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One of the best sci-fi series to emerge from Netflix’s original content plethora isBlack Mirror. The British anthology series is known for its shock-factor episodes centered around ethics and technology of the present and future. From the writer’s room to the familiar and unfamiliar actors onscreen,Black Mirrorhas earned much-deserving critical acclaim.
We all love the well-executed sci-fi movie fromAnnihilationtoEx Machinaand everything in between, but there are some stories that sound so good that turn out so bad. These films lead with an intriguing premise or futuristic vision and fall short in the execution. With a little help from the magic-makers behind the Netflix hit, we believe these films would have succeeded as a singular episode in theBlack Mirroruniverse.
Updated on June 14, 2025, by Hannah Saab:
Black Mirrorseason 6premieres this June, according to a teaser trailer that has revitalized interest in the anthology series. It’s the perfect time to explore more poorly executed sci-fi movies with great premises that could inspire futureBlack Mirrorepisodes.
10’In Time' (2011)
Amovie that once again proves a star-studded castisn’t always enough to save a poor script,In Timeprovided movie-goers with a unique premise that ultimately bogged down in execution. Set in a dystopian future where people stop aging at 25, time has become an exchangeable currency that like all things money causes a bit of trouble for the film’s protagonist Will (Justin Timberlake). Co-starringAmanda Seyfried,Cillian Murphy,Olivia Wilde, andMatt Bomer,In Timefailed to prove its worth with critics and viewers despite premiering the same year asBlack Mirror.
Using time as a physically exchangeable good would be an interesting ethical dilemma about the power of technology and greed. These themes were present inInTime, but didn’t yield an original take on or visceral reaction to the concept like manyBlack Mirrorpremises do. As technology continues to advance, revisiting this movie as inspiration for a structured episode would be intriguing for sci-fi fans alike.
9’Transcendence' (2014)
A sci-fi thriller with an A-list cast,Transcendencerevolves around Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp), an expert on artificial intelligence who’s known for scandalous experiments. A threat to his life only pushes his goals forward, and soon the protagonist’s thirst for knowledge and control takes his AI experiments to a whole new level.
With great cinematography and a cast of talented actors (includingMorgan Freeman,Kate Mara, andCillian Murphy), viewers and critics alike had high hopes forTranscendence. It ultimately became a critical disappointment, as its muddled plot made it seem as if the story itself was written with an unclear vision. The dangers of obsession and AI would fit right intoBlack Mirror’s world, though, and perhaps would giveTranscendence’s premise another shot at proper execution.
Watch on DirecTV
8’Don’t Worry Darling' (2022)
A psychological thriller directed byOlivia Wilde,Don’t Worry Darlinggenerated a lot of buzz with its intriguing setting and impressive cast. Taking place in a picture-perfect 1950s suburban company, the film revolves around Alice and Jack Chambers (Florence PughandHarry Styles), a young couple trying to fit in with the community. As the husbands of the town leave every day for work, the wives make sure their homes are spotless and enjoy various luxuries. Soon, cracks begin to appear that hint at a darkness beneath suburbia.
Despite a powerfulperformance from Florence Pugh, it’s hard to ignore the film’s underwhelming and ludicrous plot twist, and the way it ruins an already mediocre story. While it’s impossible to discuss this twist without spoiling the movie, its surprising focus on dystopian technology and commentary on societal issues qualify the film’s premise as a potential entry in theBlack Mirroruniverse.
Watch on HBO Max
7’Lockout' (2012)
A movie about humanitarian efforts gone wrong in a futuristic space prison,Lockoutwas no sci-fi treasure. TheGuy PearceandMaggie Grace-led thriller left viewers feeling their own sort of imprisonment in films of sci-fi past asLockoutincorporated elements from the films that came before it.
WhereBlack Mirrorsurpasses other science fiction series is in its ability to mess with our minds over the course of a singular episode. Imagine this Netflix-driven machine outputting an episode about the psychological effects of a space prison. The writer’s room is more than capable of posing an ethical dilemma to viewers about banishing (perhaps wrongly accused) criminals to space.
6’Downsizing' (2017)
In the not-too-distant future, scientists have found a way to drastically reduce humans' carbon footprint using a process called “downsizing.” They literally shrink people to small sizes to live in small communities, with the promise of unbelievable riches and new ways of having fun. When Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) finally decide to take the (tiny) leap, things don’t go exactly as planned.
Downsizinghad an entertaining first chapter, which introduced the engaging premise in a promising way. It soon fell apart and became disjointed after an unnecessary doomsday clock and a half-baked message about the environment are thrown in. That said, the movie’sfictional invention is perfect forBlack Mirror, which could explore all sorts of twisted ways corporations could exploit technology like that.
Watch on Paramount+
Directed byJoseph Kosinski,Spiderheadis a sci-fi thriller centered on experiments conducted in a seemingly luxurious prison. In charge of these experiments is Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth), a charming yet manipulative scientist who dictates which and how much of the mind-altering drugs will be administered to participants. One of the inmates who’s part of the project, Jeff (Miles Teller), begins to suspect that everything isn’t quite as it seems.
Spiderhead’s promising premise was wasted by its lackluster execution, which never reached the potential of how twisted and disturbing the film could have been. A lack of focus and unnecessary subplots left critics and audiences feeling underwhelmed. Its prison setting, mind-warping drugs, and sinister corporate exploitation would create a fantasticBlackMirrorepisode, though.
Watch on Netflix
4’Rubikon' (2022)
A unique take on thestuck-on-a-ship trope in sci-fi movies,Rubikondepicts a crew in a space station who witness an apocalyptic catastrophe on earth in the form of a toxic fog. When they find out that there are survivors, they argue about whether they should rescue them or stay and survive while improving the ship’s algae tech.
Its stunning visuals and unique premise couldn’t save the film from its poor execution, as the lack of tension is obvious throughout the movie. The stakes are high, but it doesn’t seem that way. MaybeBlack Mirrorcould have done something better with its “algae symbiosis system,” an invention that can save humanity from environmental collapse, but is shrouded in bureaucratic secrecy and corporate greed.
Watch on Prime Video
3’The Happening' (2008)
NotM. Night Shyamalan’s worst work, but certainly not his best,The Happeningis a mind-bender that fell just short of its potential. Following a series of unexplainable deaths and more spreading fast across the country, a school teacher and his wife try to evade the unseen killer. Despite big-name leads likeMark Wahlberg,Zooey Deschanel, andJohn Leguizamo, critics and fans were not impressed.
Where fans loveBlack Mirror’s ferocity is in its ability to throw a good twist and wait until the very last few minutes of screen time to do so,The Happeningfalls short. With a guest-directing cue from Shyamalan and a concise runtime, ecological warfare sounds like a dystopian episode right up theBlack Mirroralley.
2’Countdown' (2019)
More sohorror than traditional science-fiction,Countdownrevolves around a protagonist who downloads a seemingly harmless app that “predicts” when the user will die. A divisive film where audiences saw more pleasure in the story than critics, this tech-horror is a match made inBlack Mirrorheaven.
The basic premise of the entire series explores the fragility of human life and how technology hinders humanity. Where the horror element was too supernatural inCountdown,Black Mirrorwould turn the “villain” into a government or corporate conspiracy about population control or data privacy.
1’Demonic' (2021)
Oscar-nominatedDistrict 9directorNeill Blomkampfailed to produce another sci-fi masterpiece.Demonicfollows a young woman who seeks out her deceased mother’s consciousness in an artificial reality program called The Simulation only to lose her hold on reality as hallucinations begin, slowly becoming real. A supernatural horror and science-fiction piece,Demonic’s muddy storytelling turned away viewers.
ManyBlack Mirrorepisodes toy with the concept of consciousness and artificial intelligence, demonstrating what goes terribly wrong when the two merge. Following the rollercoaster of success withDistrict 9, middle-of-the-road withElysium, and downward spiral withChappie, Blomkamp’s sci-fi mind would better have served as a guest onBlack Mirrorwith a hair-raising episode centered around the premise ofDemonic.
