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The National Anthem
Black Mirror
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Season 1
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Episode 1

The National Anthem

The National Anthem

2011
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
TV Episode
44m
The Prime Minister is faced with a dilemma when a member of the Royal Family is kidnapped.

Directed by:

Otto Bathurst
Otto-Bathurst
Otto Bathurst
6 total credits
Otto Bathurst has 6 credits at Criticker, including: Black Mirror, Peaky Blinders, The National Anthem, Robin Hood and Peaky Blinders: Episode #1.1
Read more

Writer:

Charlie Brooker
Charlie-Brooker
Charlie Brooker
32 total credits
Charlie Brooker has 32 credits at Criticker, including: Black Mirror, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, White Christmas and San Junipero
Read more

Starring:

Anna Wilson-Jones
Anna-Wilson-Jones
Anna Wilson-Jones
11 total credits
Anna Wilson-Jones has 11 credits at Criticker, including: The National Anthem, Spaced, The Mother, Gladiatress and Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War
Read more
, Lindsay Duncan
Lindsay-Duncan
Lindsay Duncan
49 total credits
Lindsay Duncan has 49 credits at Criticker, including: Birdman, Alice in Wonderland, About Time, Under the Tuscan Sun and Gifted
Read more
, Alastair Mackenzie
Alastair-Mackenzie
Alastair Mackenzie
15 total credits
Alastair Mackenzie has 15 credits at Criticker, including: Perfect Sense, The National Anthem, Andor, The Man Who Haunted Himself and Tonight You're Mine
Read more
, Donald Sumpter
Donald-Sumpter
Donald Sumpter
25 total credits
Donald Sumpter has 25 credits at Criticker, including: Eastern Promises, The Constant Gardener, In the Heart of the Sea, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and The National Anthem
Read more
, Patrick Kennedy
Patrick-Kennedy
Patrick Kennedy
17 total credits
Patrick Kennedy has 17 credits at Criticker, including: The National Anthem, Mr. Holmes, The November Man, Einstein and Eddington and The 39 Steps
Read more
, Rory Kinnear
Rory-Kinnear
Rory Kinnear
41 total credits
Rory Kinnear is an English actor, best known for playing Bill Tanner in James Bond films Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, and in various video games of the franchise. He also won a Laurence Olivier Award for portraying Fopling Fluter in a 2008 version of The Man of Mode, and a British Independent Film Award for his performance in the 2012 film Broken. In 2014, he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Shakespeare's villain Iago in the National Theatre production of Othello.
Read more
, Tom Goodman-Hill
Tom-Goodman-Hill
Tom Goodman-Hill
22 total credits
Tom Goodman-Hill has 22 credits at Criticker, including: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Imitation Game, The National Anthem, Rebecca and Humans
Read more

Franchise:

Black Mirror

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller

Country:

UK

Language:

English
IMDb
Update history
Suggest an edit

The National Anthem

2011
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
TV Episode
44m
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 65% from 758 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

(758)
Compact view
Compact view
trash_puppetTrash Puppet
Rated 23 Sep 2015
9
88th
Where were you when Cameron fucked a pig?
Rated 23 Sep 2015
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 09 Dec 2015
70
79th
Strong start for a very good anthology series.
Rated 09 Dec 2015
badfurdayBadFurDay
Rated 22 Oct 2016
6
60th
Interesting plot, but they somehow went over the top in trying to make it over the top. Made better by reality catching up to fiction.
Rated 22 Oct 2016
neonmanNeonman
Rated 14 Jan 2016
86
84th
This show starts off incredibly strong, with a delightfully messed up concept for their first story. With this disturbing proposal laid out, it's so maliciously exciting to see how the PM and the rest of the country deal with this sort of news and how they plan to circumvent it (or not). My only complaint is that the reporter acted pretty fucking stupid throughout this whole episode, but that bitch got what was coming.
Rated 14 Jan 2016
foxyrussianFoxyRussian
Rated 22 Aug 2015
87
65th
One of the darkest comedies I've ever seen. It's honestly such a disgusting concept and it's amazing credit to the script that the message it was trying to show disgusted me more. Fantastic job
Rated 22 Aug 2015
philamentalphilamental
Rated 29 Jul 2015
45
14th
Big controversial concept but fell apart in the execution for me. Tries to offer this insight into modern society but the plot hinges on a number of far fetched situations I couldn't accept would ever happen. Impossible to elaborate without spoilers
Rated 29 Jul 2015
boxcarsBoxcars
Rated 30 Jun 2015
8
71st
Dexterously organic in its progression and combining a subtle script with an overt subtext, the first episode of 'Black Mirror' is an absolute slam; a near perfect example of a darkly comedic premise devolving into a dramatically resounding conclusion.
Rated 30 Jun 2015
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 15 May 2025
65
80th
Seen: 3. Perhaps the most thematically pure episode of the series. It's good, but it's not even close to my favorites.
Rated 15 May 2025
hotsakehotsake
Rated 02 Jul 2024
35
12th
This was so incredibly stupid.
Rated 02 Jul 2024
djrossdjross
Rated 04 Mar 2021
55
53rd
On the de-politicising effects of spectacular political performativity.
Rated 04 Mar 2021
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 21 Feb 2021
78
79th
Başbakan, prenses, rehine, ikilem, süre, Youtube, video kaydi, twitter, sosyal medya, şantaj SPOILER Ahlaki bir ikilem var. bir insanı kurtarmak için bir domuzla birlikte olunur mu?
Rated 21 Feb 2021
lawlaw
Rated 25 Oct 2019
90
99th
Remarkably, the first ever episode is still the best episode.
Rated 25 Oct 2019
kcknzkcknz
Rated 18 Aug 2019
75
51st
well, that's actually not the political way of course. anyway, the man who sleeps in his bed since the morning was a quite funny for me. still, a watchable production.
Rated 18 Aug 2019
spaceflohspacefloh
Rated 22 Oct 2018
80
95th
ger; [Black Mirror: Der Wille des Volkes]; ein minister ist einem dilemma ausgeliefert welches durch die mediale allgegenwart an bedeutung gewinnt.;
Rated 22 Oct 2018
tedditeddi
Rated 26 Jan 2018
80
90th
Hats off mr. Otto Bathurst!
Rated 26 Jan 2018
zanginZangin
Rated 20 Jan 2018
97
98th
Brilliant. The only Black Mirror episode that I've seen that actually properly reflects the dark underbelly of society's relationship with technology in an interesting, surprising, and accurate way. It's shocking and even absurd. But with that absurdity, it reveals something very true.
Rated 20 Jan 2018
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 26 Dec 2017
81
67th
Se você quer continuar a desprezar a espécie humana você veio ao lugar certo. Pelo menos eu vim. Netflix BR.
Rated 26 Dec 2017
sanchezjaimesanchezjaime
Rated 14 Oct 2017
100
64th
Brilliant
Rated 14 Oct 2017
forehead1forehead1
Rated 31 Mar 2017
60
72nd
The first Black Mirror and a mixed bag to debut Charlie Brooker's unique series. This one definitely plays it for laughs more than later episodes - something you'd think Brooker would do well - but the overly silly premise doesn't meld well with the dramatic tone elsewhere, meaning any serious observations on modern society have less impact as a result. A decent enough hour of telly, but Chris Morris this aint.
Rated 31 Mar 2017
td888td888
Rated 23 Dec 2016
60
57th
For the first episode I was a bit disappointed, but the others are brilliant. Keep watching!
Rated 23 Dec 2016
kubricksuckskubricksucks
Rated 15 Jan 2016
65
25th
i have no idea why this is so acclaimed or how a charlie brooker concept this good is so badly executed on every level
Rated 15 Jan 2016
dardandardan
Rated 28 Sep 2015
70
71st
Knowing about Cameron made this so much better.
Rated 28 Sep 2015
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 25 Jun 2015
80
95th
Excellent.
Rated 25 Jun 2015
barraocBarraoc
Rated 24 Apr 2015
70
64th
Certainly kicked things off with a bang...
Rated 24 Apr 2015
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 30 Mar 2015
80
84th
Possibly the best of the series.
Rated 30 Mar 2015
overratedoverrated
Rated 30 Mar 2015
84
93rd
The simulation is breaking.
Rated 30 Mar 2015
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 15 Mar 2015
87
87th
Review: https://youtu.be/2CkIpgY9TGI
Rated 15 Mar 2015
perrystroikaPerryStroika
Rated 22 Feb 2015
63
53rd
A one joke plot and boy, it's a sick one. Pretty funny and as well done as its premise allows, but kind of thin.
Rated 22 Feb 2015
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 28 Jan 2015
87
96th
Brilliant pilot episode. It's a darkly comic thriller with one question: will he or won't he? You never know until the end, and the ride to get there is twisted and fun. The very last scene is a great finishing touch.
Rated 28 Jan 2015

Cast & Info

Directed by:

Otto Bathurst
Otto-Bathurst
Otto Bathurst
6 total credits
Otto Bathurst has 6 credits at Criticker, including: Black Mirror, Peaky Blinders, The National Anthem, Robin Hood and Peaky Blinders: Episode #1.1
Read more

Writer:

Charlie Brooker
Charlie-Brooker
Charlie Brooker
32 total credits
Charlie Brooker has 32 credits at Criticker, including: Black Mirror, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, White Christmas and San Junipero
Read more

Starring:

Anna Wilson-Jones
Anna-Wilson-Jones
Anna Wilson-Jones
11 total credits
Anna Wilson-Jones has 11 credits at Criticker, including: The National Anthem, Spaced, The Mother, Gladiatress and Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War
Read more
, Lindsay Duncan
Lindsay-Duncan
Lindsay Duncan
49 total credits
Lindsay Duncan has 49 credits at Criticker, including: Birdman, Alice in Wonderland, About Time, Under the Tuscan Sun and Gifted
Read more
, Alastair Mackenzie
Alastair-Mackenzie
Alastair Mackenzie
15 total credits
Alastair Mackenzie has 15 credits at Criticker, including: Perfect Sense, The National Anthem, Andor, The Man Who Haunted Himself and Tonight You're Mine
Read more
, Donald Sumpter
Donald-Sumpter
Donald Sumpter
25 total credits
Donald Sumpter has 25 credits at Criticker, including: Eastern Promises, The Constant Gardener, In the Heart of the Sea, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and The National Anthem
Read more
, Patrick Kennedy
Patrick-Kennedy
Patrick Kennedy
17 total credits
Patrick Kennedy has 17 credits at Criticker, including: The National Anthem, Mr. Holmes, The November Man, Einstein and Eddington and The 39 Steps
Read more
, Rory Kinnear
Rory-Kinnear
Rory Kinnear
41 total credits
Rory Kinnear is an English actor, best known for playing Bill Tanner in James Bond films Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, and in various video games of the franchise. He also won a Laurence Olivier Award for portraying Fopling Fluter in a 2008 version of The Man of Mode, and a British Independent Film Award for his performance in the 2012 film Broken. In 2014, he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Shakespeare's villain Iago in the National Theatre production of Othello.
Read more
, Tom Goodman-Hill
Tom-Goodman-Hill
Tom Goodman-Hill
22 total credits
Tom Goodman-Hill has 22 credits at Criticker, including: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Imitation Game, The National Anthem, Rebecca and Humans
Read more

Franchise:

Black Mirror

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller

Country:

UK

Language:

English
IMDb
Update history
Suggest an edit
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