Michael J. Nelson

Michael J. Nelson

Writing
Born 1964-10-11St. Charles, Illinois

Biography

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.

Movies (65)

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death

2026Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
6.6

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie

1996Movie6.6
The Year of Laughing Dangerously

The Year of Laughing Dangerously

Movie
This Is MST3K
7.0

This Is MST3K

1992Movie7.0
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
8.7

RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate

2012Movie8.7
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
7.0

2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

1998Movie7.0
GrimTrax Returns

GrimTrax Returns

2026Movie
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon

The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon

2007Movie
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
7.0

RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013

2013Movie7.0
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
9.0

Three Stooges: Greatest Routines

1964Movie9.0
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
8.2

RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!

2009Movie8.2
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
7.7

Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016

2016Movie7.7
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
9.0

RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion

2016Movie9.0
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
8.6

RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space

2009Movie8.6
Hunks of Junk

Hunks of Junk

2026Movie
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes

RiffTrax: Super Zeroes

2025Movie
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
10.0

RiffTrax Live: Timecop

2025Movie10.0
The Film Crew: Killers from Space

The Film Crew: Killers from Space

2007Movie
RiffTrax Live: RAD
8.0

RiffTrax Live: RAD

2023Movie8.0
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
7.7

Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015

2015Movie7.7
Rifftrax Live: The Room
8.8

Rifftrax Live: The Room

2015Movie8.8
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo

The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo

2007Movie
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
7.8

RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party

2017Movie7.8
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
9.0

RiffTrax Live: Point Break

2024Movie9.0
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
8.5

RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill

2010Movie8.5
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
8.7

RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny

2015Movie8.7
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
7.5

Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

2013Movie7.5
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
9.4

RiffTrax Live: Godzilla

2014Movie9.4
Poopie!
9.0

Poopie!

1995Movie9.0
The Three Stooges in Color
8.0

The Three Stooges in Color

2005Movie8.0
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
8.2

RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror

2012Movie8.2
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
10.0

Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers

2013Movie10.0
GrimTrax
10.0

GrimTrax

2024Movie10.0
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
8.2

RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers

2016Movie8.2
Max the Hero
6.0

Max the Hero

2007Movie6.0
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
8.5

RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny

2018Movie8.5
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
8.0

RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins

2021Movie8.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
7.0

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey

2013Movie7.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
8.5

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2

1999Movie8.5
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
8.0

RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection

2015Movie8.0
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1

1998Movie
The Last Dance: RAW

The Last Dance: RAW

1999Movie
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
9.0

Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness

2010Movie9.0
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes

RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes

2022Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
9.0

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3

2000Movie9.0
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
6.0

Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop

2017Movie6.0
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
10.0

RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders

2019Movie10.0
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
4.7

RiffTrax Live: Mothra

2016Movie4.7
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

1997Movie
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
8.0

RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion

2019Movie8.0
Santa's Village of Madness

Santa's Village of Madness

2012Movie
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
6.4

RiffTrax Live: Octaman

2019Movie6.4
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
7.6

RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2

2015Movie7.6
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
9.0

RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors

2017Movie9.0
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
8.0

MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special

1995Movie8.0
RiffTrax: Pressure Point

RiffTrax: Pressure Point

Movie
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
9.0

Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls

2016Movie9.0
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
7.0

RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus

2014Movie7.0
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
10.0

Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer

2011Movie10.0
Poopie Parade of Values

Poopie Parade of Values

1995Movie
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
5.5

RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing

2022Movie5.5
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
9.7

RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead

2013Movie9.7
The Rifftrax Yule Log

The Rifftrax Yule Log

2018Movie
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
6.3

RiffTrax Live: Sharknado

2014Movie6.3
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark

The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark

Movie

TV Shows (4)

Mystery Science Theater 3000
7.7

Mystery Science Theater 3000

1989Series7.7
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments

2026Series
The Adventures of Edward the Less

The Adventures of Edward the Less

2001Series
Total Riff Off
7.0

Total Riff Off

2014Series7.0