchback in a snowy, working-class setting stretches credibility, especially since the AE86 wasn’t even sold in the U.S. in the mid-2000s. Ford’s Bronco has become a Hollywood darling, but its appearances often defy logic.

In Mare of Easttown, a teenage kid in a blue-collar Philly suburb somehow owns a pristine early-’70s Bronco—easily a six-figure collector’s item.

Similarly, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s character in Ambulance rolls up in a fully restored first-gen Bronco despite being portrayed as financially desperate. The classic SUV’s cool factor doesn’t always translate to screen realism. Government Suburbans are another recurring issue.

Whether in action scenes or chases, these hulking trucks somehow keep pace with motorcycles or sports cars, defying the laws of physics.

Worse, when a Suburban crashes or explodes, it magically transforms into an older model—sometimes even swapping badges to become a Tahoe or Yukon.

The Matrix Reloaded took GM product placement to absurd levels, turning the film into a rolling infomercial.

The freeway chase sequences were populated with blandly colored GM vehicles, and the parking garage scene before the Cadillac CTS-V chase was practically a Cadillac showroom. Even superhero films aren’t immune.

Batman v Superman features Bruce Wayne driving a Jeep Renegade, a choice that clashes with the billionaire’s usual luxury-car tastes.

And in Apple’s Cape Fear remake, a high-powered lawyer’s wife drives a Hyundai Sportage—a mismatch for her character’s upscale lifestyle.

The walking Dead’s use of a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe in later seasons also raised eyebrows, with the modern SUV feeling like an obvious product placement rather than a believable survivalist ride.

These casting choices highlight how easily cars can become distractions instead of seamless parts of the story.