Michael J. Nelson
Known for: Writing
Born: October 11, 1964
Place of birth: St. Charles, Illinois
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.
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Filmography
65 movies · 4 TV shows, newest first
NR
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
2026
NR
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
2026
NR
Hunks of Junk
2026
NR
GrimTrax Returns
2026
10.0
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
2025
NR
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
2025
9.0
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
2024
10.0
GrimTrax
2024
8.0
RiffTrax Live: RAD
2023
5.5
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
2022
NR
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022
8.0
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
2021
8.0
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
2019
10.0
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
2019
6.4
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
2019
NR
The Rifftrax Yule Log
2018
8.5
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
2018
9.0
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
2017
7.8
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
2017
6.0
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
2017
9.0
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
4.7
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
2016
9.0
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
2016
8.2
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
2016
7.7
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
2016
8.7
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
8.0
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
7.6
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
2015
8.8
Rifftrax Live: The Room
2015
7.7
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
2015
7.0
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
2014
9.4
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
2014
6.3
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
20147.0
Total Riff Off
2014
7.5
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
2013
9.7
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
2013
7.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
2013
10.0
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
2013
7.0
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
2013NR
Santa's Village of Madness
2012
8.2
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
2012
8.7
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
2012
10.0
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011
8.5
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
2010
9.0
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010
8.2
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
2009
8.6
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
20096.0
Max the Hero
2007
NR
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
2007
NR
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
2007
NR
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
20078.0
The Three Stooges in Color
2005NR
The Adventures of Edward the Less
2001
9.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
2000
NR
The Last Dance: RAW
1999
8.5
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
1999
7.0
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
1998
NR
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
1998NR
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
1997
6.6
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
19969.0
Poopie!
1995NR
Poopie Parade of Values
1995
8.0
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
1995
7.0
This Is MST3K
1992
7.7
Mystery Science Theater 3000
19899.0
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964
NR
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
—NR
RiffTrax: Pressure Point
—
NR
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
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