Highlights
- Black Mirror is an anthology sci-fi series with different stories and characters in each episode.
- The episodes of Black Mirror often have a dark and unsettling atmosphere, making them popular among audiences.
- The show explores the dystopian realities of technology and has produced some riveting episodes that are considered peak television.
Anthology series are a good choice for viewers who don't have the time to devote themselves to watching a continuous storyline from start to finish. Usually, when it comes to anthology TV shows, one episode equals one story, with different characters and settings as well. Black Mirror is a good example of that. Even though most of the episodes fall into the science-fiction genre, each of them works with a brand-new tale.
8 Best Anthology TV Shows, Ranked
Looking to binge-watch something special? These anthology shows are sure to fit the bill!
The only thing they have in common is their grave atmosphere. Black Mirror stories don't usually end well, which is one of the reasons why the series is so popular among the audience. It's hard to pick what's best given the variety that comes with each episode, but some are arguably much more memorable than others.
Updated on February 16, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Black Mirror is an anthology sci-fi series that focuses on the dystopian realities of technology and how it's progressing at a rate faster than most people can deal with. While some scenarios in Black Mirror are quite unrealistic, there are some that hit a little too close to home and shock those who happen to be watching. Despite some people feeling that later seasons of Black Mirror have tanked in quality, there's no denying that this show has put out some riveting episodes that many people consider to be peak television.
8 Nosedive
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Season 3, Episode 1
The idea of a person being rated by everyone around them is pretty harrowing as is, but what makes things worse is when the social rating system governs everything from the type of services one can avail to the very nature in which a person is perceived by the masses. This premise, as outlandish as it may be, is what makes "Nosedive" such an excellent tale from start to end.
The episode chronicles the journey of Lacie as she strives to be invited to a high-profile wedding to increase her rating and make her eligible to move into the condo of her dreams. This obsessive journey takes her on a wild ride, where her rating slowly declines until she suffers a breakdown and realizes how liberating it is to be mean to someone to their face instead of putting up a veneer of politeness every single time.
7 Shut Up And Dance
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
- Season 3, Episode 3
After a young man's private internet session is hacked by an unknown force, he's sent through a cat-and-mouse game where he must do the bidding of his tormentor to prevent his secrets from being leaked to the public. This makes for a tense situation in "Shut Up and Dance," with an excellent twist at the end that flips the viewer's notion.
All of a sudden, people who sympathized with the main character's plight will view him with a disgusted expression after finding out what he was really up to on his computer. It's a simple and well-directed episode that showcases Black Mirror at its very best.
6 Hated In The Nation
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Season 3, Episode 6
Mob mentality is a thing to be feared, with people wary of how far things can go if a group gangs up against someone or something. If this practice is weaponized, then things can take a turn for the worse, as is evident through "Hated in the Nation."
5 Horror Anthology Movies That Are Actually Good
Anthology movies can be a mixed bag, but these films are able to keep their momentum up through multiple scary tales.
After some high-profile people are killed by hacked mechanical bees, law enforcement does everything possible to catch the criminal in the act. They are ultimately unsuccessful, leading to a horrible genocide where everyone who participated in this twisted killing game is turned into a target for these bees.
5 The Entire History Of You
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Season 1, Episode 3
The human memory is selective, and it might be for the best, as this episode suggests. The main hero, Liam, begins suspecting his wife of cheating on him with another man, and he uses technology that allows people to replay their memories to try and prove that he's right.
"The Entire History of You" is one of the less science-heavy episodes, hinting at the fact that sometime in the future, a similar technology might very well exist in the real world. That makes the episode's atmosphere and ending even more chilling. It also shows that when human jealousy and technology combine, the results aren't positive. The actors don't disappoint, even though their characters aren't always sympathetic.
4 San Junipero
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Season 3, Episode 4
In multiple ways, the episode "San Junipero" stands out as it has a retro atmosphere to it, having taken place in 1987. The episode tells the story of two girls befriending each other - or so it would seem. As is customary for the series, there's more to the story than meets the eye, and it keeps the audience invested in what is about to happen.
"San Junipero" is an episode that viewers tend to enjoy more the less they know about the plot and where it's heading. The actresses are believable in their roles, and the bond that develops between them is convincing. "San Junipero" is proof that Black Mirror offers many different types of sci-fi tales, and the show's variability plays a large part in its popularity.
3 Black Museum
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- Season 4, Episode 6
Museums tend to be peaceful places where people can learn new things. Yet Nish has no idea what awaits her when she decides to visit a museum of artifacts to pass some time when her car breaks down. Dark tales connect to the individual artifacts, and Nish is about to learn more about them. Laetitia Wright of Black Panther fame shows another side of her acting abilities in the episode. Just like other episodes in the series, "Black Museum" contains three different stories, making it an anthology inside an anthology.
8 Forgotten Anthology Horror Shows (And Where To Watch Them)
These eight forgotten anthology horror shows are certainly worth your time.
The episode manages to combine several different genres, including horror, comedy, drama, romance, and more. Besides Wright, Douglas Hodge draws attention to himself, playing one of the most memorable villains of the series. The episode keeps a fast pace despite its over an hour runtime, and some viewers pointed out that they would have liked to see even more stories about other artifacts from the museum.
2 Hang The DJ
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
- Season 4, Episode 4
Even though Black Mirror belongs to the science-fiction genre, it often addresses topics well familiar to the current audience. Such as the reality of love and romantic partnership and what happens when modern technologies change them. In the case of this episode, a dating program determines in advance when a relationship will end. Frank and Amy, who get together, will have to decide what they're going to do with the knowledge they received.
Unlike other episodes in the series, "Hang the DJ" plays on a more optimistic note while still having the power to make the audience think about the story. It reflects the downsides of dating apps and the effect they have on people's lives. The episode doesn't lack romance and features an enjoyable sense of humor. Georgina Campbell and Joe Cole are sympathetic in the roles of Amy and Frank. As such, it's easy for the audience to become invested in their relationship and wish them luck. Out of all the Black Mirror episodes, "Hang the DJ" is the closest to a romantic comedy, albeit a thought-provoking one with a science-fiction spin on top.
1 White Christmas
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
- Season 2, Episode 4
Christmas specials are a customary practice in the world of television. Usually, they take place during Christmas and have a positive atmosphere. But Black Mirror, being the techno-thriller it is, only fulfills the first requirement and ignores the second. The episode centers on two men trapped in a remote outpost who tell three stories about technology going crazy. Since its first release, Black Mirror has starred multiple known faces, and this episode is no exception. Actors such as Jon Hamm, Oona Chaplin, and Natalia Tena will be well familiar to the audience.
Some of the viewers who watched the episode described it as clever, surprising, and emotionally devastating. What makes the episode even more captivating is that its punch line isn't immediately obvious, and when it finally comes, it leaves a strong impression. "White Christmas" is worth watching any time of the year, not just during Christmas. To this day, it remains the most popular episode of the series.
