It makes sense that Charlie Brooker’s sci-fi-heavy anthology series garnered quick comparisons to The Twilight Zone upon its 2011 debut. As indicated by its name, Black Mirror explores a dark reflection of society that often wanders into sci-fi or dystopian territory while warning of the dangers of advancing technology. Those who watch the show know it has a particular brand that is tricky to capture. However, sifting through some of pop culture’s best sci-fi and horror offerings reveals thought-provoking titles that deliver something similar.
Here are 10 movies that feel like a Black Mirror episode and where to watch them on streaming services.
Videodrome (1983)
Stemming from the disturbing mind of horror legend David Cronenberg, Videodrome follows the quest of a TV station programmer (James Wood) to uncover the source of the titular hyper-violent show. What follows is a surreal, hallucinatory story that is equally beautiful and horrific. Like Black Mirror, Videodrome sets its thematic sights on technology and its influence over people. Cronenberg pays special attention to society’s obsession with sex and violence and just how easily they can be blurred and exploited. While Videodrome’s 1983 release makes TV its primary talking point, its themes remain just as relevant when applied to modern social media platforms.
Cube (1997)
Cube’s selling point is right in its title. Vincenzo Natali’s low-budget sci-fi thriller begins with a group of strangers waking up in a giant cube with no memory of how they got there. However, this isn’t an ordinary cube. Instead, it’s a bobby-trap-ridden monstrosity with countless rooms and puzzles. While that alone already feels like a Black Mirror episode, the similarities extend to its messaging. Cube is a story about people learning (and failing) to work together when the norms of society are removed. Don’t let its B-movie exterior fool you. Beneath the surface, Cube is a commentary on faith and existentialism.
The Truman Show (1998)
The Truman Show is decades old, but don’t let that fact derail you. Still just as thought-provoking as ever, the Andrew Niccol-directed movie features a disillusioned insurance salesman (Jim Carrey) who begins to suspect his life is the subject of a reality TV show. Like Black Mirror, The Truman Show tackles juicy themes like existentialism and freedom while questioning the moral complexities of reality TV and privacy. Those who know Carrey for his comedic legacy will also see a different side of the actor. The Truman Show is a pop culture landmark for a reason, and it remains one of the most creative movies ever to grace the big screen.
District 9 (2009)
Really, any of Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi films make for a good Black Mirror pairing. However, the Peter Jackson-produced District 9 is a level above the rest when it comes to staying power. In this reality, humans segregate aliens into a degenerate and forgotten ghetto in Johannesburg. The brutal treatment of these extraterrestrial refugees works as a political allegory, and given its South African setting, one about the lingering effects of apartheid. Like what Black Mirror did with “Black Museum,” District 9 uses sci-fi and dystopian themes to illuminate the horrors of racism and xenophobia.
Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Cabin in the Woods kicks off like any other slasher movie: A group of twenty-somethings head to a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere, but bloodthirsty killers upend their vacation. However, there’s more to Drew Goddard’s film than meets the eye. An underground laboratory is behind all the horror movie clichés, and just like that, Cabin in the Woods goes from horror to sci-fi. Those familiar with Black Mirror’s “Playtest,” which sees a man test a haunted house augmented reality game, will find something similar here, albeit with a lot more comedy and fun. While very much a horror parody, Cabin in the Woods also points the finger at desensitized audiences and their need for bigger, better, and more depraved violence in the genre.
Ex Machina (2014)
Black Mirror sends a sometimes cynical, always cautionary message when it comes to technology. In movies, nothing takes that stance quite like Ex Machina. The Alex Garland film sends a brilliant programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) to the remote mansion of his eccentric CEO (Oscar Isaac) to test the “humanness” of an AI android named Ava (Alicia Vikander). To say more would do the plot a disservice. Just know that Ex Machina is acclaimed for a reason. From award-winning visual effects to its brilliant script, there is nothing quite like it in the realm of science fiction.
Vivarium (2019)
The search for a perfect home completely derails into a terrifying surrealistic ordeal in Vivarium. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan, the film imagines Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg as a young couple whose discovery that they’re trapped in a labyrinth of identical houses is just the beginning of their problems. Like Black Mirror, Vivarium has something to say and delivers its almost satirical commentary in a trippy sci-fi horror mash-up. For some, the surrealism might be a bit heavy-handed, but for others, that’s the fun part. One thing is for certain: Vivarium is a movie for people who like reading between the lines.
The Platform (2019)
What Black Mirror does best is tell an engaging story with deeper messaging layered beneath. Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s The Platform shares that spirit, although its content is more disturbing and violent in many ways. Set in a dystopian future, prison inmates receive food on a descending platform akin to an open elevator. Those on the top take too much, leaving the prisoners closer to the bottom with scraps mostly unfit for human consumption. Right off the bat, it’s clear that The Platform is an allegory for social economic status and the stark disparity between the upper and lower classes. Although it’s brutal, it’s also thought-provoking and hard to look away.
M3GAN (2022)
Another sci-fi-horror blend, M3GAN delves into the dangers of AI with a murderous twist. After a robotic engineer (Allison Williams) becomes the reluctant caretaker to her orphaned niece (Violet McGraw), she creates the titular android to fulfill a companion role for the girl. However, in true horror movie fashion, M3GAN goes rogue and racks up quite the body count in the process. The Gerard Johnstone movie goes more slasher than Black Mirror. Still, its dark humor and subtle camp feel reminiscent of the Miley Cyrus-starring episode “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too.”
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
Creed II and Space Jam: A New Legacy writer, Juel Taylor, makes his directorial debut with this stylish sci-fi comedy. After a drug deal gone bad, Fontaine (John Boyega), Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris), and Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx) form an unlikely alliance and set out to discover the bizarre mystery lurking beneath their neighborhood. Quickly dubbed a cult classic, They Cloned Tyrone offers a pulpy little mystery packed with comedy and a dash of social commentary. While it might not scream Black Mirror on its surface, They Cloned Tyrone aligns with the show's darkly funny episodes like “Hang the DJ” or “Mazey Day.”
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