The WORST episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Every episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000!
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.
#1 - The Wild World of Batwoman
Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 11/13/1993
Movie Plot: A really bad movie about Batwoman going against a mad scientist. Also riffed was the short "Cheating." On the SOL: The crew plays blackjack / the 'bots write essays on cheating / the crew tries to decide how to deal with Crow's cheating problem. In Deep 13: Frank invents the Atomic Hair Dryer / Dr. Forrester's new hair causes Frank to run away screaming. Original film made in 1966.
#2 - Racket Girls
Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 11/26/1994
Movie Plot: Essentially, a movie about women's wrestling. Also riffed was the short "Are You Ready for Marriage?" On the SOL: Lisa Loeb appears on the hexfield viewscreen and sings / Crow wants to marry Servo / Jan in the Pan is the stripper for Crow's bachelor party / Dr. Forrester performs the wedding of Servo and Crow, with Frank as the wedding singer. In Deep 13: A family starts poking around Deep 13, prompting the Mads to get a new security system, which Frank plays with / Frank falls in love with Lisa Loeb, until Dr. Forrester breaks the news to him that she is seeing Ethan Hawke. Original film made in 1951.
#3 - Horrors of Spider Island
Season 10 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/25/1999
Movie Plot: A group of exotic dancers are stranded on an island where a radioactive spider threatens to kill them. Intro: Crow writes a newspaper column. Segment One: Pearl has moved the castle to suburbia to save money on Bobo's monkey license. Segment Two: Mike gets stuck in a giant spider web. Segment Three: Mike auditions Pearl, Bobo, and Brain Guy for a dance show, like the guy in the movie. Segment Four: Mike and the 'bots keep crashing the SOL, testing the theory that in a crash women instantly become helpless, murmuring idiots. Segment Five: Mike pretends to be a man-spider. Meanwhile, Pearl has decided to move the castle back because in the suburbs, you cant throw your garbage out the window. On the way back, they have stopped at a "Pump & Munch" to diesel up the flatbed. Bobo is delighted at the balloon dispenser in the bathroom. Brain Guy keeps the "balloons" for his lady friends. Original film made in 1960.
#4 - The Castle of Fu Manchu
Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 1/18/1992
Movie Plot: Fu Manchu, an evil genius, tries to conquer the world by turning all water into ice. On the SOL: The Crew pretend to be Shriners / the movie causes the Crew to break down. In Deep 13: Dr. Forrester invents a stinky bomb / the mads try to riff the movie. Original film made in 1969.
#5 - Jungle Goddess
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/1990
Movie Plot: An expedition to Africa to recover a missing heiress leads to trouble when she is made queen of the jungle. Also riffed was the short: "The Phantom Creeps, part 1." Intro: Joel and the 'bots toy with the forces of the universe. Segment One: Joel invents a radio controlled saw. Dr. Forrester has had his head transplanted onto a saxophone. Segment Two: The SOL crew presents an infomercial selling some of Bela Lugosi's Phantom Creeps. Segment Three: Joel explains to the 'bots the movie binocular vision trick. Segment Four: Two aliens visit the SOL with a list of demands. Segment Five: Joel and the 'bots put on a fake TV show, which has Frank entertained. Original film made in 1948.
#6 - 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.
#7 - Being from Another Planet
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/4/1992
Movie Plot: A scientist steals a mummy that turns out to be alien. On the SOL: The crew plays 20 questions / Servo and Crow put on a haunted house / the crew tempts Frank by presenting the "TV's Frank Shopping Network" in an attempt to get him to bring the SOL back to earth. In Deep 13: The Mads invent tragic moments figures. Original film made in 1982.
#8 - The Indestructible Man
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/15/1992
Movie Plot: An executed man is brought back to life by a mad scientist. Also riffed was the short "The Undersea Kingdom, part 2." On the SOL: The 'bots switch covers / Joel and the 'bots put novels on the back of cereal boxes / the Crew discusses what they would do if they were indestructible. In Deep 13: The Mads put on a Playboy party / Deep 13 is visited by the cops to put a stop to cop and doughnut jokes. Original film made in 1956.
#9 - The Unearthly
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 12/14/1991
Movie Plot: A mad scientist creates havoc when an experiment to stop the aging process goes awry. Also riffed were the shorts "Posture Pals" and "Appreciating Your Parents." On the SOL: Joel invents celebrity appliances / the 'bots film an action packed home movie / Servo and Crow create "The Unearthly" board game. In Deep 13: The Mads create odd shaped pills including one with a fish hook / Frank eats potatoes. Original film made in 1957.
#10 - Stranded in Space
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/29/1991
Movie Plot: An astronaut lands on the planet Terra where he must fight the "Perfect Order." On the SOL: Tom makes some cookies and Crow has bad nightmares / Joel turns Servo into an arcade game / Joel becomes an evil overlord. In Deep 13: Dr. Forrester tries to promote Frank, but Frank couldn't care less. Original film made in 1973.
#11 - 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.
#12 - It Lives by Night
Season 10 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/18/1999
Movie Plot: A man on a spelunking trip becomes a man-bat. Intro:The crew does some painting. Mike tests to see what different colors do to the 'bots emotions. Segment One: Pearl distracts the SOL crew while Bobo sprays them with poison. The poison causes Crow to grow extra arms, for Servo's hands to become huge, and for a small Servo to grow on Mike's back. She gives in to their complaints and finally sends them the antidote. Segment Two: The crew dresses as the cast of the Mary Tyler Moore show, with Crow as Mary, Mike as Ted, and Servo as Lou. Segment Three: The 'bots think Mike is rabid and give him injections. It turns out he just fell asleep while eating pastry and has frosting on his face. The 'bots are mad that the won't need the rest of the injections. Segment Four: Mike grows a mustache and asks Pearl what she thinks of it. Segment Five: On the SOL, Servo opens a franchise of the Buddy Epsen Hat Destress Original film made in 1974.
#13 - 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.
#14 - Space Travelers
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/6/1992
Movie Plot: 3 astronauts become stranded when their ship fails. On the SOL: Crow becomes an escape artist / Joel invents a machine that puts your face on cash / the crew discusses the side effects of the space program. In Deep 13: The Mads invent tissues with famous people's faces printed on it. Original film made in 1969.
#15 - Invasion USA
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/23/1994
Movie Plot: The USSR completes a nuclear attack on the USA. Also riffed was the short "A Date with Your Family." On the SOL: Mike builds a new, psycho robot / the crew has a calm dinner / the bomb from the movie visits the SOL / Servo becomes convinced that reality is a dream. In Deep 13: Dr. Forrester tries an experiment on Crow by making him choose between a wire mother and a Dr. Forrester plush doll. / Frank is held at gunpoint by Dr. Forrester. Original film made in 1952.
#16 - 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.
#17 - Monster a Go-Go
Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 1/9/1993
Movie Plot: The search for an astronaut on an alien planet. Also riffed was the short "Circus on Ice." On the SOL: The 'bots start a micro-cheese factory / Gypsy doesn't "get" Crow / Joel and Crow play keep-away from Servo / The 'bots discuss the plausibility of the ""Pina Colada Song."" In Deep 13: Dr. Forrester decides to have and Action hero competition: The Mads' "Johnny Longtorso" doll is presented in many separate pieces. Original film made in 1965.
#18 - The Christmas Dragon
Season 13 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/16/2022
In this "triple riffle holiday spectacular,” all three test subjects and their bots must make it through a movie about a group of children who venture off to save the magic of Christmas in THE CHRISTMAS DRAGON (2014). Meanwhile, the test subjects gather together to put their top secret escape plan into action!
#19 - It Conquered the World
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/24/1991
Movie Plot: A cheesy alien-attack 1950s movie. Also riffed was the short "Snow Thrills." On the SOL: Joel is getting ready to be on Star Search / Servo hosts a winter-sports broadcast / the crew complains about their dinner. In Deep 13: Frank and Dr. Forrester dress up as dead people. Original film made in 1956.
#20 - 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.
#21 - The Million Eyes of Sumuru
Season 13 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/2/2022
In the theater, Jonah's crew watches an evil woman bent on dominating the world with her all-woman army in THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU (1967). Meanwhile, on the SOL, the bots realize Jonah is tall.
#22 - 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.
#23 - Quest of the Delta Knights
Season 9 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/26/1998
Movie Plot: The Delta Knights search for the lost cave of Archimedes. Intro: Gypsy is repairing Crow, leaving Servo and Mike with a loaner. Servo and Mike are happy, because the temp Crow has a radio. Segment One: Pearl switches places with Mike to test how miserable the movie watching really is. Segment Two: Despite the 'bots pleas for her to stay, Pearl switches back with Mike, who was enjoying a boys night out with Bobo and Brain Guy in the Castle. Segment Three: The Tom Servo choir performs the classic ""Air on a Delta Knight"" song Segment Four: Leonardo DaVinci visits on the hexfield. Segment Five: The Delta Knights are holding their annual pancake breakfast in Castle Forrester. Stinger: It's the "I'm Coming!" guy. Original film made in 1993.
#24 - Red Zone Cuba
Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 12/17/1994
Movie Plot: A story of some men who become mercenaries in an attack on Cuba. Also riffed was the short "Platform Posture and Appearance." On the SOL: Mike uses Servo's head to pick the lottery balls out of / the crew plays bingo / The Movie causes Mike to lose his mind and have an identity crisis / the crew sings about ironing boards. In Deep 13: Dr. Forrester is beaten up by some mob goons, to whom Frank owes a lot of money / Frank tries to help the dying Dr. Forrester by reading him the sympathy cards people have sent / Dr. Forrester has a near-death experience / as revenge, Dr. Forrester tries to kill Frank. Original film made in 1966.
#25 - 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.