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Starting out on local Minnesota TV, Mystery Science Theater 3000 quickly became one of the funniest shows on television. Thanks to devoted fans sharing tapes of episodes, MST3K aired for 10 seasons on various channels. The show even had a revival on Netflix in 2017, followed by a crowdfunded run on Gizmoplex. Sadly, a crowdfunding campaign for a 14th season fell short of its $4 million goal, so for now, it seems like the end of the road.
Before diving into the Netflix and Gizmoplex episodes, check out these 12 classic episodes. Watching the entire series is a tall order, so these episodes will give you a taste of the show’s humor and inside jokes.
Most of the MST3K catalog is available with a Shout! Factory TV subscription, which you can add to your Prime Video subscription for an extra $2.99 per month. You can also watch it for free with ads directly on Shout! Factory.
1. “The Side Hackers”
The second season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is where the show truly found its voice. With Joel striking the right balance between being a caretaker to the bots and joining in on the fun, this episode is a must-watch. Despite the grim content of the movie, the riffing is hilariously on point, making it a fan favorite.
2. “Pod People”
“It stinks!” This iconic catchphrase originates from the hilariously bad movie featured in this episode. The convoluted plot and rushed changes due to the success of E.T. make for prime riffing material. Plus, the birth of one of MST3K‘s best running jokes is reason enough to tune in.
3. “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”
Featuring a weird and campy plot, this Christmas episode is a must-see. With jokes about Santa’s whimsy bordering on intoxication and a musical host segment involving a Patrick Swayze Christmas song, this episode is pure comedic gold.
4. “Manos: The Hands of Fate”
The 24th episode of Season 4 showcased the absolute worst movie Joel and the bots ever had to endure. It’s so bad that it should be used as a cautionary tale in film schools. “Manos: The Hands of Fate” follows a family on a road trip who ends up staying in a weird house with an even weirder caretaker named Torgo. The terrible pacing and odd dialogue make this movie a cringe-worthy experience. Joel and the bots provide hilarious commentary throughout, with Joel even losing his cool at one point.
“Watch out for snakes!” became a recurring joke from the movie “Eegah!” where a caveman is stumbled upon by a group of teenagers. The nonsensical plot and awkward dubbing make it ripe for riffing. Similarly, “Mitchell” showcases an anti-hero cop in the slowest, most lethargic movie cop role ever. The hosts take pleasure in mocking the lackluster action scenes and Joe Don Baker’s performance. The fact that Baker was reportedly upset about the episode only adds to its charm.
In the Christmas episode “Santa Claus,” the crew watches a bizarre Mexican movie involving Santa living in space and creepy robotic reindeer. The host segments are equally entertaining, including a politically correct holiday anthem. Lastly, “Space Mutiny” takes the crew into a Star Wars ripoff filled with cheesy ’80s aesthetics and plenty of material for jokes. From poking fun at characters’ names to mocking the dated special effects, this episode is a riot from start to finish.
One of the most entertaining movies the crew of the Satellite of Love has to sit through is “Time Chasers.” Made in 1994, but with all the pink shirts and shoulder pads, you’d swear it was from the ’80s. The fashion in the future is the same as when they left, and the hero is not exactly what you’d expect for an action movie. The hosts can’t believe Matthew Bruch is the star of the movie. The time-hopping adventure is hilariously silly, even without the MST3K commentary. From the cartoonishly evil antagonist to the awkwardly shot action sequences, there’s a lot of filmmaking incompetence to poke fun at here.
### 10. “The Final Sacrifice”
My absolute favorite episode is hands down “The Final Sacrifice.” It’s the cheesiest, most Canadian occult thriller ever made. Every character has a strange voice, especially the geeky kid protagonist who loves saying “Rowsdower.” The plot is weird and ultimately pointless, with riffs that are some of the best in the series. And Zap Rowsdower is still the best action hero name ever.
### 11. “Soultaker”
In the first episode of the final pre-revival season, two fan favorite characters return as the Satellite of Love malfunctions. Joel makes a guest appearance, explaining his adventures in Australia before coming back to fix the satellite. The movie is a melodramatic supernatural horror flick with Joel’s return to the Satellite of Love being the highlight.
“The Soultaker” is an incredibly cheesy tale of teenagers trying to escape death agents, the Soultakers. The lack of internal logic in the movie is a point of humor for Mike and the bots, making it a funny episode overall. But the real draw is seeing Joel return.
### 12. “Squirm”
If “The Final Sacrifice” is the best episode of the Mike era, “Squirm” might be the second best. It’s like “Tremors” with regular-sized worms and no comedy. The hero is an awkward dork from New York who constantly embarrasses himself in a small southern town. The movie’s focus on the south is overdone, with Tom Servo pointing out, “nobody’s THAT southern.”
The best part of this episode is the short film that comes before the movie. “A Case of Spring Fever” is a quirky Jam Handy short about the importance of springs in our daily lives. A man gets fed up with having to deal with springs and wishes he never has to see one again. A cartoon character named Coily shows him a world without springs, where nothing works properly, and the man quickly changes his mind. It’s a bizarre short that leaves you wondering why it was ever created. Interestingly, references to Coily appear throughout the series before the bots even watched “A Case of Spring Fever.” This continuity error was intentional, as the crew wanted to use the short from the beginning but only obtained the rights in the final season.
Honorable Mentions
– “The Crawling Eye”: The pilot episode is worth watching to see how it all started. The show was still finding its footing, so the humor is a bit more subdued. However, it serves as a good bookend to the series.
– “I Accuse my Parents”: A cautionary tale from 1944 about a good kid gone bad due to neglectful parents. It’s a standout episode from the Joel era, with hilarious commentary on the moral panic of the time.
– “Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie/This Island Earth”: While not a traditional episode, this theatrically released movie is shorter than usual due to focus testing. The jokes are a bit edgier, and “This Island Earth” is considered one of the best movies they’ve watched. It’s a must-see for fans looking to see the show with a bigger budget.
That’s all for now! If you want more MST3K content, be sure to check out the original article on Geek. And remember, this article was first published in April 2020 and updated in December 2023.
