We are positive that you all have heard of Black Mirror – a show known for its brutal commentary on the impact of advanced technology. While some shows may bear a resemblance to Black Mirror, others may not. Although the shows on our list might not be as good as Black Mirror, be sure that they’ll awaken well-known emotions such as discomfort, fear, and anxiety. Since the 6th season of Black Mirror flopped and was kinda disappointing, we would like to present our list of top 20 TV shows like Black Mirror.
20. Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities [2022]
Photo Credits: Netflix
We’re starting with one that would probably be liked by fans who enjoyed 6th season of Black Mirror. Since the show, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is more supernatural and horror-oriented. Since it’s an anthology horror drama series, each episode was directed by another director. If you liked episode Mazey Day from the 6th season of Black Mirror, you’ll love this show. Imagine it as a more creative version of American Horror Story, with a touch of Guillermo del Toro. What makes it fall into top TV shows like Black Mirror is the eerie tale and suspense that the show makes you feel.
Guillermo del Toro’s assembled team of innovative directors such as Guillermo Navarro, Vincenzo Natali, David Prior, Ana Lily Amirpour, Keith Thomas, Catherine Hardwicke, Panos Cosmatos, and Jennifer Kent. While some of the biggest stars are Andrew Lincoln, Ben Barnes, Rupert Grint, Crispin Glover, and F. Murray Abraham.
19. Westworld [2016-2022]
Photo Credits: HBO Entertainment
If you watched The Simpsons you probably remember the episode Itchy and Scratchy Land, just add a Treehouse of a Horror vibe to it. Now Westworld is a sci-fi TV show set in a Wild West-themed amusement park. Westworld is based on a movie of the same name from 1973 and the sequel from 1976 titled Futureworld. If you have time check out these old movies, they’re even creepier. Westworld (theme park) is filled with androids called hosts where the rich can get whatever they want just for the right price. Androids are preprogrammed not to hurt humans, so fantasies can get as wild as you may think. This AI-driven future is what TV shows like Black Mirror are all about, or at least what they were.
The show was created by Jonathan Nolan, brother of Christopher Nolan and Lisa Joy. The cast is outstanding with names such as Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, and Anthony Hopkins. Don’t miss out on this one, at least try the first season. It’s a series like Black Mirror which is thought-provoking and it’ll give you a brain itch.
18. Dimension 404 [2017]
Photo Credits: Lionsgate Digital Studios
This is yet another The Twilight Zone wannabe modern adaptation. As the name suggests there’s an error that we’re all familiar with called Error 404. Now, Dimension 404 is a TV show like Black Mirror that explains not only regular sci-fi but also horror, comedy, and speculative fiction. An unsettling feeling will crawl down your spine as you watch bizarre tales from the unknown. It’s also an anthology series so the order doesn’t matter and there are only 6 episodes in 1 season.
Dimension 404 was created by Desmond “Dez” Dolly and Will Campos, and co-created by Dan Johnson and David Welch. The crew is incredible and some of the most famous stars include Patton Oswalt, Lea Michele, Joel McHale, Sarah Hyland, Megan Mullally, and Robert Buckley.
17. Utopia [2013-2014]
Photo Credits: Kudos
For all comic book fans, this one is a must-watch. Utopia about which one we’re talking about is the British Version but there’s also an American from 2020 produced by Amazon Studios. The story is rather conspiratorial just like in shows like Black Mirror. First of all a group of friends finds a comic book that can predict future events. Now in my opinion the British version is better because it first of all has two seasons and American only has 1. Secondly, the characters and important events as well as the overall values of the show are a bit washed down in the US version and things happen much quicker. You can choose your poison, but my suggestion is the UK version, but as the old saying goes different strokes for different folks.
The UK version was created and directed by Dennis Kelly and directed by Marc Munden. Key stars are Fiona O’Shaughnessy, Alexandra Roach, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Adeel Akhtar, and Neil Maskell. While in the US version was created by Gillian Flynn and the main case included John Cusack, Sasha Lane, Rainn Wilson, Ashleigh LaThrop, and Dan Byrd.
16. Tales from the Loop [2020]
Photo Credits: Amazon Studios
Farming AI simulator combined with farms on steroids, this is Tales from the Loop. The show is set in a fictional town Mercer in Ohio. Underneath this city is a laboratory where experiments are carried out and their motto is “Let’s make the impossible possible”. Which is never good especially if you’re looking for TV shows like Black Mirror. The whole idea is based on the artwork of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag. The story is quite compelling and the visual effects are stunning. There are only 8 episodes and there’s only 1 season. The show doesn’t only do tech-related topics, but it also deals with human relationships and existential themes.
The show was created by Nathaniel Halpern and the main stars are Rebecca Hall, Jonathan Pryce, Paul Schneider, Duncan Joiner, and Daniel Zolghadri. Be sure to check it out since it’s probably the most unique story and artwork of all the other shows like Black Mirror.
15. Humans [2015-2018]
Photo Credits: AMC Studios
If you’ve played a video game called Detroit: Become Human you’ll like this show. Yet another movie like this is 2009’s Surrogates starring Bruce Willis. The story is set in a world where androids are in everyday use like our phones nowadays. Just androids are doing everything we never wanted like cleaning, cooking, walking the dog, etc. As in all dystopian robotic TV shows like Black Mirror, they have cute n creepy name synths. Now as it always happens the identity crisis occurs both for humans and synths. The show delves quite deep into the levels of impact of such technologies, human relationships, society as a whole, moral dilemmas, etc.
You should know that this is a British version of the Swedish series “Real Humans” (Äkta människor). The British version of Humans was created by Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley. While the main cast is made of Gemma Chan, Katherine Parkinson, Tom Goodman-Hill, Colin Morgan, Emily Berrington, etc.
14. The Outer Limits [1995-2002]
Photo Credits: MGM Television
Yet another zombified TV show like Black Mirror but in a good way. The Outer Limits was a ’60s anthology sci-fi TV show, that got revived in the mid-late 90s. The original spans from 63 until 65 and it’s great even for today’s standards since the story is well-written. Writting in the modern entertainment industry seems to be the biggest problem right now. Series like Black Mirror truly boggles with genetic engineering, aliens, AI, and many other futuristic concepts. The show was well known for mixing complex sci-fi topics and abstract concepts into a simple episode. There are 7 seasons and a total of 152 episodes, so take your time.
There’ll never be and there never was a better time for a TV show than the mid-90s. They gave birth to shows such as X-Files and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Now The Outer Limits feature a lot of stars some of which are Leonard Nimoy, Alyssa Milano, Ryan Reynolds, Kirsten Dunst, and Joshua Jackson, among others.
13. Devs [2020]
Photo Credits: DNA TV
Probably the title already gives it off, but yeah it has something to do with Silicon Valley. In this Devs, we follow Lily Chan who works for the encryption department of a tech company called Amaya. Eventually, something goes wrong and her boyfriend gets mysteriously murdered. That’s when Lily starts looking for a secret project called Devs. Just like other series like Black Mirror, this one captures that weird tech, dystopian futuristic eerie vibe of it all. The terror of humans and AI simply happens behind inside some giant concrete bunker-like server room. The graphics and the story are amazing and if you like the dark side of Silicon Valley, give it a go.
The Devs was directed, written, and created by Alex Garland. If you watched 28 Days Later it was written by Garland. He directed Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, and the newest Civil War. The main cast of The Devs is made of Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman, Alison Pill, Jin Ha, Zach Grenier, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Cailee Spaeny.
12. Years and Years [2019]
Photo Credits: Red Production Company
If you would like a show that deals with populism, climate change, economic instability, and the rapid advancement of technology, then you’ve hit the jackpot. The show Years and Years is a miniseries made of 6 episodes where we follow the Lyons family. This show like Black Mirror does one thing great and that’s representing politicians! Just in this case, it’s Vivienne Rook, a celebrity businesswoman who wants to be a politician. Her charm and speaking skills with the power of social media and technology divided the nation. There is just one problem and that is that Vivienne is just a populist politician and nothing else. Exploiting social fears and using buzzwords, but it gets even darker.
Years and Years is with its six episodes, like one long Black Mirror episode. It isn’t an anthology series, but it has a lot of resemblance to Black Mirror. The Rook is played by Emma Thompsom. While the Lyons family members are played by Russell Tovey, Rory Kinnear, T’Nia Miller, Ruth Madeley, Anne Reid, and Jessica Hynes.
11. Severance [2022-present]
Photo Credits: Fifth Season
If you ever wanted to forget about your job and just paint the town red, then Severance is for you. This dystopian sci-fi thriller is all about separating work and personal life in a procedure called severance. In this show, we follow a team leader called Mark Scout (played by Adam Scott) who is working for a mysterious company Lumos. What the show does well is mix the corporate lifestyle with psychological thriller and horror. Sound quiet Black Mirrorish, you never know what you’re gonna find out when they miss with your brain, don’t you? Think of it as one episode of Black Mirror stretched across the whole season. One of the rare TV series like Black Mirror that gives you a creepy afterthought that keeps you awake at night, don’t miss it out.
The cast is perfect and it was created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle. There’s only one season for now released back in 2022 and the next second season is scheduled for January 2025. If you sometimes go to work and don’t remember a thing about what you’ve done, check out Severance; it may give you some clues about what to look for.
10. Love, Death & Robots [2019 – present]
Photo credits: Netflix
If you’re a fan of sci-fi horror with an analogy twist and enjoy animated TV shows, then Love, Death & Robots is perfect for you. This animated TV show primarily focuses on the future or, we could say, the aftermath of shows like Black Mirror. While some episodes explore other planets and races, you’ll encounter scenarios similar to those in Black Mirror. You’ll also experience a sense of discomfort as you witness the horrors that the future of big tech holds for us. One additional hint is that each episode will fall under one of three concepts: love, death, robots, or a combination of these three.
What makes this show great is first of all the wonderful artwork. Each episode has a different style going from cartoonish to anima-like style, to fully realistic graphics, etc. The cast always changes and the most important thing about Love, Death & Robots is the length; each episode is between 6–21 minutes long so what’re you waiting for?
9. Electric Dreams [2017 – 2018]
Photo credits: Amazon Prime
Electric Dreams has been called out by many fans of Black Mirror as a copycat, but we have to spoil it for you: it’s not. The show is an adaptation of works by one of the most influential sci-fi writers, Philip K. Dick. Electric Dreams has only 2 seasons, and the episodes, much like Philip K. Dick’s works, always follow a formula of “What if.” Like Black Mirror, this show is an anthology series, so you can choose to watch episodes based on your preferences.
If you’re familiar with Philip, you can skip this part; but if you’re not, you should know that he has written numerous sci-fi stories. Most of his best stories and ideas have already been adapted into comics, movies, video games, etc. The cast of this show is amazing and features Anthony Boyle, Tuppence Middleton, Anna Paquin, Terrence Howard, and Janelle Monáe. If you enjoy anthology sci-fi, don’t miss out on this one, although it doesn’t focus as much on technology’s impact on society as Black Mirror does.
8. Maniac [2018]
Photo credits: Netflix
Maniac is a psychological black comedy-drama that follows Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgrim, who become test subjects in pharmaceutical drug experiments aimed at fixing their minds. The show explores the connection between humans and technology and raises questions about the coexistence of nature and technology.
Another remarkable aspect of this show is its cast, starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone. Both actors deliver exceptional performances, you can easily relate to these characters, their problems, and their worlds. If you missed out on this one be sure to check it out, because it’s a 10-episode mini-series.
7. Inside Job [2021-2022]
Photo credits: Netflix
Inside Job is another animated series that captures Black Mirror but in a more humorous manner. Shows like Black Mirror typically depict dark distopias, horrible plot twists, and evil conspiracies. However, let’s imagine for a moment that it’s all real. Inside Job follows Reagan Ridley, an anxious and anti-social genius, as she and her team attempt to cover up all the conspiracy theories that you’ve probably heard of. This is why Black Mirror and Inside Job are so similar—they both question the viewer’s surroundings from robotic presidents, Mothman, Pope, aliens, mushrooms, etc.
The Inside Job only ran for 2 seasons, and the voice acting and animation were incredible. There are some “conspiracy theories” regarding why the second season was shortened and why the show was canceled, but we’ll leave it up to you to find out, once you watch it.
6. Weird City [2019]
Photo credits: YouTube Premium
Weird City is also a sci-fi dark dystopian technocratic anthology series, and the name speaks for this one because it’s truly a Weird City. The story of this one is quite dystopian, it’s happening in a city where the rich and the poor are divided by a wall. Similarities to Black Mirror are not just in that future dystopian kind of wat, but also in the use of technology. In the trailer, you’ll see the new “contactless” sex, so people could be more powerful… The show also explored complexities of human relationships, identity, and moral dilemmas all driven by technological advancements and where we’re heading full speed ahead.
The show is created by Charlie Sanders and the fan-favorite Jordan Peele. Jordan Peele is also one of the creators of the new or rebooted Twilight Zone. The cast stars Dylan O’Brien, Ed O’Neill, LeVar Burton, Rosario Dawson, and Awkwafina. The best part of Weird City is that it’s free because it’s a YouTube Original, so you can watch it right away free of charge.
5. Dark [2017 – 2020]
Photo credits: Netflix
By definition TV show Dark is a crime drama mystery with a great story but there is more to it. You’ll like this show if you’re a fan of exploring dark themes and overthinking which you sure are; you wouldn’t be Black Mirror, would you then? The story follows a family saga after the disappearance of two young boys. There is a supernatural element to it and both Dark and Black Mirror are masters of creating a sense of unease and existential dread. Another great thing is the fact that Dark is one of the best shows about time travel so be sure to pay close attention to the plot because you can easily overlook an important event.
The cast is amazing starring Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, and Julika Jenkins. Their performances are great and the overall character development is what you’ll definitely fall for. Dark is about time traveling while Black Mirror is more about the technological impact on our society, but they’re both dark to the bone. Both shows will challenge viewers’ perspectives on reality and how fragile the human mind and life are.
4. Room 104 [2017 – 2020]
Photo credit: HBO
If you’re a fan of a well-written analogy supernatural psychological thriller, Room 104 is definitely for you. Room 104 is a room in a hotel where supernatural things occur. This is not something that’s ultra similar because Black Mirror is more about technology (but just in that way). In Room 104 the relationship between characters is amazing as well as the suspense, music, cinematography, and other aspect that you’re familiar with in Black Mirror.
The cast in Room 104 is awesome, and it features Melonie Diaz, Ross Partridge, James Van Der Beek, Mae Whitman, and Rainn Wilson. The actors in this TV show are amazing, and their performances, as well as the music, will truly convince you that there is something surreal inside Room 104. This is one of the shows like Black Mirror or at least one that’ll evoke the same feeling of discomfort.
3. Alice in Borderland [2020]
Photo credit: Netflix
Alice in Borderlands is the one where there is even an asteroid, and that’s just the beginning. In the show, an asteroid hits Tokyo, and a series of “games” is unleashed. The story follows three friends, Arisu, Chota, and Karube, as they solve escape room-style puzzles. Unlike other shows on the list, this one isn’t an anthology series; instead, it’s a sci-fi thriller. What makes it so relatable to fans of shows like Black Mirror are the themes.
We think that this show deserves more respect as it did a great job of exploring themes such as isolation, surveillance, and moral dilemmas. Behind all of this, in the end, is good old advanced technology. The storytelling is different, and this show will probably look and feel more like a sci-fi fantasy to hardcore fans, but give it a try; it’s just two seasons. The main three stars are Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, and Nijirô Murakami.
2. Inside No. 9 [2014 – present]
Photo credit: BBC Two
Inside No. 9 is a British black comedy anthology show. Like Black Mirror, this show delves into the deep realms of psychosocial, psychological, and sociological torment that humans experience in their everyday lives. Not all episodes are related to science fiction, each episode delivers an unpredictable plot twist. Additionally, make sure not to overlook the significance of the number 9, which is present in all episodes. TV series like Black Mirror and Inside No.9 are what refreshed the genre, but again the newer seasons of both shows aren’t that strong anymore. Probably they need new creative team screenwriters or simply another show like this should emerge.
The show is created, written, and stars Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton; in most episodes. The show has a total of 8 seasons, and the episodes are magnificently well-written. Currently, the 8th season is airing, providing yet another reason for you to give it a try.
1. The Twilight Zone [1958 – 1964]
Photo credit: CBS
Twilight Zone is the show that originally inspired the creators of Black Mirror. This show didn’t use as much technology as Black Mirror but it was as thought-provoking and often mind-bending. This is the show that covered themes of morality, humanity’s darker aspects, and the unexpected twists of fate. This is an evergreen that heavily influenced horror and sci-fi genres; Scooby-Doo is for mysteries that’s what The Twilight Zone is for the sci-fi/horror genre. This show kept the American nation and the whole world on top of their toes as each episode was more gruesome than the previous one. Each new episode is stranger and the new villain creepier, that’s what made the show so popular. There wasn’t anything The Twilight Zone was afraid to try and the audience always wanted more.
The Twilight Zone had three “revivals” in 1985, 2002, and 2019 but as usual, none of them could beat the original. The show was created and narrated by Rod Serling and today it’s an American classic. This show is what people call “old but gold,” and if the creators of Black Mirror liked it, so would you.
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