Black Mirror, a show that has provocative, critical takes on technology, is officially entering Web3 with ‘Smile Club,’ an experience based on the first episode of its third season, “Nosedive.”
In that episode, a lead character trapped in a digital social credit system attempts to up her “score” by delivering a great maid-of-honor speech at her friend’s wedding, only to watch her score decline after a series of troubling and unfortunate events.
Smile Club, a riff on this episode, asks interested users to “smile” to create an account. Users can then earn points through referrals and completing challenges, which makes them eligible for rewards, including exclusive Black Mirror content.
This first venture in the Black Mirror Digital Experience (originally announced in November 2023) comes in partnership with Pixelynx, an Animoca Brands company that is focused on building a music-gaming metaverse. Banijay, which has the global rights to the Black Mirror brand, is also involved, as well as media companies Decrypt and Rug Radio.
According to the sponsored Decrypt article, there will be a global leaderboard, which users can climb by earning points.
Pixelynx CEO Inder Phull said that the company created Smile Club in order to “bring fans closer to the Black Mirror universe.” In addition, the experience will push the boundaries of interactive storytelling and digital ownership.
The digital experience will run on Coinbase’s Layer 2 blockchain Base.
Entertainment Industry Takes to Web3
Black Mirror’s entrance into Web3 seems apropos for the television show — it focuses on emerging technology after all. But it may surprise you that other entertainment brands are taking to Web3 and the promises of its tech, including many films. Here are three stories involving film and the next iteration of the internet, all from the past year.
First, three weeks ago, a new movie starring Kevin Hart devotes a large chunk of time to a unique premise: a heist of a non-fungible token. The plot, which involves a valuable NFT that takes inspiration from Vincent van Gogh, has had Crypto Twitter (X) talking.
Next, eight months ago, Warner Bros. announced that it is launching a new movie non-fungible token: the 1978 Superman film starring Christopher Reeves. The movie NFT came at two price points and contained many perks, including special features and interactive menus.
Lastly, about a year ago, Movieplex and Cinema Libre announced a partnership to debut NFT films. The series started with a full-length documentary that examines the Florida phosphate mining crisis and used the Polygon blockchain with NFT marketplace OpenSea as the launchpad.
As these stories show, film and television are starting to enter Web3, and it’s not hard to see why. The next iteration of the internet offers studios new ways of raising money, engaging with audiences, and sharing ownership with fans. It is truly a game-changer.
Time will tell if the Black Mirror experience is successful. Rarity Sniper will be here to report back on whether it is or isn’t.