One of the best TV shows of the 21st century has to be the sci-fi anthology Black Mirror. The series draws on ideas and technology from the real world and spins them into intelligent (and often terrifying) scenarios. In this regard, it's the true heir to The Twilight Zone, more so even than the 2019 reboot.

Like much of the best sci-fi, Black Mirror uses the near future to poke at the present. Black Mirror's best episodes explore the impact of today's dominant technologies – smartphones, social media, virtual reality, drones – but extrapolate them to their logical endpoint. The result is one of the best-written horror shows ever made, which does for computers and the internet what Jaws did to the beach. Black Mirror Season 6 has unsurprisingly stirred discussions and altered rankings on IMDb. As fans eagerly wait for details about the show's future, it's the perfect time to binge-watch the top Black Mirror episodes that highlight the very best that the twisted anthology series has to offer.

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27 "Mazey Day" (Season 6, Episode 4)

IMDb Rating: 5.3/10

"Mazey Day" holds the distinction for being the shortest Black Mirror episode at 40 minutes, being the first-ever supernatural episode of the series, and, unfortunately, being the lowest-rated one so far on IMDb. Exploring the chaotic world of paparazzi, it follows freelance photographer Bo (Zazie Beetz) and a few others as they hunt down an actress in hiding, competing for the $30,000 reward for anyone who gets a photo of her. When they finally track her down, things take a strange turn.

Considered the worst Black Mirror episode to date, "Mazey Day" was widely criticized for its bizarre plot twist, which sees the story go in a completely different direction than fans are used to. Like much of the divisive sixth season, it barely delves into any sort of future tech, commenting instead on existing practices by paparazzi.

26 "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" (Season 5, Episode 3)

IMDb Rating: 6.1/10

That "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" is the second lowest-rated episode of Black Mirror speaks to the quality of the series overall, as it's passable and best and somewhat divisive at worst. Starring Miley Cyrus as pop singer Ashley O, the episode depicts her story as a troubled artist in the industry, with another arc covering two of her fans, teenage sisters Rachel (Angourie Rice) and Jack Goggins (Madison Davenport). The sisters have the popular doll "Ashley Too," which is essentially a clone of Ashley O's persona.

The final episode of Season 5 is worth watching for fans of the series, as the Black Mirror episode explores toxic celebrity culture and how technology can exaggerate the kinds of environments Ashley O often works in. Weak acting from Miley Cyrus and a cookie-cutter story are the main criticisms for "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too," which would also explain its low ranking on the platform.

25 "Metalhead" (Season 4, Episode 5)

IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

Anyone would be forgiven for being nervous after seeing the numerous videos online about how much smarter, stronger, and faster robots are becoming – "Metalhead" plays into those fears. The short black-and-white episode is set in a bleak future where society has collapsed and survivors are forced to scavenge and hide. Here, Bella (Maxine Peake) is seen running from robotic "dogs" that seem to target and hunt down humans.

The robots seem to have been inspired precisely by those videos that have gone viral, often featuring Boston Dynamics' robots that only get smarter each year. Some viewers may not appreciate the episode's shorter length and lack of a complex plot, but the good outweighs the bad here as "Metalhead" is a terrifying, well-paced, and far too possible depiction of a dangerous future.

24 "The Waldo Moment" (Season 2, Episode 3)

IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

"The Waldo Moment" follows the experiences of a troubled comedian, Jamie Salter (Daniel Rigby), known for his depiction of a blue animated bear called Waldo on a funny TV show. When an interview with a politician "inspires" the comedian to enter the political race as Waldo, he doesn't expect to actually win. This is why it's a complete surprise when his wise-cracking and crass character steadily climbs the ranks.

As with anything concerning politics, "The Waldo Moment" was initially extremely divisive among fans, with many not really getting its satirical approach and memorable ending. Waldo the cartoon bear's message has changed over the years to become more chillingly accurate, though, proving that the political satirist may have been onto something.

23 "Demon 79" (Season 6, Episode 5)

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

Black Mirror Season 6 marked a departure from the usual kinds of stories fans have come to expect from the show, with series creator Charlie Brooker experimenting with expanding the scope to include supernatural horror. This, along with dark comedy, is especially evident in "Demon 79," the final episode of the latest season.

It follows mild-mannered sales assistant Nida (Anjana Vasan), whose life is forever changed after accidentally releasing the demon Gaap (Paapa Essiedu). He informs her that she has to kill three people if she wants to stop the world from ending. Set in 1979, the episode draws inspiration from '70s horror, fiction, and fashion to create its unique cinematography and story. Its pointed commentary on anti-immigration politics is impossible to miss, as Nida grapples with murdering those responsible for many others' suffering.

22 "Striking Vipers" (Season 5, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Two old friends, Danny Parker (Anthony Mackie) and Karl Houghton (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), find a way to reconnect after some time in the fictional fighting game "Striking Vipers X." The game allows its users to actually feel what's happening, whether that's pain or pleasure. When the two of them start having sex in that virtual reality, their real-life relationships start getting complicated.

"Striking Vipers" features an all-Black main cast who flew to Brazil to film the episode. Danny and Karl's virtual affair has inevitably been compared to the far more popular and well-received "San Junipero," despite Mackie's character clearly having different struggles. It may not be most fans' favorite episode, but "Striking Vipers" is a fantastic exploration of sexuality, non-traditional bonds, and how technological advancements like virtual reality could shape new kinds of relationships.

21 "Crocodile" (Season 4, Episode 3)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Black Mirror introduces one of its most evil characters in "Crocodile," Mia (Andrea Riseborough), who's haunted by a hit-and-run death that she helped her friend cover-up. Thanks to the existence of police technology called "Recaller," which projects individuals' memories for someone else to see, Mia's past resurfaces after what was supposed to be a simple insurance claim investigation.

"Crocodile" is an unapologetically bleak episode in a series full of dark stories. As Mia turns into a serial killer just to keep covering up her past, she goes to great lengths to hurt and murder anyone who could trace the crime back to her. Its twist ending is one of the show's most shocking, and the nature of the revelation makes it difficult to appreciate the dark humor its creators might have intended audiences to find. "Crocodile" isn't exactly a warning about the "Recaller" tech, but what sick people like Mia could do with it given the wrong circumstances.

20 "Arkangel" (Season 4, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

"Arkangel" introduces one of Black Mirror's chilling inventions, tech that lets parents have unprecedented control over their child for "safety" and "well-being." The episode follows Marie (Rosemarie DeWitt) as she opts for the experimental implant to monitor her young daughter Sara (Aniya Hodge). Aside from being able to see her health data and her actions, the implant also censors anything it deems to be too stressful or traumatic. Things take a dark turn as the level of control unsurprisingly leads to some dire consequences.

Exploring the ethical dilemmas of excessive surveillance through the lens of something as intimate as parenthood, "Arkangel" understandably hits close to home for some viewers. Anything that features kids in dire situations is bound to start conversations, which is exactly what happened with this episode. Its controversial shocking ending has been divisive, to say the least, making it one of the series' standout storylines.

19 "Loch Henry" (Season 6, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

When film students and relatively new romantic partners Davis (Samuel Blenkin) and Pia (Myha'la Herrold) travel to a ghost town in Scotland to work on a documentary, they become interested in a murderous local story. While they initially intend to make a boring documentary about eggs, they pivot and decide to feature the murder instead. Davis soon realizes the crimes have influenced his family and life in more than one way, but goes through horrific events to get at the truth.

"Loch Henry" mocks viewers' obsession with the true crime genre, often presenting scenes in the style of the most popular documentaries about gruesome murders. It prods at this obsession with others' suffering as its protagonist’s own tragic story unfolds. It may not hit all the right marks with pacing and dialogue, but it's still a fantastic offering from the latest season.

18 "Beyond the Sea" (Season 6, Episode 3)

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

"Beyond the Sea" was one of the most highly-anticipated episodes in Black Mirror's sixth season, as it featured some incredible talents. Set in an alternative 1969, it features two astronauts – Cliff Stanfield (Aaron Paul) and David Ross (Josh Hartnett) – on a vague but highly dangerous mission in deep space. Meanwhile, back on earth, they have replicas they can control to essentially take breaks from the mentally taxing isolation and reality they face daily as they travel further from home.

Its lengthy runtime may be off-putting for some viewers, but it more than makes up for it with stylistic visuals and meticulous attention to detail. Aaron Paul's post-Breaking Bad performance is the real star of the episode, as he ends up playing a dual role when his character's companion in space needs to access his replica after losing his to a horrendous tragedy. The blending of their identities leads to some unexpected consequences, with the build-up to its dramatic climax being among the show's greatest.

17 "Joan Is Awful" (Season 6, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

When a mostly average woman discovers that a global streaming platform (much like Netflix) called Streamberry has taken events from her life and created an uncanny adaptation of it, things begin to fall apart around her. With each new episode chronicling her actions through deep fake technology and, weirdly enough, Salma Hayek's likeness playing her, Joan (Annie Murphy) must find a way to stop the corporation behind her suffering.

In what feels more like the typical Black Mirror episodes from previous seasons, "Joan Is Awful" leaves audiences with warnings about AI, deep fakes, and the dwindling access to privacy the average individual has. While its supposedly mind-bending twist can be underwhelming for some, it does manage to be humorous overall, thanks to fantastic performances from Murphy, Salma Hayek, and, briefly, Michael Cera.

16 "Smithereens" (Season 5, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

The rewatchable Black Mirror Season 5's "Smithereens" follows the intense events following a kidnapping. The suspect is rideshare driver Chris (Andrew Scott), who takes Smithereen – a social media company – intern Jaden (Damson Idris) hostage in an attempt to connect with the elusive founder and CEO Billy Bauer (Topher Grace). Chris' heartbreaking motives soon come to light, revealing the character to be a grieving man pushed to his breaking point by unfortunate events linked to social media.

A great exploration of the consequences of modern tech-dependent lives, "Smithereens" comments on social media's role in shaping public discourse. In the process, it can affect real lives (and cause real deaths). Andrew Scott's captivating performance as Chris captures the character's internal turmoil and desperation, making this still relevant message much more effective.

15 "Men Against Fire" (Season 3, Episode 5)

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

"Men Against Fire" portrays a spine-chilling future where soldiers are regularly sent to kill enemies called "roaches," which are supposedly dangerous mutated creatures. It focuses on the soldier Stripe (Malachi Kirby), who begins to question the level of brutality used against these enemies, going as far as questioning how moral their methods really are. Soon, a shocking twist reveals that it's a neural implant in the soldiers that causes them to perceive the enemies as heinous creatures, when they're actually just people who are part of a marginalized group.

"Men Against Fire" is a powerful parallel to real-world military conflicts, and it takes an unflinching stance against government propaganda and warfare. It makes viewers question why some groups are portrayed the way they are, and the effect this framing can have on how they're treated. Its implications about how improving technology could also affect the way war is waged are terrifying, especially considering how relevant its message is today.

14 "The National Anthem" (Season 1, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Black Mirror cemented itself as one of the best dystopian shows to look out for with its first-ever episode, "The National Anthem," which stirred discussions and debates about the controversial yet intriguing new series. The episode revolves around the Prime Minister Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear), who is put in a difficult situation after a member of the royal family is kidnapped. He's forced to do something publicly humiliating to save the victim.

Throughout the whole decision process, Callow and his team deal with public scrutiny and a fast-growing media frenzy that inevitably affects the choices they make. Of course, the decision they do end up going with results in one of the show's most disturbing sequences. What's remarkable about "The National Anthem" is that it doesn't present technology that's ridiculously out of reach, ruminating instead on what can already make scenarios like this possible – social media and the court of public opinion.

13 "Playtest" (Season 3, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Wyatt Russell stars in this episode as Cooper, a man who gets paid to test an augmented reality video game that taps into the player's worst fears. The game soon turns more frightening than intended, and the lines between reality and simulation blur. There's a crucial subplot that focuses on Cooper's grief and denial following the death of his father, which causes him to travel while ignoring his mother's calls.

The episode is one of the best straight-up psychological horror pieces in the Black Mirror canon, reminiscent of a terrifying David Cronenberg film. As usual, the fact that the technology is not that far off is what elevates the episode. The Oculus Rift and HoloLens are already here, although they are still in their infancy. "Playtest" raises interesting questions about using technology to escape reality and the effects this will have – is having – on our psychology.

12 "White Bear" (Season 2, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

In "White Bear," Victoria Skillane (Lenora Crichlow) wakes up with no idea where she is or why she's there. The only thing she knows for sure is that other people seem to be recording her for entertainment, all while a group of individuals dressed like slasher movie villains relentlessly pursue her. She soon realizes that this isn't the first time this has happened, with the events going on around her inextricably linked with her past.

The episode ends with a revelation of the surprising heinous nature of what Victoria is being punished for, which leaves audiences feeling conflicted because the protagonist was presented as the victim all this time. "White Bear" boldly asks viewers to judge if this type of punishment fits the crime, and to what extent should criminals be punished in this way. It's also just a masterfully paced episode that uses horror elements to make audiences feel as terrified and confused as its protagonist, with this connection suddenly cleverly ripped away by the time her true nature is revealed.

11 "Be Right Back" (Season 2, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

A scarily accurate Black Mirror episode, "Be Right Back" centers on the story of Martha (Hayley Atwell), who is struggling with grief after her boyfriend Ash's (Domhnall Gleeson) sudden death. When she finds a service that allows her to use artificial intelligence to create a new version of Ash based on his online activity and their past messages, she decides to give it a try. Soon, the AI version of Ash almost becomes indistinguishable from the real person – it becomes far too unsettling.

This highly-rated episode is more bone-chilling today considering recent advancements in AI. While the world isn't likely to see humanoid duplicates of loved ones anytime soon, a Futurism article reveals that having AI emulate dead people by studying message patterns is already something that creators are working on. It may take some time before the tech catches up with what's shown in "Be Right Back," but the fact that the show has made such an eerily accurate prediction like this proves its creators have their finger on the pulse.

10 "Fifteen Million Merits" (Season 1, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Featuring a stellar performance from Daniel Kaluuya as Bing, "Fifteen Million Merits" takes place in a world where people ride exercise bikes all day every single day to generate energy and earn credits. When Bing meets Abi (Jessica Brown Findlay), his daily routine is interrupted by the sudden desire to help her earn enough credits to participate in a talent show and become famous.

A tale of the danger of obsession and fame with a healthy dose of irony, the Black Mirror episode doesn't pull any punches with social commentary that obviously references current talent shows and even social media platforms like Instagram. Bing's ultimate fate is a brilliant reminder that even after escaping his small room, he becomes trapped in a bigger one that helps make the consumerist system more oppressive and inhumane. The tragic love story nestled within it only makes it that much more upsetting by the end.

9 "USS Callister" (Season 4, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons) is a bitter software developer who feels that his co-workers don't give him the respect he deserves, so he uses their DNA to create avatars inside a Star Trek-esque game. Robert dominates these digital clones inside the game, causing them real pain whenever they disobey. He seems to have complete control, at least until one of them (Cristin Milioti) attempts to mutiny against him, making contact with the real world in the process.

"USS Callister" is one of the most purely entertaining and surprisingly not depressing Black Mirror episodes. The performances are great (especially Plemons's impression of Captain Kirk), and the send-ups of sci-fi shows are spot on. It also ends surprisingly optimistically, with the villain finally receiving his comeuppance. For anyone looking for a not-too-scary episode from Black Mirror to start with, "USS Callister" is an excellent choise.

8 "Nosedive" (Season 3, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Charlie Brooker skewers social media and status games in this pastel-colored nightmare of an episode directed by Joe Wright, the filmmaker behind Atonement and Darkest Hour. It takes place in a world where people use an app to rate each other on a five-star scale. Your score determines your status in society and how you will be treated. Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) is a young woman seeking to raise her score, but circumstances outside her control conspire to ruin her score completely.

"Nosedive" is a great commentary on the toxic effects of social media, where people are constantly judged in front of the group. It also references real-world systems like the planned Social Credit System in China, which would rate all citizens and accord them advantages or penalties based on their behavior. "Nosedive" is an entertaining hour of TV and a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsessing over society's approval.