Since its 2011 premiere, Black Mirror has remained one of the most intriguing and captivating anthology series. Over seven mind-bending seasons, the dystopian spectacle explores the implications of advanced technologies on individuals and society as a whole, while blending relatable scenarios and thought-provoking sci-fi with real-world anxieties.
If you’re jonesing to explore more dark themes and social commentary with high-quality action and production values, here are 13 shows like Black Mirror to satiate your hunger.
Altered Carbon (2018)
Joel Kinnaman powerfully leads season one of this cyberpunk series with a noir aesthetic, based on the novel by Richard K. Morgan.
Altered Carbon is set in a future where consciousness is digitized and stored, then able to be transferred into a human body, essentially making life and human existence limitless. After two-and-a-half centuries on ice, Takeshi Kovacs (Kinnaman), a prisoner and political operative with mad mercenary skills, is resurrected in a new body with one chance to win his freedom. There’s been a murder, and he is needed to solve the mind-bending mystery. While the story is good, what you’ll enjoy most is Kinnaman’s portrayal of this morally ambiguous anti-hero.
Devs (2020)
If you dig the exploration of complex philosophical themes and thought-provoking narratives, Devs is your show. Led by Nick Offerman, it makes for one hell of a curious experience.
Devs follows software engineer Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno, of Maniac) as she discovers that her boyfriend disappeared after getting involved with a secretive division at work called Devs, which is developing a powerful predictive computer system.
While the series does tend to focus more on philosophical themes, it also delves into the ethics of advanced technology and the implications of predictive systems, making for a suspenseful narrative that’s as educational as it is entertaining.
Electric Dreams (2017)
Inspired by the works of Philip K. Dick, Electric Dreams is one of the best anthology series available to stream. The sci-fi series explores what it means to be human through stand-alone stories that occur up to 5,000 years in the future.
The 10-episode series investigates a gamut of sci-fi themes, such as alternate realities, post-apocalyptic futures, and synthetic beings. If you love the dystopian aspects and scenarios of Black Mirror, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this show. Plus, Electric Dreams boasts an impressive cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Bryan Cranston, Juno Temple, Greg Kinnear, Benedict Wong, Anna Paquin, and Terrence Howard.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
Del Toro brings you eight horror tales packed with visually stunning but impeccably frightening imagery. Each episode stands alone in its own bizarre nightmare that’ll have your spine tingling as you reach to turn on a light.
Though it’s not science fiction, Cabinet of Curiosities gives off strong Black Mirror vibes with its dark, unsettling commentary and explanation of the human psyche for the horror genre.
Love, Death, & Robots (2019)
I’ll kick this one off with one name—David Fincher. For the unfamiliar, he directed the hit film Fight Club. Fincher serves as executive producer of Netflix’s Love, Death, & Robots.
In addition to its greatly varied tone and style, which allow for a more unique viewing experience, this sprawling anthology features David Fincher treats, such as a fair share of brutality, violence, and death. It even has cyberpunk sexbots and exotic dancers.
Oats Studios (2021)
An intriguing series of experimental short films, Oats Studios will suck you in so fast, you be finished streaming it before you know it.
A 10-episode collection from director Neill Blomkamp (Gran Turismo, District 9, Elysium), Oats Studios is an anthology of experimental film shorts that depict post-apocalyptic worlds and nightmarish scenarios, from bizarre alternate timelines and futuristic mining vessels to aliens colonizing planet Earth.
The collection's blending of science fiction, comedy, and dystopian horror makes it a must-see for fans of Black Mirror. Also, A-listers Sigourney Weaver, Sharlto Copley, and Dakota Fanning star.
Severance (2022)
This Apple TV+ series from director Ben Stiller is on fire right now with its dystopian narrative full of big names like John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, Adam Scott, and Merrit Wever. It questions how far you would go to achieve the perfect balance between your personal life and your work life, and how you know when you’ve gone too far.
Severance follows employees at Lumon Industries, who each undergo a procedure upon hiring that separates their work memories from their personal memories. However, when a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, an effort to discover the truth about their jobs is made.
The show explores the implications of advanced technologies on society while taking a long, hard look at corporate dystopia in particular, providing thought-provoking commentary on modern issues, like work-life balance, and a timely critique of technological exploitation for corporate gain.
Solos (2021)
Featuring future tales, memories, and tapestries of different collections of events in several peoples’ lives, Solos explores themes of human isolation and connection amidst character-driven stories.
The anthology examines our relationships and interactions with each other and with technology, diving deep into the darker side of technological advancements. Where Black Mirror tends to be bleak and dystopian, Solos offers a happier outlook, suggesting that no matter how technologically advanced the world becomes, human connection and empathy have the power to prevail.
The cast includes stars Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Dame Helen Mirren, Constance Wu, Dan Stevens, and Anthony Mackie.
Tales from the Loop (2020)
If there ever was a perfect sci-fi binge to wrap up in after Black Mirror, it’s Tales from the Loop.
Based on Simon Stålenhag’s art book of the same name, the show sheds light on the residents in the fictional town of Mercer, Ohio. There lies an underground physics facility called The Loop, and it’s full of researchers attempting to uncover the secrets of the universe and make the impossible possible. As they explore the boundaries of physics, their experiments result in strange, supernatural effects on Mercer and its residents.
Tales from the Loop plunges into the depths of human emotion, relationships, and the melancholy aspect of life, using science fiction elements as a backdrop in place of explaining The Loop’s lore. It also boasts hauntingly stunning visuals amid a bleak atmospheric tone.
The Peripheral (2022)
Chloë Grace Moretz stars in The Peripheral, which is loosely based on the 2014 book of the same name by William Gibson.
Flynne (Moretz) is a young woman from a small town in the near future. When she becomes involved with a mysterious gaming company, she discovers the game is a real-life scenario set in an alternate London in 2099, where she controls an android body.
Much like Black Mirror, this captivating sci-fi thriller series burrows into contemporary issues like technological manipulation and the exploitation of resources across timelines. Fans of the Mirror will love this narrative of complex sci-fi concepts that are riddled with mounting suspense and timely themes.
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Utopia (2020)
Based on the 2013 British original series, Utopia is a conspiracy narrative following a group of comic book enthusiasts.
When the group inadvertently stumbles upon a cult graphic novel that seems to predict real-world events, they conduct a deep dive into the book’s secrets that makes them targets of a shady organization known as The Network.
Utopia explores conspiracy theories, global plots, and control in its commentary on contemporary issues and suspenseful storytelling techniques. This dystopian narrative is loaded with style, clever writing, and unexpected twists, which fans of Black Mirror will appreciate.
Weird City (2019)
From the brilliant minds of Jordan Peele and Charlie Sanders (Key and Peele) comes Weird City, a show that manages to wholeheartedly deliver on its name. It’s utterly weird but also comically fascinating.
Set in the near future in the city of Weird, which is divided into two halves segregated by economic class, this anthology series features surreal storylines with characters navigating the bizarre scenarios, ups and downs, and plot twists that go along with living there. Like Black Mirror, each episode has its own distinct narrative with messages and commentary about the modern world, but Weird City establishes a broader world by introducing recurring characters and settings connecting different stories. Because Jordan Peele co-created this show, expect plenty of satire mixed in with thrilling sci-fi elements that pull you to the edge of your seat.
The cast includes big names Dylan O’Brien, Michael Cera, Ed O’Neill, LeVar Burton, Steven Yeun, and Rosario Dawson.
The Twilight Zone (2019)
A modern-day revival of the original series that ran from 1959-1964, this Twilight Zone is narrated by the one and only Jordan Peele.
While both versions of the show offer narratives that align with some of the speculative themes found in Black Mirror, these chilling stories are full of science fiction elements that examine human morality and tackle everything from immigration and racism to alien invasions.
Fun fact—Jordan Peele has revealed that the plot for his hit horror film Us was inspired by one of his favorite Twilight Zone episodes titled Mirror Image.
Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend binge or something to watch as you wrap up your weekdays, anthologies are a perfect choice, thanks to the fact that they're all a single curated series you can pretty much watch in any order.
