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Mystery Science Theater 3000

  • TV Series
  • 1988–1999
  • TV-14
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
27K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,669
461
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
Trailer for Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
Play trailer0:57
16 Videos
99+ Photos
FarceQuirky ComedySpace Sci-FiComedySci-Fi

In the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on the Satellite of Love with the help of his robot friends: Cambo... Read allIn the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on the Satellite of Love with the help of his robot friends: Cambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.In the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on the Satellite of Love with the help of his robot friends: Cambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.

  • Creator
    • Joel Hodgson
  • Stars
    • Joel Hodgson
    • Michael J. Nelson
    • Trace Beaulieu
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.6/10
    27K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,669
    461
    • Creator
      • Joel Hodgson
    • Stars
      • Joel Hodgson
      • Michael J. Nelson
      • Trace Beaulieu
    • 244User reviews
    • 91Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #170
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 8 wins & 15 nominations total

    Episodes199

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos16

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: We've Got Problems Too
    Clip 1:50
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: We've Got Problems Too
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
    Trailer 0:57
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
    Trailer 0:57
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXV
    Trailer 1:23
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXV
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXIII
    Trailer 1:28
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXIII
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXII
    Trailer 1:28
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXII
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. 15
    Trailer 1:16
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. 15

    Photos728

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    Top cast70

    Edit
    Joel Hodgson
    Joel Hodgson
    • Joel Robinson…
    • 1988–1999
    Michael J. Nelson
    Michael J. Nelson
    • Mike Nelson…
    • 1990–1999
    Trace Beaulieu
    Trace Beaulieu
    • Crow T. Robot…
    • 1988–1996
    Kevin Murphy
    Kevin Murphy
    • Tom Servo…
    • 1988–1999
    Jim Mallon
    Jim Mallon
    • Gypsy…
    • 1989–1998
    Frank Conniff
    Frank Conniff
    • TV's Frank…
    • 1990–1999
    Mary Jo Pehl
    Mary Jo Pehl
    • Pearl Forrester…
    • 1992–1999
    Bill Corbett
    Bill Corbett
    • Crow T. Robot…
    • 1997–1999
    Patrick Brantseg
    Patrick Brantseg
    • Gypsy…
    • 1993–1999
    Alexandra Carr
    • Magic Voice…
    • 1989–1992
    Paul Chaplin
    Paul Chaplin
    • Ned the Nanite…
    • 1992–1999
    J. Elvis Weinstein
    J. Elvis Weinstein
    • Tom Servo…
    • 1988–1990
    Bridget Jones
    Bridget Jones
    • Flavia…
    • 1991–1997
    Beez McKeever
    Beez McKeever
    • Roman Day Player…
    • 1996–1998
    Peter Rudrud
    • Announcer…
    • 1997–1999
    Bradley J. Keely
    • Kid…
    • 1993–1999
    Nathan Molstead
    • Jerry
    • 1990–1991
    Timothy Scott
    • Miracle Growth Baby…
    • 1991–1993
    • Creator
      • Joel Hodgson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews244

    8.627K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' is celebrated for its unique format, humor, and cultural references. Many praise its originality, wit, and longevity, comparing it to iconic comedy series. However, some critics find host segments and certain episodes detract from the experience. Debate exists over the quality of chosen movies and commentary effectiveness. Despite mixed opinions, it is generally regarded as a beloved cult classic with a dedicated fanbase.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    Greidanus

    The most Intelligent show created by the Imperfect race of Man

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The most intelligent show ever seen by the eyes of man, and created by man too.

    This show greatly critiques the acts and creations of our imperfect society by making various remarks throughout the 'host segments' and 'movie segments' and makes good hilarity in the process.

    If you have never seen it, you have to! I'd greatly recommend it for geeks and the fashionable alike, though the geeks seem to understand it a lot more.
    Rat Man

    One of the Greatest Ideas ever come to TV

    MSTK 3K was never meant to be a quality show. It's simply a cheesy skit to make fun of really, really bad movies. In a world, where everybody takes things too seriously, this show produces a much needed boost of comedy. Sitcoms tend to become the same, and humor anymore is few and far between. There is just a finite number of plot lines that a sitcom can have. And many sitcoms tend to outlast their usefullness (Friends and Fraiser). However, MST3k, the humor is always refreshing. Joel (or Mike) and the robots never run out of potshots during a movie. So many movies become untentionally funny, because they are so poorly made. The robots are very clever, when they can relate contemporary events with old movies. I'll never forget when Croww T. Robot, said when he saw a wrecked T-bird "Teddy Kennedy are you alright?"

    The shorts are very clever too. They make fun of the stupid short films that you had to watch in elementary school. (Posture, grooming, what to do on a date).

    The only thing that one must watch out for, is that sometimes people don't get the jokes that the robots are pitching. As long as one is up on current events, he would find this show hilarious.

    I remember watching the movie when it came out to theaters in 1996. I have never been in an audience that laughed so much.
    Smells_Like_Cheese

    Movie Sign!

    Mystery Science Theater 3000, one of my favorite shows of all time, I'm serious. This is one of the best television shows ever created, why is it such a cult classic? Ever see a really bad movie? I know you have, we also know how much we love to make fun of a really bad movie, that's exactly what the characters of Mystery Science Theater 3000 do, they take the worst movies of all time and absolutely tear them a new one. They are like the friends we want to have around when you feel like you wasted your money at the movies, because at least you can get a good laugh at just making fun of it. I saw this show for the first time in 1998 when my parents finally broke down and got cable, the first channel that popped up when I turned on the TV was the sci fi channel and what looked like a fun werewolf movie... then I noticed three little figures in the corner. I didn't get it, why are they talking through the mov... oh, because this is a really bad movie and they are saying everything that I am thinking... I'm in love! At that point I was hooked and tuned in every week to see a new episode.

    The show first started off with Joel, a man who is stranded on the satellite of love space ship with several robots: Crow T. Robot, Tom Servo, Gypsy and Gambot. He is being tortured by our villain, Dr. Forrester with terrible movies. Eventually in the middle of season 5, we got a new host, Mike Nelson. He was a slave to Dr. Forrester, but is now sentenced to the same fate as Joel to see the most horrible movies of all time. We also later on got a different villain, Dr. Forrester's mother, Pearl Forrester who is trying to take over the world while presenting horrendous movies to Mike and the bots.

    The great thing about this show is it didn't just make fun of horror movies, nope, any bad movie could face the hand smack of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I couldn't choose a favorite episode, but I stepped into the Mike era so most of my favorites come out of those seasons like: Prince of Space, The Final Sacrifice, Space Mutiny, Girl in Gold Boots, The Brain that wouldn't Die, Squirm and Soultaker. Not only do they make fun of movies, but "educational" shorts as well with the scary "A Date With Your Family" and "Spring Fever!" that are frankly the most disturbing thing on film. Like most shows, not every episode is a classic, but is always guaranteed a good laugh. There are some haters on this show saying that they hate seeing people talk through the film, if you really want to see films like the one's they make fun of, I pity you.
    Op_Prime

    I love it!

    MST3K is without a doubt one of the funniest shows ever made. It's hard to believe there could be anything that could make horrible movies like 'Hobgoblins' fun to watch. The show is clever and witty. It's hard to believe a show about a group of three making comments while watching a movie could spawn a ten year series and a movie. But it was done, and I'm sure we're all thankful for that. It's a shame the show has ended but the went out with a bang, making the series finale 'Danger: Diabolik' one of the best of the series; my personal favorite is 'Hobgoblins'. See the reruns and rent the movie whenever possible!
    aczilla-1

    From Trash to Treasure: Rich Genius on a Salvation Army Budget

    A mad scientist's plot to rule the world hurls an employee (and later a temp worker replacement) into space on a fully furnished satellite where, in the company of quick-witted robot friends, the captive is forced to watch real movies from nearly every genre imaginable that threaten to rob him completely of his sanity. That's all you really need to know to start watching, but it can't begin to scratch the surface of what you will encounter. Beneath the surface is a work of comedic genius that has held a stronger-than-cult following for almost 20 years.

    In the Mystery Science Theater 3000 dictionary, you probably can find a picture of Joe Don Baker under the definition of "irony." He is quoted with having threatened physical violence on the creator of MST3K after how they treated him in the film "Mitchell," yet he played a trailer trash dad in "Mars Attacks" around the same time. It's these kinds of relationships between one movie and another, the throwbacks to our culture, and (most) performers' ability to be a good sport that makes MST3K such a brilliant program. It is only in the case of this series that too many writers don't spoil the ambiance; in fact, a large group of writers is essential to capture every flaw and possible remark that can be made about a single movie. If you grew up within the last 50 years, then you are bound to have seen most of the movies featured on MST3K. On the same token, you are bound to get most of the jokes the stars hurl at the screen, but don't be surprised if you catch something new every time.

    Sci-fi and film purists have deemed MST3K detrimental to film genres in some arguments, and some viewers who saw the actual movies when they were released or were influenced heavily by a group of films might be taken aback by seeing their favorite movies torn to pieces for the sake of comedy. Nonetheless, MST3K has the ability to grow on virtually everyone who sees it... and has done so. The show is filmed with some of the most dated film technology while the robots and sets were literally sculpted from scraps of junk gotten from Goodwill, but the impact is lasting and any argument you may have over scientific mistakes are immediately addressed in the last line of the catchy theme song. Mexican wrestlers, Italian spies, Japanese giant monsters, 1960s-era juvenile delinquents, mad scientists, educational short films, rugged bikers, and even works of Shakespeare (well just one work but still) to name only a few types of the over-200 films featured in its 10-year run (many of which continue to hold high ranking on IMDb's worst films list), are the primary fodder of this brilliant undertaking, and you are hereby dared not to find the same amusement in every movie you see after experiencing MST3K for yourself and succumbing to its effects.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The show gained popularity after fans taped episodes and gave them to their friends. In seasons 3-5, a line at the end of the end credits says "Keep circulating the tapes." That ended after Best Brain's lawyers questioned the show's support of piracy.
    • Goofs
      A line in the end credits thanks "The authors of the First Ammendment." The last word should be spelled "Amendment."
    • Quotes

      Tom Servo: What do you think the lesson of the movie was?

      Crow: Don't watch it.

    • Crazy credits
      In some episodes Torgo's theme from 'manos' the hands of fate plays in the background of the credits
    • Alternate versions
      For syndication, the show was aired as "The Mystery Science Theater Hour." Eleven episodes from seasons 2-4 were broken up into two-parters, and released as 22 hour-long episodes into what was effectively first-run syndication for the 1995-96 season. Although the original host segments were retained, new introductions were also filmed featuring Michael J. Nelson as the balding "Host" (a parody of A&E announcer Jack Perkins).
    • Connections
      Edited from Hamlet (1960)
    • Soundtracks
      The Love Theme from Mystery Science Theatre 3000
      Lyrics by Joel Hodgson and J. Elvis Weinstein

      Music by Charlie Erickson and Joel Hodgson

      Performed by Joel and the Joels

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    FAQ25

    • How many seasons does Mystery Science Theater 3000 have?Powered by Alexa
    • I always read there were ten seasons; why does IMDb list eleven?
    • Why did Joel leave the show?
    • Why is Crow's head backwards when watching the movies?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 10, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Satellite News
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • MST 3000
    • Filming locations
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    • Production companies
      • Best Brains
      • Comedy Central
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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