Black Mirror Season 7: Everything We Know and the Best Episodes to Watch Before It Arrives

After a brief hiatus following season 6, Black Mirror is set to return with its seventh season in April 2025.

For fans of the dystopian anthology series, this is huge news, especially since the upcoming season promises to deliver “six electrifying stories” that will once again explore the darker side of technology and human nature.

Charlie Brooker, the man behind our collective tech-induced paranoia, has promised a mix of mind-expanding, deeply unsettling, and darkly funny stories.

If the trailer is anything to go by, we’re in for another round of existential dread with a side of social satire.

Let’s dive into everything we know about Black Mirror season 7 so far, including its release date, cast, plot details, and a look back at some of the best (and worst) episodes from previous seasons to get you caught up before the new episodes drop.

Is Black Mirror season 7 coming out?

Yes, Black Mirror season 7 is officially coming to Netflix. The streaming giant confirmed the news with a trailer release on March 13, 2025, giving fans their first glimpse at what’s to come in the new season.

When is Black Mirror season 7 coming out?

Black Mirror season 7 will premiere on Netflix on April 10, 2025. Unlike some previous seasons that were released in parts, all six episodes will be available to stream at once, including two feature-length episodes.

What can we expect from Black Mirror season 7?

Charlie Brooker has described the upcoming season as returning to the show’s roots.

“This time around, the episodes are all, in a way, like OG Black Mirror,” he said in an interview.

While season 6 featured some supernatural horror elements (which Brooker labelled as “Red Mirror”), season 7 seems to focus more on technology and its potential impact on society.

The trailer for season 7 shows Peter Capaldi explaining a new “mind-expanding” technology, with characters attaching electronic discs to their temples.

In typical Black Mirror fashion, things quickly take a dark turn, with scenes showing characters with blood on their faces and behaving erratically.

One of the most exciting revelations is that season 7 will include a sequel to the fan-favourite (and my personal favourite) season 4 episode USS Callister.

This marks the first time in Black Mirror history that the show has directly revisited a previous storyline.

Cristin Milioti will be reprising her role as Nanette Cole, alongside other returning cast members from the original episode.

According to Brooker, season 7 will feature a mix of styles and genres: “Some of them are deeply unpleasant, some are quite funny, and some are emotional.”

He has also teased that one of the episodes is “one of the bleakest, heaviest gut punches yet” – which is saying something for a show known for its dark themes!

Black Mirror season 7 cast

The upcoming season boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including:

• Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, Criminal Record)
• Emma Corrin (The Crown, Deadpool & Wolverine)
• Issa Rae (Barbie, Insecure)
• Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, The IT Crowd)
• Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers, Billions)
• Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
• Awkwafina (Jackpot!)
• Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation, Sunny)
• Cristin Milioti (returning from USS Callister, The Penguin, Palm Springs)
• Billy Magnussen (returning from USS Callister)
• Jimmi Simpson (returning from USS Callister, Westworld, Dark Matter)
• Milanka Brooks (returning from USS Callister)
• Osy Ikhile (returning from USS Callister)
• Will Poulter (returning from Bandersnatch)
• Asim Chaudhry (returning from Bandersnatch)

What’s the best Black Mirror episode?

If you’re looking to revisit some of the series’ highlights before season 7 arrives, here’s a rundown of what many fans and critics consider to be the best Black Mirror episodes:

1. San Junipero (Season 3, Episode 4)

Often cited as the show’s most beloved episode, San Junipero is a rare Black Mirror story with an uplifting ending.

Set in a simulated reality where the elderly and dying can upload their consciousness to live forever, it follows the love story between Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) and Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw).

The episode won two Emmy Awards and stands out for its emotional depth, gorgeous 1980s aesthetic, and hopeful perspective on technology.

2. White Christmas (Season 2, Special)

This feature-length Christmas special starring Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall weaves together three dark tales about technology, isolation, and punishment.

The episode introduces the concept of “blocking” someone in real life and explores digital consciousness in ways that become increasingly disturbing.

The snowbound setting and devastating ending make it one of the series’ most memorable entries.

3. USS Callister (Season 4, Episode 1)

The episode that’s getting a sequel in season 7, USS Callister follows Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons), a brilliant but bitter programmer who creates digital clones of his coworkers in a Star Trek-esque video game where he can torment them.

Cristin Milioti shines as Nanette Cole, who leads a rebellion against their digital captor.

With its commentary on toxic fan culture, workplace harassment, and digital rights, it remains one of the show’s most relevant stories.

4. Black Museum (Season 4, Episode 6)

This anthology within an anthology features three interconnected stories about crime, punishment, and consciousness transfer technology.

Letitia Wright delivers a standout performance, and the episode serves as a sort of “greatest hits” of Black Mirror technology and references to previous episodes.

5. The Entire History of You (Season 1, Episode 3)

Written by Jesse Armstrong (creator of Succession), this early episode explores a world where everyone has a “grain” implant that records everything they see and hear, allowing memories to be replayed at will.

It follows a man whose obsession with reviewing his wife’s interactions leads to the unravelling of his marriage. Its exploration of jealousy, trust, and memory remains painfully relevant.

What’s the worst Black Mirror episode?

While “worst” is subjective when it comes to a show of this calibre, these episodes are generally considered the series’ weaker entries:

1. Mazey Day (Season 6, Episode 4)

The lowest-rated episode on IMDb (5.3/10), Mazey Day follows a paparazzi photographer (Zazie Beetz) hunting down a hidden actress for a £30,000 bounty.

The episode takes an unexpected supernatural turn that many fans felt was at odds with the show’s science-fiction roots.

2. Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too (Season 5, Episode 3)

Starring Miley Cyrus as pop star Ashley O, this episode about a teen fan and an AI doll containing the singer’s personality divided viewers.

Many found the plot too straightforward and the execution lacking the usual Black Mirror edge, despite Cyrus’s committed performance.

3. The Waldo Moment (Season 2, Episode 3)

Though this episode about a cartoon bear entering politics has become eerily prescient in recent years, it was initially considered one of the show’s weakest entries.

Creator Charlie Brooker has even acknowledged that the execution didn’t fully realise the concept’s potential.

Which is the scariest Black Mirror episode?

For those who enjoy being thoroughly disturbed, these episodes bring the psychological horror:

1. Playtest (Season 3, Episode 2)

Following a traveller (Wyatt Russell) who signs up to test an experimental augmented reality horror game, this episode is essentially Black Mirror’s take on a haunted house story.

The game taps into the player’s deepest fears, creating a nightmarish experience that blurs the line between reality and simulation. The ending delivers one of the series’ most effective gut punches.

2. White Bear (Season 2, Episode 2)

This episode about a woman who wakes up with amnesia, pursued by masked hunters while bystanders just film on their phones, builds to a horrifying revelation about justice, punishment, and entertainment.

Its unflinching look at public bloodlust and technological voyeurism makes it deeply unsettling.

3. Metalhead (Season 4, Episode 5)

Shot entirely in black and white, this stripped-down episode follows a woman fleeing from a relentless robotic “dog” in a post-apocalyptic landscape.

With minimal dialogue and maximum tension, it’s a pure survival horror story that feels uncomfortably plausible given advances in robotics.

My Favourite Black Mirror Episodes

White Christmas (S2.E4)

I’m never quite sure where this one’s going, but that’s what makes it such a brilliant watch.

It has that typical Black Mirror quality that keeps me glued to the screen. Jon Hamm is absolutely fantastic in it, and I love how the seemingly unconnected stories come together at the end.

The snowy setting creates such an eerie atmosphere that perfectly complements the disturbing themes.

USS Callister (S4.E1)

This is definitely one of my top episodes because it’s funny, intriguing, with genuinely great characters and a properly gripping storyline.

I think what I love most is that you don’t necessarily have to be a sci-fi enthusiast to enjoy it, though it certainly helps to appreciate certain elements.

Jesse Plemons is brilliantly creepy as the power-mad programmer, and Cristin Milioti is absolutely fantastic as the rebellious newcomer.

I cannot wait to see how they continue this story in Season 7.

Hang the DJ (S4.E4)

I found this one surprisingly touching amidst all the usual Black Mirror darkness.

There’s something so relatable about two people trying to find genuine connection in a system that’s meant to optimise relationships.

The chemistry between the leads feels so authentic, and I was genuinely rooting for them throughout.

It’s one of those episodes that left me feeling hopeful rather than disturbed, which makes it stand out in my memory.

Black Museum (S4.E6)

I found this one properly chilling and dark, but with enough twists to keep me absolutely riveted.

It’s like a greatest hits of Black Mirror’s most disturbing technologies all wrapped up in one location.

I particularly love how it builds to such a satisfying conclusion after taking you through increasingly unsettling scenarios.

It’s stuck with me more than most episodes, which is saying something for a series this memorable.

Loch Henry (S6.E2)

This isn’t your typical Black Mirror episode, and I know some viewers wonder what it’s even doing in the series, but I found it utterly compelling.

It’s definitely a slow burner, but the payoff with that massive twist is worth the wait.

As a fan of true crime documentaries, I really appreciated how it played with the format while adding that classic Black Mirror commentary.

Monica Dolan is absolutely brilliant in it – she’s excellent in everything she’s in, isn’t she?

Mazey Day (S6.E4)

While it’s not my absolute favourite and perhaps not very Black Mirror-ish in the traditional sense, I thoroughly enjoyed this one for its supernatural elements and that unexpected twist.

It feels like a bit of an outlier in the series, but sometimes that change of pace is exactly what you need.

The paparazzi storyline offers a different kind of commentary on technology and exploitation that still feels relevant to the show’s themes.

Do you need to watch Black Mirror seasons in order?

No, you don’t need to watch Black Mirror seasons in order. As an anthology series, each episode tells a completely separate story with different characters and settings.

While there are occasional easter eggs and references to other episodes, these aren’t essential to understanding the stories.

That said, certain episodes like Black Museum contain multiple references to previous episodes, and the upcoming USS Callister sequel in season 7 will be better appreciated if you’ve seen the original episode first.

If you’re new to the series, you might want to start with the more accessible episodes like San Junipero or Nosedive before diving into some of the darker entries.

What makes Black Mirror special?

What sets Black Mirror apart from other sci-fi shows is its focus on technology that feels just a few years away from reality.

Rather than dealing with distant futures or alien worlds, it explores how small advances in current technology might reshape our relationships, politics, and society.

The show’s title refers to the black screens of our phones, computers, and televisions when turned off—reflective surfaces that show us distorted versions of ourselves.

This metaphor runs through the entire series, as each episode holds up a mirror to our technology-obsessed society.

As we await season 7, it’s worth remembering Charlie Brooker’s words about the new episodes: “Lose your mind. Lose your reality.”

For a show that has consistently challenged our perceptions of technology and humanity, this ominous tagline suggests that the new season will push boundaries even further.

Whether you’re a longtime fan eager to return to this dystopian world or a newcomer curious about what all the fuss is about, Black Mirror season 7 promises to be a thought-provoking, disturbing, and utterly captivating viewing experience when it arrives on Netflix this April.