You won’t believe these Black Mirror episodes were inspired by real events

Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror has always thrived on nightmare fuel—twisted plots, bleak futures, and tech gone rogue. But while the show often feels like pure dystopian fiction, a surprising number of episodes are actually based on real-life events or inspired by moments you’d never expect. So, these are the Black Mirror episodes that draw inspiration from real-life events.

The National Anthem

via Netflix

The idea of a Prime Minister doing something unthinkable with a pig might sound familiar, but it wasn’t actually inspired by “piggate.” Instead, Brooker drew inspiration from a gross-out I’m A Celeb Bushtucker Trial where celebs faced humiliation for entertainment. Producer Annabel Jones explained it’s really about “the public’s appetite for humiliation.”

White Bear

via Netflix

This one’s twist makes it a hard watch, and the true crime influence behind it only makes it darker. Victoria’s backstory was loosely inspired by infamous UK murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. The filming-on-phones motif came from Brooker’s experience shooting Dead Set, where bystanders filmed a scene of zombies instead of reacting. Well, that eerie disconnect stuck with him.

Beyond the Sea

via Netflix

This retro space tragedy took notes from real events in more ways than one. So, Brooker said he got the idea for a cartoon bear running for office from imagining a digital figure like a Gorillaz character becoming a politician, and he based Waldo’s chaotic energy on Boris Johnson’s media persona.

The Waldo Moment

via Netflix

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A cartoon bear running for office might seem absurd—until you remember Boris Johnson exists. Brooker said the concept was partly sparked by the idea of a digital figure like a Gorillaz character becoming a politician, and he drew from Boris’ media personality for Waldo’s chaotic energy.

Hated in the Nation

via Netflix

The brutal hashtag backlash in this episode hits close to home for Brooker. After a satirical article he wrote in 2004 joking about President George W. Bush, he received death threats and had the piece pulled from The Guardian. That moment became the seed for #DeathTo.

Men Against Fire

via Netflix

This one takes its name from a real military study. Brigadier General S.L.A inspired Brooker. Marshall’s book Men Against Fire, which revealed that most WWII soldiers didn’t actually shoot at the enemy, either out of hesitation or psychological resistance.

Black Museum

via Netflix

That haunting story about the man who becomes addicted to pain? It was originally a short story written by magician Penn Jillette in 1988. Brooker got permission from Jillette to adapt the idea for Black Museum—and even brought him in to help develop the structure.

Smithereens

via Netflix

The social media CEO hiding out at a no-tech retreat wasn’t just a dramatic twist. Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, who did something eerily similar in real life, inspired it.

Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too

via Netflix

Brooker created the whole Ashley Eternal storyline as a reaction to the rise of hologram concerts for late artists like Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse.

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