The BEST episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 season 1

Every episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 season 1!

In the not-too-distant future, various test subjects are held captive by mad scientists and evil villains aboard the Satellite of Love, where they are forced to watch cheesy B-grade movies with the help of their robot friends: Cambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.

Last Updated: 11/13/2024Network: GizmoplexStatus: Continuing
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Robot Holocaust
star
8.37
178 votes

#1 - Robot Holocaust

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/23/1990

Movie Plot: In a postapocalyptic world, the human population is controlled by an evil force known as the Dark One. Also riffed was the short: "Commando Cody: Radar Men from the Moon, part 9." Intro: Joel sings the blues. Segment One: Joel invents a pipe that burns nitro and shoots flame. In Deep 13, Dr. Erhardt invents a ski mask with a movable eyebrow to help bank robbers. Segment Two: The 'bots make Joel do stupid tricks. Segment Three: Cambot gets stuck in sitcom mode producing incessant canned laughter. Segment Four: Only Servo enjoys playing a game of Robot Holocaust. Segment Five: Joel announces the "Name the Plant Guy in the Movie Contest." Original film made in 1987.

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Untamed Youth
star
6.81
85 votes

#2 - Untamed Youth

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/6/1990

Movie Plot: A 1950s teen angst movie about youths in a prison farm. Intro: Tom is infected with a tape worm. Segment One: Joel invents a pipe with a smoke detector and sprinkler system built in. In Deep 13, the Mads invent tongue puppets. Segment Two: The crew present the biography of TV's Greg Brady. Segment Three: Gypsy has a flashback about Richard Basehart. Segment Four: Gypsy begins to regurgitate raw cotton, among other things. Segment Five: The crew tries to figure out the odd guy from the movie. Original film made in 1957.

Directors: Howard W. Koch
Project Moonbase
star
6.72
90 votes

#3 - Project Moonbase

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/16/1990

Movie Plot: In the 1970's space race, a mission to the moon is not sabotaged by a spy and results in a couple getting married on the moon. Also riffed were the shorts: "Commando Cody: Radar Men from the Moon, parts 7 and 8." Intro: The 'bots get cleaned. Segment One: In Deep 13, the Mads invent the "Insect-a-Sketch". It combines an ant farm with an Etch-a-Sketch. Segment Two: Crow and Servo play Commander Cody. Segment Three: Joel talks about future neckties. Segment Four: Joel presents SPACOM! The ultimate all-purpose product. Segment Five: The bots read letters from viewers. Original film made in 1953.

The Crawling Eye
star
6.35
247 votes

#4 - The Crawling Eye

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/19/1989

Movie Plot: A giant rogue eyeball is decapitating people in a small mountain community. Segment One: Joel invents the electric bagpipes. Meanwhile, the Mads have moved to Deep 13, a secret underground lair. Dr. Forrester injects Dr. Erhardt with dog antiperspirant. Segment Two: Joel explains to the bots why decapitation is bad. Segment Three: Gypsy uncoils herself. Segment Four: Joel explains why giant rogue appendages are scary. Segment Five: The 'bots each point out something good and bad about the movie. Original film made in 1958.

Directors: Quentin Lawrence
The Crawling Hand
star
6.17
121 votes

#5 - The Crawling Hand

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/26/1989

Movie Plot: The hand of an astronaut goes around killing people after his body is blown up. Intro: Cambot sets up a laugh track for the SOL. Segment One: Joel invents a finger-sensing saw. Dr. Forrester demonstrates his new arm-lengthener on Dr. Erhardt. Segment Two: The bots go bowling, but refuse to play with Joel. Segment Three: The crew makes fun of William Shatner. Segment Four: The crew questions the validity of a hand as a monster. Segment Five: The Bots give a good thing and a bad thing about the movie. In Deep 13, Dr. Erhardt uses his new extended arms to strangle Dr. Forrester. Original film made in 1963.

Robot Monster
star
6.06
149 votes

#6 - Robot Monster

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/2/1990

Movie Plot: A post-apocalyptic movie about a robot named Ro-Man. The plot of this film is almost completely unfollowable. Also riffed was the short: "Commando Cody: Radar Men from the Moon, part 5." Intro: Joel explains the show's premise. Segment One: The Mads invent a flaming whoopie cushion. Joel invents the cumber-bumbe-bund. Segment Two: The 'bots get stuck in a logic loop while trying to discuss Cody's flying skills, causing Servo's and Cambot's heads to explode. Segment Three: Crow and Tom play a Robot Monster game. Segment Four: The 'bots learn about surrealism. Segment Five: The crew puts on a skit about Ro-Man killing Joel. In Deep 13, the mads question Joel's sanity. Original film made in 1953.

Directors: Phil Tucker
Moon Zero Two
star
6.03
113 votes

#7 - Moon Zero Two

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/30/1990

Movie Plot: In the future, on the moon, an astronaut is hired by a millionaire to capture an asteroid made of sapphire. Intro: Joel explains the show's premise. Segment One: The Mads invent "Celebrity Mouth-to-Mouth Toothpaste", where celebrities throw up on your brush. Segment Two: Joel and the 'bots present a skit about the history of the space program. Segment Three: Joel plays "Rock 'em-Sock 'em Robots" with Servo and Crow as they discuss games of the future. Segment Four: Servo and Crow fight over the women in the movie. Segment Five: The 'bots give a good thing/bad thing about the movie. Gypsy thinks that Richard Basehart is the best thing in the movie. Original film made in 1969.

Directors: Roy Ward Baker
Women of the Prehistoric Planet
star
5.88
161 votes

#8 - Women of the Prehistoric Planet

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/20/1990

Movie Plot: The survivors of a space ship crash run into prehistoric amazons on a desert planet. Intro: Joel and the 'bots redecorate the SOL to look like a talk show set. Segment One: Joel invents toilet paper in a bottle. In Deep 13, the Mads open a fast food place: "Clay and Lar's Flesh Barn." Segment Two: Joel brings a strange spacecraft inside the SOL. Segment Three: The strange object is discovered to be Isaac Asimov's Literary Doomsday Device. Segment Four: While the crew tries to disarm it, the doomsday device explodes, turning the entire crew into Isaac Asimov. Segment Five: Fan letters are read. The winners of the "Name the Plant Guy Contest" are announced. Original film made in 1966.

Directors: Arthur C. Pierce
The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
star
5.87
135 votes

#9 - The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/5/1989

Movie Plot: A psychiatrist unleashes a curse. The mummy released by this turns out to be an ally, however, in a battle against an evil robot. Also riffed was the short: "Commando Cody: Radar Men from the Moon, part 1." Segment One: Joel invents an airbag helmet for motorcyclists. In Deep 13, the Mads have a new security system. Segment Two: The ship is attacked by demon dogs. Segment Three: The SOL crew try to negotiate with the King of the Demon Dogs. Segment Four: Crow tries to impersonate the Demon Dog's King. Segment Five: Joel manages to fool the Demon Dogs. Original film made in 1957, released in US in 1964.

The Black Scorpion
star
5.76
83 votes

#10 - The Black Scorpion

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/13/1990

Movie Plot: Giant scorpions who emerged from a volcano attack Mexico. Intro: The 'bots throw a party for Joel. Segment One: The Mads have mutated themselves in a lab accident: Dr. Erhardt now has a giant cranium and Dr. Forrester is a skeleton. Segment Two: The 'bots do a tribute to Mexico. Segment Three: Gypsy, dressed in a scorpion costume, eats Servo. Segment Four: The 'bots create a puppet show. Segment Five: Joel reads letters from viewers. Original film made in 1957.

Directors: Edward Ludwig
The Slime People
star
5.66
86 votes

#11 - The Slime People

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/9/1990

Movie Plot: Subterranean monsters invade Los Angeles. Also riffed was the short: "Commando Cody: Radar Men from the Moon, part 6." Intro:: Crow turns out to ba a chipper, morning person. Segment One: In Deep 13, the Mads invent cotton candy that screams as you eat it. Joel invents cartoon-style eyeglasses. Segment Two: The 'bots put Commando Cody on trial for crimes against reality. Segment Three: the 'bots try to understand the movie and pitch a script about a guy stranded on an island with robots. Segment Four: The 'bots fill the SOL with smoke to imitate the movie. Segment Five: Gypsy eats half of Joel's diode pie. Original film made in 1962.

The Corpse Vanishes
star
5.60
94 votes

#12 - The Corpse Vanishes

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/19/1989

Movie Plot: Bela Lugosi plays a mad scientist who steals bodies for evil experiments. Also riffed was the short: "Commando Cody: Radar Men from the Moon, part 3." Segment One: Dr. Forrester has a flower boutineer that shoots flame instead of water. He, of course, uses it on Dr. Erhardt. On the SOL, Joel has invented the "chiro-gyro". Segment Two: Servo reads 'Tiger Bot' magazine. Segment Three: The SOL crew plays tag. Segment Four: The 'bots give Joel a haircut. Segment Five: The 'bots give a good thing/bad thing about the movie. Original film made in 1942.

Directors: Wallace Fox
The Mad Monster
star
5.47
106 votes

#13 - The Mad Monster

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/12/1989

Movie Plot: A mad scientist turns his assistant into a monster to help get revenge. Also riffed was the short: "Commando Cody: Radar Men from the Moon, part 2." Segment One: Joel presents the Hell-in-a-Handbag anti-theft device. In Deep 13, Dr. Forrester shows off his fire=breathing thunder lizard. Segment Two: Tom falls in love with a blender, which Joel then drinks out of. Segment Three: Servo and Crow have some questions about Jedro the werewolf. Segment Four: Joel switches the bots heads. Segment Five: The 'bots each give a good thing and bad thing about the movie. Original film made in 1942.

Directors: Sam Newfield