Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 28, 2018
User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 277 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 192 out of 277
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 277
  3. Negative: 39 out of 277

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User Reviews

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  1. brockcheese
    Dec 29, 2018
    6
    While innovative for a Netflix idea the main theming is from a very meta sense and often it felt heavy handed with it not letting you make certain decisions.
  2. JohnBarry
    Dec 29, 2018
    1
    Bandersnatch starts out being somewhat entertaining and slow moving, typical for Netflix. Once the viewer has the ability to change the outcome, the story loses significance. Instead of anticipating one compelling ending, the viewer choses between five uninteresting ones. I've been better entertained watching paint dry.

    I have no patience watching a line cross the screen of my computer    Bandersnatch starts out being somewhat entertaining and slow moving, typical for Netflix. Once the viewer has the ability to change the outcome, the story loses significance. Instead of anticipating one compelling ending, the viewer choses between five uninteresting ones. I've been better entertained watching paint dry.

    I have no patience watching a line cross the screen of my computer as time is running out to do something on it. As a result of this aspect of the program, boredom is mixed with aggravation.

    The one true line in the story is when the main character tells his counsellor he is in a Netflix movie. The counsellor says it cannot be true because the main character and the things he is doing in the story are boring. That part of Bandersnatch was completely true.    … Expand
  3. buddhalou
    Jan 7, 2019
    6
    Kudos for taking a chance on the concept, which I'm sure we'll see more of, but I hope that in the future there's a bit more effort put into the other elements of the production aside from the gimmick.
  4. Tom_MS
    Dec 29, 2018
    10
    The point of this piece is so completely different from other Black Mirror episodes that it's hard to review this fairly in comparison to others. The writing falls short of excellent like some other episodes, but instead of a strict narrative, it is an interweaving web of choices whose structure makes its own point. Its chaos and abruptly ending timelines contribute to the perceivedThe point of this piece is so completely different from other Black Mirror episodes that it's hard to review this fairly in comparison to others. The writing falls short of excellent like some other episodes, but instead of a strict narrative, it is an interweaving web of choices whose structure makes its own point. Its chaos and abruptly ending timelines contribute to the perceived arbitrary nature of the choices you make. You don't know if you have explored all possibilities, but that's also the point in that it doesn't matter if you try to guide yourself down some path.
    Ultimately, Bandersnatch has many chilling scenes and it communicates its somewhat meta message effectively. As such, it is a disruptive and invasive experience for the viewer, which is what I have always wanted out of Black Mirror.    … Expand
  5. Sacriel
    Dec 28, 2018
    10
    I am a fan of Black Mirror series and tbh I didn't even know about this one. I saw an ad, or I don't recall what, and jumped right in.

    Man, I was mind-****ed, as I would be from a Black Mirror series thing. This fits the interactive-movie area 100% in my opinion. There were at least 3 moments, where I felt really "THIS IS GREAT" (Imagine me saying this in my head like a real psycho),    I am a fan of Black Mirror series and tbh I didn't even know about this one. I saw an ad, or I don't recall what, and jumped right in.

    Man, I was mind-****ed, as I would be from a Black Mirror series thing. This fits the interactive-movie area 100% in my opinion. There were at least 3 moments, where I felt really "THIS IS GREAT" (Imagine me saying this in my head like a real psycho), That doesn't mean the rest is bad - but the opposite!

    The overall system is working so good, you're not wasting time. I was strapped the first minute I got in, and can't wait to invite someone to my place to try this and see their reaction.

    Please, see, it's a great ride. Giving this less than 8 is somehow understandable (Not by me, this is great project, and should be continued), but giving under 5 (Like the 0-1 trolls) - not reasonable, and most likely not objective. They watched, selected something, it ended, and were like - "Meh". Yeah, then the don't know how these work, and that's it.    … Expand
  6. shoulderoforion
    Dec 30, 2018
    5
    "Choose your own" gimmicks aside, it was an ok episode, not great, not terrible, the 80's nostalgia make it better than bad. Hope the upcoming new Black Mirror season hits it out of the park, but basing it on last seasons disappointing eps, and the relative blandness of this entry, I'm not holding my breath.
  7. madarasi012
    Dec 29, 2018
    7
    I have no idea what Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is. It is something entirely new, a cross between a movie and an interactive, choose-your-own adventure–style game. Netflix’s episode description reads as follows: In 1984, a young programmer begins to question reality as he adapts a dark fantasy novel into a video game. A mind-bending tale with multiple endings.
    You may notice that Netflix    I have no idea what Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is. It is something entirely new, a cross between a movie and an interactive, choose-your-own adventure–style game. Netflix’s episode description reads as follows: In 1984, a young programmer begins to question reality as he adapts a dark fantasy novel into a video game. A mind-bending tale with multiple endings.
    You may notice that Netflix also states that Bandersnatch has a runtime of one hour and thirty minutes; this is a lie. I spent over six hours in Bandersnatch today, going through all of the ideas, plots, and scenes, and of one thing I’m certain: there’s quite a bit left to see. With five possible endings, over three hundred minutes worth of content, and a trillion possible scenarios, Bandersnatch definitely snatches my interest.
    The choices are wide-ranging, from what cereal to have for breakfast, what music to listen to (read: play in the background), to how best to dispose of his father’s body. There are numerous pathways, some more surreal than others; one in particular involving a certain familiar name had me in stitches through to the end. The choices are entertaining and you’ll find yourself going back, as I did, to see what you can do differently the next time around, and the answer might surprise you.
    However, when you get down to it, that’s what makes Bandersnatch work. If you take away the viewer’s involvement and the novelty of it all, what Bandersnatch tells is a fairly straightforward story of a young boy with mental health issues who wants to make a video game, and then ends up killing his father and possibly another programmer as well. There’s a bit thrown in there about free will and all of that, and about how everyone’s actions are controlled and there’s really no free will to begin with, but there’s no real depth to it. It’s more for lipservice than anything else. That being said, I can think of no better starting point for interactive shows than Black Mirror, nor can I think of a better meta-fest entry than this one. I mean, it’s a choose-your-own adventure–style movie about a guy obsessed with a choose-your-own adventure–style book making a choose-your-own adventure–style game. Bandersnatch loves to dive deep into the meta-hole, with certain paths involving the lead actively resisting your commands and convinced that he is being controlled by an outside force. There is even one particularly hilarious path that has the direct involvement of the viewer that I enjoyed immensely.
    Above all else, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is wildly entertaining and morbid and, although we’ve come to expect a higher standard of storytelling from Black Mirror (cough-San Junipero-cough), Bandersnatch grabs you with its novelty and manages to impress with its technical prowess, if not as much its story.    … Expand
  8. MoviesForever
    Dec 28, 2018
    5
    I am not sure if this episode of Black Mirror is nothing short of genius or blatantly and shockingly bad. Despite, it is just overwhelmingly underwhelming, anticlimactic and overly disappointing.
  9. dwillow
    Dec 28, 2018
    10
    It's genius, on many levels. Daring in concept and as always with Black Mirror gorgeous to look at and slick in execution, nice location touches the elephant, Croydon and goldfinger tower in London. I watched it on my own for ten mins then stopped and forced it on my family just now...like a twisted Christmas family board game, passing the control on each question and my parents despairingIt's genius, on many levels. Daring in concept and as always with Black Mirror gorgeous to look at and slick in execution, nice location touches the elephant, Croydon and goldfinger tower in London. I watched it on my own for ten mins then stopped and forced it on my family just now...like a twisted Christmas family board game, passing the control on each question and my parents despairing at my choices and me latterly smiling at a twist. It was pure magic and my Christmas highlight. We'll see more of these as you can't copy them onto a streaming site... modern, subversive, superb.… Expand
  10. Jee_
    Jan 1, 2019
    0
    Garbage. There's too much wrong with this film to adequately right down what I think about it, I've tried multiple times...

    So I'm just going to leave this here. It's crap, no actual story whatsoever, the choose your own path thing is irritating and hurts the film more than it helps (seriously, watch one of the ripped versions of it where you don't make the choices, it gets its point    Garbage. There's too much wrong with this film to adequately right down what I think about it, I've tried multiple times...

    So I'm just going to leave this here. It's crap, no actual story whatsoever, the choose your own path thing is irritating and hurts the film more than it helps (seriously, watch one of the ripped versions of it where you don't make the choices, it gets its point across far better, although its still crap).

    The creator is clearly far more interested in getting a "message" across to the audience than actually writing a story so you don't get one. Piss poor    … Expand
  11. Cameron1959
    Dec 28, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I feel like this film had a lot of potential, yet threw it all away for the sake of gimmick. The concept behind it was great, but halfway through I got bored as things started to go off the rails. This film is praised for being creative and innovative, but I feel it should be judged for its content and writing just as much as the idea behind it. Compared to other Black Mirror episodes, Bandersnatch simply falls short, and I am a huge fan of Black Mirror so I was incredibly disappointed by this.
    I feel like the flaws in this story would become obvious if choose your own adventure stories become more common. I was also annoyed by the fact they kept throwing in simple philosophy about determinism into the mix to make the film seem deeper than it is. These elements should unfold naturally, not in drug-fueled ramblings that seem nearly comical in nature.
    Overall, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone that enjoys deep storytelling, but if cheesy stories are your thing you might enjoy it.    … Expand
  12. Rattazustra
    Dec 31, 2018
    0
    25 years ago they tried to sell things like this as PC games. Stuff like *Critical Path*. Back then, pretty much everyone agreed that this was not enjoyable and the concept fell into a coma. I actually assumed it to have died, but now here we go again.

    The problem with choose your own adventure books, games and movies, is that they tell weak stories and they are inferior to other    25 years ago they tried to sell things like this as PC games. Stuff like *Critical Path*. Back then, pretty much everyone agreed that this was not enjoyable and the concept fell into a coma. I actually assumed it to have died, but now here we go again.

    The problem with choose your own adventure books, games and movies, is that they tell weak stories and they are inferior to other mediums that do a far better job at the same thing. Roleplaying games, be it computer based or pen and paper, are far better in the actual choice department, while choose your own adventure books beat things like Bandersnatch with the number of prefabricated options.

    Worst thing though is that Bandersnatch is lying right off the start. The first two choices are meaningless, but the very third choice already is a binary right/wrong choice. If you do not choose what the creaters want you to choose, it is over and you can try again. This time you may "decide" to choose the other option. In behavioral studies, this is called conditioning and it has nothing to do with choice or free will, let alone with excitement.    … Expand
  13. Theghostgamebr
    Dec 28, 2018
    10
    Giving less than an 8 for this movie is ridiculous. If you complain that it seems unfinished you are totally wrong, its obvious that it is impossible to create an infinite range of possibilities because of your choices and netflix did an incredible work at dealing with it.
    On top of that its an amazing movie that you can watch more than one time. Strongly recommend.
  14. Milkman128
    Dec 28, 2018
    10
    exceptionally well done. For the medium and the idea of it its a stellar piece. Does a great job exploring choice and lack there of.
    The "endings" varied greatly but still kept with the theme of the story/black mirror.

    It appears all the negative reviews miss the point of the film or haven't explored it properly.
  15. Rtheom
    Dec 28, 2018
    6
    This was mildly interesting. It wasn't quite on par with the higher end stories of the regular Black Mirror season shows, and it wasn't really a "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure", it was more "choose until you make the right decision and see a bad ending whenever you don't and start over". There was a lot of potential here, particularly for messing with the viewer, but it feels like they wentThis was mildly interesting. It wasn't quite on par with the higher end stories of the regular Black Mirror season shows, and it wasn't really a "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure", it was more "choose until you make the right decision and see a bad ending whenever you don't and start over". There was a lot of potential here, particularly for messing with the viewer, but it feels like they went the cautious route because they were unsure how the audience would react to an "interactive" movie in the first place.

    The acting was serviceable, the overall plot was generic, and overall it was enjoyable, but hardly groundbreaking. If they do this again, hopefully they'll have the guts to really get into the viewer's head and make us think.    … Expand
  16. zoeadvance
    Dec 28, 2018
    2
    A confusing mess of ideas that don't add up to a solid point. A real shame considering it's source material. Fans will eat it up because of the name attached, but it pales in comparison to the rest of the black mirror line up. Hopefully a full season with better, more cohesive stories will turn up at some point. Until then, I am disappointed and disgruntled at the decision to put so muchA confusing mess of ideas that don't add up to a solid point. A real shame considering it's source material. Fans will eat it up because of the name attached, but it pales in comparison to the rest of the black mirror line up. Hopefully a full season with better, more cohesive stories will turn up at some point. Until then, I am disappointed and disgruntled at the decision to put so much effort into something that didn't hit the mark.… Expand
  17. tiaga
    Dec 28, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So Black Mirror... where to begin. The shows have always been a hit or miss depending on your preferences. Some of the show I absolutely loved, and some make me feel like I just wasted 45 minutes of my life. 2 things that tied the shows together was Easter eggs from previous shows and social media.
    Since social media was absent back in 1984, this choose your own adventure episode was fresh and new. The closer to the end you get, the crazier the decisions you made ranging from choosing your favorite cereal to fighting you female ninja psychiatrist.

    I give this a 10 for the creativeness of the producers :P    … Expand
  18. BioTofu
    Jan 6, 2019
    7
    Well, that was an interesting experience that reminded me of John Scalzi’s Redshirts. It was more a video game than a movie so the movie succeeded there (given thats what the movie tried to do), but as a movie, it was pretty lacking. The story was unfocused in telling its story and I felt like I did not see a complete movie by the time when the credits rolled.

    The story telling was very    Well, that was an interesting experience that reminded me of John Scalzi’s Redshirts. It was more a video game than a movie so the movie succeeded there (given thats what the movie tried to do), but as a movie, it was pretty lacking. The story was unfocused in telling its story and I felt like I did not see a complete movie by the time when the credits rolled.

    The story telling was very innovative and that was enabled because of technological advancement. But when you think about it, many choose your own adventure video games like Telltale’s The Walking Dead series and Life Is Stranger have done it much much better. I look forward to making decisions in the game but when ever the situation occurs, the movie basically just stops for 10sec for the audience to “play” the movie. I get it, its for the audience who arent used to this kinda thing. But for me who plays video game, it really breaks the story’s momentum. In The Walking Dead, things are still happening on screen while you have to rush to a decision, which felt a lot more organic. The first 10mins of the movie was so removed from the rest of the movie because it was kind of a tutorial.

    It was an interesting experiment and the use of the this choose your own adventure tech was fun.    … Expand
  19. B_Bronco
    Jan 4, 2019
    10
    The point of Bandersnatch isn't the story itself, but how the story unfolds and how the viewer interacts with it. This show brings together some basic theories of free will, parallel realities, philosophy, and psychology. These elements are easily noticed within the film itself, but what isn't as apparent is how the show forces the viewer to play into the same principles. In most scenesThe point of Bandersnatch isn't the story itself, but how the story unfolds and how the viewer interacts with it. This show brings together some basic theories of free will, parallel realities, philosophy, and psychology. These elements are easily noticed within the film itself, but what isn't as apparent is how the show forces the viewer to play into the same principles. In most scenes you are presented with 2 choices to pick from in order to chose your path. This presents one of the largest areas of complaints from many people "well I'd chose something else!" The thing that isn't noticed by these people is that, like a character in the movie, you don't get to chose from anything that you want, you don't have total free will. It is through these choices that the show makes you feel like you are controlling the characters, but in reality, the show is controlling you, giving you an artificial false dichotomy which provides the illusion of free will, and puts you into the role of the characters that you are watching. If you want to just watch something creepy or thrilling, go watch the normal black mirror episodes. If you want to interact with something that provides an interesting thought experiment and a novel experience, watch Bandersnatch.

    Also, main character is a really good example of how someone progresses from the early stages of schizophrenia to full blown psychosis.    … Expand
  20. Nerghal
    Dec 28, 2018
    9
    The interactivity is much more than a gimmick, and integrates excellently with both the theme and the subject of the movie. Loved it, especially that when you get an 'ending' and you roll back, the ending that you rewinded from is still remembered and used elsewhere in the movie.
  21. hugoreal10
    Dec 28, 2018
    2
    Meh, such a disaster. I was expecting much more from a Black Mirror episode.
  22. TheCitCatGod
    Dec 28, 2018
    2
    I've played a lot of interactive stories over the last 10 years, bandersnatch manages to feel as a proper black mirror episode but it's one of the worst interactive story structures I've seen. Apart from the Stanley Parable.

    It's a good attempt, but I have to say I was disappointed. Some parts of the story were completely detached from the main story and certain characters disappeared    I've played a lot of interactive stories over the last 10 years, bandersnatch manages to feel as a proper black mirror episode but it's one of the worst interactive story structures I've seen. Apart from the Stanley Parable.

    It's a good attempt, but I have to say I was disappointed. Some parts of the story were completely detached from the main story and certain characters disappeared and came back to life depending on completely unrelated decisions.

    It seems like the writers did not get enough time.    … Expand
  23. gabrieI
    Jan 2, 2019
    4
    Choices aren't totally gimmick, in fact they change how the story continues. I just feel that sometimes there are alternatives you think that don't need to be taken. Didn't like that if you choose the "wrong option", movie just tell you to go back and take the other alternative. Unfortunately my final was ridiculous.
  24. saitama-man
    Dec 28, 2018
    0
    Ok Netflix, you tried.
    If it is an interactive product, the least you can expect is that each path has some kind of connection between your decisions and something makes sense. Bandersnatch fails (and a lot) in that.
    Several endings that leave the viewer simply not understanding anything about what happened, much less how their decisions affected the story, aside from several holes in    Ok Netflix, you tried.
    If it is an interactive product, the least you can expect is that each path has some kind of connection between your decisions and something makes sense. Bandersnatch fails (and a lot) in that.
    Several endings that leave the viewer simply not understanding anything about what happened, much less how their decisions affected the story, aside from several holes in the script (which become so obvious that they do not even have to be listed). Bandersnatch seems much more an incomplete work and a film that was "extended" to become interactive than a really "special episode" Black Mirror. For example, one of the first decisions you make is simply not planned and takes you to an immediate end, that's not how you make an interactive product. Maybe if the project was better planned at the end the result would be better. The only positive point is the acting of the actors, but the poor execution of the plot can throw all this down the drain.
    Black Mirror deserved much more than that, unfortunately the result is totally disappointing.    … Expand
  25. PSYTURKEY
    Dec 28, 2018
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A barely coherent narrative that forgets to actually make sense in pursuit of allowing watchers to decide what it was about.

    The team behind this clearly wanted this to be a case where the watcher could decide what was really happening in their own head-cannon. The problem here is that instead of leaning into ambiguous themes and endings the show decided to force the viewer to do the work of making sense of the show altogether. This might have worked had the show not contradicted itself at nearly every ending. Some endings play it straight with the main character jailed for committing crimes, others end abruptly with the main character implied to have been killed by a literal demon, others end with the main character in a karate fight with his therapist who suddenly produces a pair of battons with which to fight it out martial arts style. And that's to say nothing of the ending where the main character ends up in the real world amidst filming of the aforementioned fight scene very much in character while his director berates him for deviating from the script.

    At times the show appears to be commenting on the nature of free will, others it waxes on about the permanence of reality amid a not so theoretical set of alternate timelines. Sometimes we appear to be watching the hallucinations of a rapidly deteriorating mind, others we appear to be watching someone struggle as some mysterious technology from the distant year of 2018 forces them to make bad decisions and others the show seems to just shrug and a literal demon kills the main character.

    At it's best it's an ambitious project that forgot it actually had to be internally consistent, at it's worst it's an enormous meta wink at the audience that feels not just out of place but down right confusing.

    Black mirror is often thought provoking, but this particular episode just didn't make enough sense - I found myself asking a lot of questions, not because the episode had anything profound to say but because it simply wasn't coherent one ending to the next.

    I'm baffled to see so many positive reviews for this poorly executed gimmick, don't waste your time - Bandersnatch isn't coherent, much less an enjoyable viewing experience.    … Expand
  26. AutumnMarie
    Dec 30, 2018
    3
    This does not compare to the series. I loved the seasons but Bandersnatch left me disappointed. I disliked having to rewind and watch the same thing over so that I can pick what I was supposed to pick. It started to get boring.
  27. javimera97
    Dec 29, 2018
    4
    Please, ¿can people stop saying hoy innovative they think this is? Graphic novels, such as Steins;gate, have been allowing us to interact with the story and to decide how things will turn out for ages, but it's not until an american streaming service does it that people recognize it.
  28. tstan
    Dec 28, 2018
    9
    I think considering this a gimmick in the way some people are is a disservice to what's actually being done by this film.

    This film uses conceits from the plot as a means of generating the relevance of the mechanic rather than deciding on the mechanic and creating the rest to match. To this end, I actually think this achieves a great deal as a media concept piece. Every element seems to    I think considering this a gimmick in the way some people are is a disservice to what's actually being done by this film.

    This film uses conceits from the plot as a means of generating the relevance of the mechanic rather than deciding on the mechanic and creating the rest to match. To this end, I actually think this achieves a great deal as a media concept piece. Every element seems to further every other element.

    I find it quite jarring exactly how stupid some of the reviews and criticisms have been.

    Wondering why this film uses choose your own adventure as Variety did in its review is so shockingly stupid. What other form would it take? The mechanic is a scaffold for everything to do with the film. It's not really an inclusion so much as an integral part of the structure of the experience. Perhaps they said it so they could review this film as if it didn't include the mechanic. Under this pretense, then one can surely justify the criticisms found throughout the piece which otherwise ignore the medium altogether.

    CNN belittled the philosophy of Colin as if it was actually the same as the philosophy of the film. They compare it to the musings of a drug-addled teenage, somehow missing that in context they actually were the musings of a drug-addled teenager, or rather the delusions of a mentally-ill drug-addled teenager. What a grand statement for CNN to make. How marvelously clever of a criticism!

    More than likely this is a symptom of something else. This is a symptom of a review culture that systematically derides anything it sees as video game-esque. Leave it to this review industry to totally overlook a cheeky usage of a medium that is otherwise gimmicky in a way that is actually integral to the function of the narrative.

    Indiewire seems to be, admirably, not so obnoxiously self-serious and pontificating to the extent that they actually seemed able to receive the experience of this film.    … Expand
  29. MrPositive
    Dec 29, 2018
    10
    This is simply one of the most amazing feats in television innovations ever conceived. Period!
  30. Mathzin
    Dec 28, 2018
    6
    Yeah, all this buzz by being an interactive episode it's amazing and i truly loved this idea of choices. But i expected a connection in my choices and actions. Couldn't find that. The end it's just thrown at our face. They don't even try to explain why that action lead to that moment or action that Stefan taken. Actually a true mistake that can be forgotten by the glorious innovation thatYeah, all this buzz by being an interactive episode it's amazing and i truly loved this idea of choices. But i expected a connection in my choices and actions. Couldn't find that. The end it's just thrown at our face. They don't even try to explain why that action lead to that moment or action that Stefan taken. Actually a true mistake that can be forgotten by the glorious innovation that netflix made.… Expand
  31. longjetty7
    Jan 2, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First off I think the idea of an interactive movie is really cool. I'm really impressed with how well-done Bandersnatch was and can only imagine how much effort went into it. I enjoyed the fact that the story was very meta, so the interactivity didn't seem too gimmicky and felt more like a necessary part of the story.

    That being said, the actual plot wasn't overly interesting and it also got kind of confusing. I didn't like the fact that some choices you make change things earlier on in the movie. I feel like that was a bit too complicated, and it makes it hard to go back and watch all the parts you missed the first time.

    Anyway, overall a very cool idea. I'm glad I checked it out but can't say I would watch it again.    … Expand
  32. S1y
    Dec 29, 2018
    9
    A true valid milestone from Blackmirror's series. Don't just watch one time and think you have seen it all. Just continue iterating and explore all possibilities, and I mean ALL OF THEM.
    The caption says 1h30min, I spent at least 4 hours to try every single path and combinations.
    Well done! I'm not giving 10/10 just because some paths, that are hard to find (like the phone number and the    A true valid milestone from Blackmirror's series. Don't just watch one time and think you have seen it all. Just continue iterating and explore all possibilities, and I mean ALL OF THEM.
    The caption says 1h30min, I spent at least 4 hours to try every single path and combinations.
    Well done! I'm not giving 10/10 just because some paths, that are hard to find (like the phone number and the JFD code) leads to disappointing results.    … Expand
  33. BulgarianCritic
    Dec 31, 2018
    10
    Black Mirror creators did it again.Another brilliantly and interesting part movie part game that will make you question every choice that you make.Even people who have never watched black mirror would enjoy this.Go play/watch it nawoh
  34. NathanH
    Jan 7, 2019
    10
    I really enjoyed this creative piece enough to give it a ten, open a Metacritic account, and write a brief review. It was both comedic, chilling at times, suspenseful, mysterious and defiantly retro! Going forward, imagine if viewers not only chose between a set of options, but could (request outcomes, share ideas via some sort of real-time chat) across seasons collectively guiding aI really enjoyed this creative piece enough to give it a ten, open a Metacritic account, and write a brief review. It was both comedic, chilling at times, suspenseful, mysterious and defiantly retro! Going forward, imagine if viewers not only chose between a set of options, but could (request outcomes, share ideas via some sort of real-time chat) across seasons collectively guiding a series. Netflix staff could navigate through the input to build the series episode by episode with various outcomes like Bandersnatch, except with community subscriber-ship participation and trending recommendations incorporated into the next episode....… Expand
  35. NuMystic
    Jan 2, 2019
    9
    An absolutely superb offering from Black Mirror even judged completely outside of the interactive aspect. Anyone complaining that they didn't have a freer hand in making certain choices ENTIRELY missed the powerful, poignant, and chilling subtext of the entire dramatic piece.
  36. spacecog
    Jan 1, 2019
    9
    Blown away by the amount of negativity from other reviews. Is it the greatest thing ever? No. But it is a new thing - a new format that should be embraced for it's sprawling possibilities. This is not the end state of this medium, nor the first of it's kind, this is a significant evolution.

    Some of the reviewers speak about being railroaded... I suspect they didn't dig too deeply. In    Blown away by the amount of negativity from other reviews. Is it the greatest thing ever? No. But it is a new thing - a new format that should be embraced for it's sprawling possibilities. This is not the end state of this medium, nor the first of it's kind, this is a significant evolution.

    Some of the reviewers speak about being railroaded... I suspect they didn't dig too deeply. In fact, an article on wired.com the creators said that they wanted to be sure choices were being made and have an early ending in there for people who only do the default choices. I can confirm the choices do make a difference and there is a deeper message.

    It's well made, well acted, unpredictable, and undeniably Black Mirror. It's not the best episode (there have been masterpieces!) But it is a very cool one, and a game changer! I'm hoping it'll get enough positive response to see this become a regular thing at Netflix, for people like me, who enjoy well-crafted malleable stories!    … Expand
  37. NikolayG
    Dec 30, 2018
    2
    Because Black Mirror is popular, many people will see Bandersnatch who have never experienced an interactive movie before, but interactive movies have been around since the 1980s. In fact, one was released just a couple of months ago. It's called Late Shift and it's a whole lot better than this tedious Black Mirror episode, clearly the worst of all Black Mirror episodes to date. Several ofBecause Black Mirror is popular, many people will see Bandersnatch who have never experienced an interactive movie before, but interactive movies have been around since the 1980s. In fact, one was released just a couple of months ago. It's called Late Shift and it's a whole lot better than this tedious Black Mirror episode, clearly the worst of all Black Mirror episodes to date. Several of the "choices" lead to the same result regardless of which you choose. This is a pretty awful, snail's paced, way to spend an hour or two. Not recommended.… Expand
  38. yozh
    Jan 3, 2019
    10
    This movie is about 3 things:

    1. Interaction. You don’t watch The Bandersnatch - you play it. You are invited to actively invest your mind into the process. If you won’t - be prepared to experience boredom and annoyance. 2. Self-awareness. “It’s not a bug, it’s a feature” - the movie’s flaws (choice without real choice or seemingly useless repeats of already played footage) are    This movie is about 3 things:

    1. Interaction. You don’t watch The Bandersnatch - you play it. You are invited to actively invest your mind into the process. If you won’t - be prepared to experience boredom and annoyance.

    2. Self-awareness. “It’s not a bug, it’s a feature” - the movie’s flaws (choice without real choice or seemingly useless repeats of already played footage) are intended because they tell a story. It’s rewarding to recognize irritation when you feel it because as soon as you analyze why you feel it - you’ll be instantly provided with a deeper perception of the situation you are in.

    3. Ultimately, imagination. The Bandersnatch provokes thought process and in the end it’s the picture you build inside your head is what is so fascinating.

    It’s not really that good of a movie if you judge it by the standards of conventional movies. However, I give it 10 simply because I rated it 0 in the previous run and I want to see the consequences this choice has.    … Expand
  39. Zukku
    Jan 9, 2019
    6
    It was fine. I like the innovative feel of being in control. But it felt as if there was no way. Whenever i wanted to to something, i never had the choice. I only had the choice of bad and worse. I guess others had good endings, and i really tried, but at first i think i got the worst ending. It felt too random and too fragmented. I never quite understood what the story was about.. TheIt was fine. I like the innovative feel of being in control. But it felt as if there was no way. Whenever i wanted to to something, i never had the choice. I only had the choice of bad and worse. I guess others had good endings, and i really tried, but at first i think i got the worst ending. It felt too random and too fragmented. I never quite understood what the story was about.. The guy? Insanity? Alternate universes? Us vs him? What is going on.… Expand
  40. eagleeyeviking
    Jan 6, 2019
    7
    While the interactive elements work better as a gimmick than a storytelling device, "Bandersnatch" is nevertheless a relatively plotted "Black Mirror" episode with a message to tell.
  41. Sankarri
    Jan 21, 2019
    8
    Story re-frames itself over and over, keeps it interesting and surprising.
    Might trigger some anxiety.
  42. TicTacTaco
    Jan 6, 2019
    4
    Has some interesting ideas, but ultimately, due to its very nature, it doesn't commit enough to any of them. It does have some cool moments, but they're few and far between. Too many of the themes are incredibly on the nose as well. The characters are fine, but nothing special.
  43. SrPepe
    Jan 12, 2019
    8
    Lo de los caminos es una idea increíble que siempre soñe con verlo en una película de verdad. Los temas que toca son muy oscuros y a veces hasta profundos, con unos grandes personajes y varios plot-twist inesperados, con originalidad y gracia al mismo tiempo.
  44. Jonny2nice
    Jan 2, 2019
    9
    A TV Series that takes a chance to innovate with the interactive movie approach! Great first effort Netflix! Keep them coming.
  45. KeenWatcher
    Feb 19, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fun, but probably plays on the game too much, choose your own adventure should never be so interactive. I think that's the key, being able to choose without you being involved… Expand
  46. AdamBeam
    Feb 12, 2019
    9
    Black Mirror is the modern Twilight Zone (you know before the new Twilight Zone) and constantly brings new and genuinely unnerving concepts to the table, showing the dark side of technology. And now they're changing the game again with this new choose your own adventure style movie. While only considered an episode of the series, I see it as a movie, as you could spend hours trying allBlack Mirror is the modern Twilight Zone (you know before the new Twilight Zone) and constantly brings new and genuinely unnerving concepts to the table, showing the dark side of technology. And now they're changing the game again with this new choose your own adventure style movie. While only considered an episode of the series, I see it as a movie, as you could spend hours trying all the different combinations of paths to take. Bandersnatch takes full opportunity with its concept and instead of using it as a cheap gimmick and instead goes all the way and plays it into the story perfectly. The only problem I have is mostly a nitpick, I do feel that there were a few times that some of the paths had the same ending too many times, while it would've been complicated by I could have used a few more different endings. Nevertheless Bandersnatch is impressive and goes all the way with the idea, and is incredibly entertaining and one that everyone should experience at some point or another.… Expand
  47. Daymo007
    Jan 8, 2019
    6
    interesting concept but I felt this movie lacked a decent storyline. Whatever ending you get you will feel a little underwhelmed when the credits roll. I still hope to see more movies like this
  48. Rudyger
    Dec 30, 2018
    2
    Dear hipsters and millenials, did you know that this interactive experience has existed for decades in books? The reason why it didn't really break through the market is the same reason why Bandersnatch is bad: This is too restricted. You feel like you have the choice, but in reality, it's just an illusion of choice. If you go onto a path the author doesn't want you to go, then it's gameDear hipsters and millenials, did you know that this interactive experience has existed for decades in books? The reason why it didn't really break through the market is the same reason why Bandersnatch is bad: This is too restricted. You feel like you have the choice, but in reality, it's just an illusion of choice. If you go onto a path the author doesn't want you to go, then it's game over and you have to rewind. I wish someday, we'll see a fully complete interactive experience, without any gameover, without knowing what you did wrong. This would make an incredible rewatchable potential for the movie. But that means to shoot hundreds of scenes and alternative endings.… Expand
  49. johnfernow
    Jan 3, 2019
    1
    I should start off by saying I really like interactive movies: I greatly enjoyed the interactive movie "Late Shift" and would highly recommend it to other people. Bandersnatch was in no way an enjoyable interactive film for me though. I have not seen all Black Mirror episodes, but I've seen a handful and think they often have great themes. My biggest complaint with this episode has to beI should start off by saying I really like interactive movies: I greatly enjoyed the interactive movie "Late Shift" and would highly recommend it to other people. Bandersnatch was in no way an enjoyable interactive film for me though. I have not seen all Black Mirror episodes, but I've seen a handful and think they often have great themes. My biggest complaint with this episode has to be the theme though, which I won't spoil. Aside from the theme, being given the option to change your decisions makes the decision making pointless: it means there are no consequences for your decisions, as well as no feelings associated with those choices, since you can just change them. In "Late Shift" (at least the PC version), you cannot change your decisions without restarting from the beginning. That can leave you with a bad ending, but it leaves you thinking about your decisions and where you went wrong. I give 1 star for them choosing to experiment, particularly in a manner that has been shown to create enjoyable content, but the implementation was not enjoyable for me.… Expand
  50. WizardOfCoke
    Feb 18, 2019
    9
    I do not want to give anything away to those that have very little insight into Bandersnatch as it is perfect when you know absolutely nothing about it, I went into it knowing nothing and I struggled to leave almost as if I had an impulse making me watch on and see the multiple choices, and if you don't understand that reference you've not put enough time into watching Bandersnatch.I do not want to give anything away to those that have very little insight into Bandersnatch as it is perfect when you know absolutely nothing about it, I went into it knowing nothing and I struggled to leave almost as if I had an impulse making me watch on and see the multiple choices, and if you don't understand that reference you've not put enough time into watching Bandersnatch.

    it's genius the concept itself is not new we've seen games from companies like Telltale and Quantum Dreams and earlier this year I was stunned by Detroit: Become Human, but now I'm questioning everything as this was incredible and I can't compare it to the quality of any of piece of media it has the creepy factor you've come to expect from Black Mirror but with you making each choice it just feels that much more intense.

    Many people may critique the parts where you're "Wrong" and have to go back but you get the option to watch the credits from that option it just means that journey was far shorter, and it knows about this many of your "resets" are referenced and every time they referenced it I was stunned by the levels of interactivity because they don't have to add that detail but with the detail it just makes me want to replay it over and over to see what happens in each of the different realities, truly a work of art, go watch it now.

    My one issue is I would've like to see more big style endings but I was still happy with the ones we did have.    … Expand
  51. Vitor007
    Jan 11, 2019
    5
    Complicated and without much sense. In this episode of Black Mirror, the setting of how choices are made and the options to go back to try other ways, make the movie totally lost. The difficulty many find in fully understanding the transmitted message is not trivial. The film was self-taught with this model that was presented to us. His script has potential, so the "fault" would be theComplicated and without much sense. In this episode of Black Mirror, the setting of how choices are made and the options to go back to try other ways, make the movie totally lost. The difficulty many find in fully understanding the transmitted message is not trivial. The film was self-taught with this model that was presented to us. His script has potential, so the "fault" would be the junction that Netflix tried to emulate. Maybe Black Mirror does not have adequate stories for these patterns of interaction. Both Black Mirror and interactive productions are good, but not as a "couple". For new interactive productions to be made, it is best that everything be rethought, without junctions with lack of cohesion. 5.8/10… Expand
  52. goncalocouto
    Dec 31, 2018
    8
    "Bandersnatch" pode parecer confuso, porque existem vários finais possíveis, mas o tema da história do filme-episódio continua a ser "bem Black Mirror". Em geral, foi uma experiência muito interessante.
    8/10
  53. radi0star
    Jan 3, 2019
    8
    Choose Your Own Adventure goes mainstream with Charlie Brooker's BANDERSNATCH. The interactive "gameplay" is simple, yet involving and manages to deliver both on desired options and the Black Mirror type of techno-horror. Even the most definitive endings are very open and leave a lot to the interpretation, but it comes off as a strength, not a weakness.

    The only two downsides of the    Choose Your Own Adventure goes mainstream with Charlie Brooker's BANDERSNATCH. The interactive "gameplay" is simple, yet involving and manages to deliver both on desired options and the Black Mirror type of techno-horror. Even the most definitive endings are very open and leave a lot to the interpretation, but it comes off as a strength, not a weakness.

    The only two downsides of the movie for me had been the abundance of easter eggs referencing other episodes (I'm still not sure whenever to embrace it as a feature tying the series together or just fanservice) and the limited rewind functionality. Interactive story video games such as Life is Strange or Detroit: Become Human allow rewinding multiple decisions and in the case of the latter even provide an interactive branch allowing to rewind to specific choices, while BANDERSNATCH rewind points are hard-coded by the creators. The points are well placed, but multiple times I've had to restart the movie and forward to change a single decision because the rewind points were not optimal. This is indeed annoying because a save system exists on the back end, it's just not fleshed out to fully functional one like the one in Detroit.

    Either way, a solid episode made impressive by staying true to the series while branching into a new genre.    … Expand
  54. Steezyeet
    Dec 30, 2018
    9
    Really entertaining Interactive Film with a nice plot. Not really on the highest levels of the Series but still really great. The fighting scene was a bit too off for my taste but other than that its really good.
  55. kevin1327
    Jan 3, 2019
    9
    This is a really cool piece: it's very innovative and I hope more like it are made. Many of the "problems" with it are a result of considering it as a standard tv show: it's not, and should not be considered that way. It's not supposed to be completely obvious and explained, the point is through by viewing the various path one begins to understand the overall narrative. The mysteriousThis is a really cool piece: it's very innovative and I hope more like it are made. Many of the "problems" with it are a result of considering it as a standard tv show: it's not, and should not be considered that way. It's not supposed to be completely obvious and explained, the point is through by viewing the various path one begins to understand the overall narrative. The mysterious aspect works well for this medium, even if it would not do the same for a standard tv show, because this is a different medium.… Expand
  56. Capanegra1
    Jan 5, 2019
    8
    Good startpoint in this new way to interact with picture. As a movie, their argument is kind of predictable, though, interesting.

    Decision trees seems a little forced to show different arguments and takes you out of the movie immersion. i think with time this concept will improve. in conclusion. A good movie, interesting decision tree innovation considering its the first of the kind    Good startpoint in this new way to interact with picture. As a movie, their argument is kind of predictable, though, interesting.

    Decision trees seems a little forced to show different arguments and takes you out of the movie immersion. i think with time this concept will improve.

    in conclusion. A good movie, interesting decision tree innovation considering its the first of the kind i have seen.    … Expand
  57. PKfayah
    Jan 8, 2019
    9
    The best thing that Black Mirror mades after USS Callister and is very innovating, the finals are very insane but awesome my congratulations to all the team that make this possible
  58. BrownCowboy28
    Jan 26, 2019
    1
    This movie was the worst piece of garbage I have ever seen in my entire life, and I work at a landfill. You're constantly brought back to the same scene over and over again and everything seems to be replayed until you can finally just end it. Accidently type in the wrong number? Too bad. There is no way to fix it. The movie started out decent but quickly changed directions to the pointThis movie was the worst piece of garbage I have ever seen in my entire life, and I work at a landfill. You're constantly brought back to the same scene over and over again and everything seems to be replayed until you can finally just end it. Accidently type in the wrong number? Too bad. There is no way to fix it. The movie started out decent but quickly changed directions to the point where you felt like you were being sucked into a black hole of boredom. If you want to use your mouse/controller for something interactive, use it to click on a different movie.… Expand
  59. likegame-movies
    Jan 28, 2019
    10
    must watch! only look up endings if you don't get the possibility to relive again (if credits roll then you can't relive)
  60. Mihael131
    Mar 27, 2019
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Black Mirror, a Netflix unconventional movie where it is eclatant Netflix is making a commercial for itself which is I can admit something very odd, not in a negative way but unusual. It's a part where Charlie is asking who is there and then he sees a message telling him what's Netflix. „I am watching you on Netflix. I make decisions for you“. It could spoil a movie, you just don't get that movie satisfaction when they make some obvious commercial inside. I didn't quite catch that, they shouldn't bring firm name into the movie. I consider it a minor mistake but it could cost them the ratings. Again they did the self-promotion when he spills a psychiatric with a cup of a coffee, it's a cut-out scene of a movie and he does not know where he is and it's continuous.
    Charlie is a person with the mental problem and he is writing code for a game which is unconventional and it's made by a book where the reader decides what will happen so he is transferring the book data into the game. It is pretty obvious from the start of the movie, someone is 'playing his life'. What he does into the game someone, later on, we found who, a woman who is renewing his game does playing his life. Basically what you are seeing is what happens when someone press a choice „take the meds“ or „go to the Collin“.
    He knows something is wrong, he knows what is literally happening but I just like to be old school and to get the movie in a conventional way. I don't like that supernatural things where there is a monster which by what he is referring is eating your soul, a Netflix woman who is playing his life. I just get he is ill. He is not well. Netflix part is a figment of his imagination, he made it. He is keeping getting awake from the bed every morning and all the plot is what he dreams. He had a trauma when his mother had died and he is not sane. There are no supernatural things, he is just a game programmer who got even more screwed up when he saw his friend jumping off the verge of a balcony. The part where is seen they both have LSD hallucination is just a drug effect. There are no other ways of your life. If you die, you die. The part where is he jumping of a building is a fruit de mon what he thought that way, it never had happened. He had never jumped off that edge, his friend did and got killed. Later he is still talking with him, but as I told it's fruit de mon, ain't happening.
    What is the most annoying part in the movie is continuous going through the memory lane and the scenes are recycled. It feels like when you are watching the one and a half long movie you are watching one hour and another quarter is getting back and back. Thus when I thought it's over they displayed Collin again, he had already done the suicide and there was a lot of happening and then he is missing, he is alive. I just wanted the movie to finish, it was so tiring to watch it all over again and again.
    The movie is all about what happened to the original author of the book which we conclude got possessed and when he decapitated his wife's head got great book inspiration, that happened to him. Have you all noticed the game god five out of five stars when his dad's head was in his room and the lowest rating when everything wasn't so screwed up. It's a type of movie for those who like imagination, supernatural things and who like to think a lot but at the average viewer perspective, I could even say it is dense for people who want to watch a normal movie.    … Expand
  61. Diptanshu
    May 29, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Brilliant,Pure art and masterpiece!it was literally dark and self-questioning wonder,the options right from the start they were amazing although the breakfast and music thing felt like playing the sims at 1st it was awesome,the music was phenomenal specially in alternate ending although every ending is alternate the mother song it was emotionally great.the acting was amazing,the base story and alternate ending with the options it was great although some options were like repetitive but it was fun,the characters were awesome the programmer and the boss they were great,the inspiration of book and the author's backstory with the backstory of Stephen's both were dark the under pressure work with the therapy and kind-of over thinking it was psychologically dark.the slow turns and the speech with drugs of the famous Programmer it was iconic the Pac-man's philosophy of the maze and the theory of being pupets and all alternative reality it was literally mind-blowing stuff the time travel and the jump with the missing of Programmer it was too much to handle unbelievable and awesome stuff it was a brain teaser.the someone's controlling thing felt like he's directing to us it was awesome.the PAC and the symbol from white bear it was little unexplored but engaging stuff the symbol was mystery itself the root and tree type thing it was awesome,the Author going Total mad and killing someone the shades of that in Stephens and going all crazy with the alternate ending i saw 2 it was pure unbelievable and shocking,the self death and killing father with sentencing jail with whatever there the review of game being 2.5 out of 5 it was like a loop it was pure mind-blowing stuff the mother thing was emotionally great,the dream sequence and all were mind-bending thing,Overall it could've been perfect if its more explored and little work on options thing but whatever it was a fun,dark,psychologically challenging and literally mind-blowing movie its a Masterpiece!… Expand
  62. Bruterake
    Aug 18, 2021
    7
    Muito legal a ideia n é nenhuma obra prima do entretenimento mas foi massa.

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
89
#89 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Simon Parkin
    Jan 4, 2019
    70
    Bandersnatch’s do-overs lighten the weight of our decisions, which in turn lightens the gravity of the whole. It’s an exhilarating experiment, not least because it’s played out on such a major stage, and on one of Netflix’s prestige properties. Much of the episode’s success, however, relies on the clever marriage of theme and mechanism. Without this, the flimsiness of the supporting framework, more gimmick than revolution, would be exposed.
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  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    Jan 4, 2019
    60
    Bandersnatch can be fun, if you’re entranced by its puzzle structure, or if you’ve always believed TV episodes would be better if only you could spend hours grinding through them again in order to watch 45 seconds of new footage. But it doesn’t make for much of a story. This is partly because the core plot is uninspired. ... It’s occasionally genuinely moving. But it’s not haunting in the way that comes from reaching the end of a story and realizing that the only “What now?” answer you get will have to come from you.
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  3. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Pat Brown
    Jan 2, 2019
    63
    Black Mirror‘s stories are often effective without being subtle. At their worst, they merely recapitulate omnipresent popular anxieties, but at their best they compel critical reflection on the technologies that structure our lives. Whatever assemblage of parts make up an individual viewer’s experience of Bandersnatch, it will likely be a mixture of both.
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