Michael J. Nelson is the former host and writer of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, penned a regular column for TV Guide, and authored best-selling books for both HarperCollins and Abrams. His first book, Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, thrilled critics, including Richard Schickel of Time Magazine, who said of Mike, "He's more fun than a barrel of Val Kilmers... Smarter than a roomful of Patrick Swayzes... and almost as hilarious as Keanu Reeves." Mike's laugh-out-loud follow-up, Mind Over Matters, prompted Kirkus Reviews to enthuse, "From someplace called Minnesota comes a Nelson funnier than Ozzie, Ricky, Lord or Half," and even dared to compare him to another legendary writer, saying of his Serious Speech to Business People, "[It] could easily precede [Robert] Benchley's immortal Treasurer's Report." And Kirkus Reviews loved his novel, Death Rat!, saying, "Fast-paced, outrageous and funny, first-novelist Nelson's mockery of media mendacity is as biting as La Dolce Vita or Network--only funnier!" Nelson speaks all over the country, is a frequent guest on radio and television, and along with fellow former MST3K writers/performers Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy operate a podcast called RiffTrax, which, in a similar vein to MST3K, targets more mainstream films.
60 movies · 3 shows
Hunks of Junk
2026·0.0
GrimTrax Returns
2026·0.0
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
2025·10.0
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
2025·0.0
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
2024·9.0
GrimTrax
2024·10.0
RiffTrax Live: RAD
2023·8.0
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
2022·5.5
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022·0.0
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
2021·8.0
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
2019·8.0
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
2019·10.0
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
2019·6.4
The Rifftrax Yule Log
2018·0.0
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
2018·8.5
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
2017·9.0
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
2017·7.8
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
2017·6.1
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016·9.0
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
2016·4.7
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
2016·9.0
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
2016·8.2
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
2016·7.7
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015·8.7
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015·8.0
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
2015·7.6
Rifftrax Live: The Room
2015·8.8
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
2015·7.7
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
2014·7.0
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
2014·9.4
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
2014·6.3
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
2013·7.5
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
2013·9.7
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
2013·0.0
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
2013·10.0
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
2013·7.0
Santa's Village of Madness
2012·0.0
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
2012·8.2
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
2012·8.7
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011·10.0
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
2010·8.5
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010·9.0
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
2009·8.2
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
2009·8.6
Max the Hero
2007·6.0
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
2007·0.0
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
2007·0.0
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
2007·0.0
The Three Stooges in Color
2005·8.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
2000·9.0
The Last Dance: RAW
1999·0.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
1999·8.5
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
1998·0.0
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
1997·0.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
1996·6.5
Poopie!
1995·9.0
Poopie Parade of Values
1995·0.0
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
1995·8.0
This Is MST3K
1992·7.0
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964·9.0