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The Best Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000

Every episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000!

The Best Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000

A stranded spaceship pilot captured by mad scientists survives a blitz of cheesy B movies by riffing on them with his funny robot pals.
  1. Background image for 12 to the Moon
    9.0/10(1.6k votes)

    #1 - 12 to the Moon

    S5:E24

    In the theater, the crew watches astronauts go to the moon, sparking a battle between the lunar beings and Earth in "12 to the Moon" (1960). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Nuveena, the girl from the future, visits the SOL and tempts Mike and the bots into moving to the future with her. This episode features the short "Design for Dreaming" (1956).

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  2. Background image for Horrors of Spider Island
    8.9/10(1.1k votes)

    #2 - Horrors of Spider Island

    S10:E10

    In the theater, the crew watches as a female dance troupe find themselves stranded on an island of killer spiders in "Horrors of Spider Island" (1960). Meanwhile, on the SOL, the bots manage to snag Mike in their very obvious giant web.

    Writer:Unknown
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  3. Background image for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
    8.8/10(6 votes)

    #3 - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

    S3:E21

    In the theater, the crew watches as a group of Martians, eager for their own Christmas back on Mars, abduct Santa and two children in "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" (1964). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel and the bots share essays about Christmas. This episode features the song "(Let's Have) A Patrick Swayze Christmas."

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  4. Background image for The Starfighters
    8.8/10(1.1k votes)

    #4 - The Starfighters

    S6:E12

    In the theater, the crew watches as a lot of airplanes are refueled mid-flight during a young Air Force pilot's training in "The Starfighters" (1964). Meanwhile, on the SOL, The United Servo Academy Men's Chorus stages a gripping performance. This episode features the song "United Servo Academy Men's Chorus Hymn."

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  5. Background image for City Limits
    8.5/10(1.1k votes)

    #5 - City Limits

    S4:E3

    In the theater, the crew watches as gangs in a dystopian future attempt to take back control of their city from an evil corporation in "City Limits" (1985). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel and the bots invent some new superheroes. This episode features the song "Oh, Kim Cattrall!"

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  6. Background image for Bloodlust!
    8.5/10(859 votes)

    #6 - Bloodlust!

    S6:E7

    In the theater, the crew watches as a group of college kids are trapped on a private island and hunted by a madman in "Bloodlust!" (1961). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Crow manages to ruin both a square-dancing session and a murder mystery dinner theater. This episode features the short "Uncle Jim's Dairy Farm" (1960).

    Writer:Unknown
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000

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  8. Background image for Blood Waters of Dr. Z
    8.5/10(1.1k votes)

    #7 - Blood Waters of Dr. Z

    S10:E4

    In the theater, the crew watches as a mad scientist exacts revenge by transforming himself into a catfish and going on a killing spree in "Blood Waters of Dr. Z" (1971). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Mike and the bots decide to go fishing.

    Writer:Unknown
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  9. Background image for Hercules and the Captive Women
    8.4/10(567 votes)

    #8 - Hercules and the Captive Women

    S4:E12

    In the theater, the crew watches as Hercules journeys to Atlantis to rescue the King of Thebes in "Hercules and the Captive Women" (1961). Meanwhile, on the SOL, the bots engage in some good-natured brawling.

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  10. Background image for Future War
    8.4/10(944 votes)

    #9 - Future War

    S10:E3

    In the theater, the crew watches as cyborgs and tiny dinosaurs hunt down an escaped slave in a dystopian future in "Future War" (1997). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Tom Servo challenges Gypsy to a kickboxing match.

    Writer:Unknown
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  11. Background image for Final Justice
    8.4/10(950 votes)

    #10 - Final Justice

    S10:E7

    In the theater, the crew watches as a Texas sheriff heads to Malta to clumsily pursue a killer in "Final Justice" (1985). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Crow and Tom are cruel to poor Goosio, Friend to Maltese Children Everywhere.

    Director:Kevin Murphy
    Writer:Unknown
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  12. Background image for The Atomic Brain
    8.3/10(509 votes)

    #11 - The Atomic Brain

    S5:E18

    In the theater, the crew watches as an aging socialite lures young women to her mansion in an attempt to transplant her brain into one of their bodies in "The Atomic Brain" (1964). Meanwhile, on the SOL, the bots are unsettled by Mike's chin puppet demonstration. This episode features the short "What About Juvenile Delinquency?" (1955).

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  13. Background image for The Beast of Yucca Flats
    8.3/10(788 votes)

    #12 - The Beast of Yucca Flats

    S6:E21

    In the theater, the crew watches as a scientist becomes a monster and rampages a rural desert community in "The Beast of Yucca Flats" (1961). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Crow petitions for film anti-preservation so that bad movies can deteriorate rapidly like they deserve. This episode features the shorts "Money Talks!" (1951) and "Progress Island U.S.A." (1972).

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  14. Background image for Gamera vs. Guiron
    8.2/10(556 votes)

    #13 - Gamera vs. Guiron

    S3:E12

    In the theater, the crew watches as Gamera battles the knife-headed kaiju called Guiron, and attempts to rescue two abducted schoolboys in "Gamera vs Guiron" (1969). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Crow ruins Joel's big magic trick. This episode features Joel and the bots' own version of the "Gamera" theme song, in English and in dubious Japanese.

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  15. Background image for Space Travelers
    8.2/10(793 votes)

    #14 - Space Travelers

    S4:E1

    In the theater, the crew watch on as three astronauts become stranded when their ship fails, in "Space Travelers" (1969). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Crow becomes an escape artist, Joel invents a machine that puts your face on cash, and the crew discusses the side effects of the space program.

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  16. Background image for Indestructible Man
    8.2/10(516 votes)

    #15 - Indestructible Man

    S4:E9

    In the theater, the crew watches as a mad scientist brings an executed convict back to life; the convict is now out for revenge in "Indestructible Man" (1956). Meanwhile, on the SOL, a parade goes terribly wrong. This episode features the short "Undersea Kingdom, Chapter Two: The Undersea City" (1936).

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  17. Background image for Monster a Go-Go
    8.2/10(858 votes)

    #16 - Monster a Go-Go

    S4:E21

    In the theater, the crew watches as a crash causes an astronaut to become an irradiated mutant creature, who then terrorizes a nearby town in "Monster a Go-Go" (1965). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Gypsy doesn't understand Crow and Servo, and Crow and Servo don't understand the Piña Colada song. This episode features the short "Circus on Ice" (1954).

    Director:Joel Hodgson
    Writer:Unknown
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  18. Background image for Secret Agent Super Dragon
    8.2/10(685 votes)

    #17 - Secret Agent Super Dragon

    S5:E4

    In the theater, the crew watches as a secret agent investigates a Venezuelan crime organization manufacturing a mind-altering chewing gum in "Secret Agent Super Dragon" (1966). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel and the bots do a read-through of Crow's wholesome screenplay, "The Spy Who Hugged Me." This episode features the "Secret Agent Super Dragon Theme Song."

    Writer:Unknown
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  19. Background image for Village of the Giants
    8.2/10(650 votes)

    #18 - Village of the Giants

    S5:E23

    In the theater, the crew watches as a group of obnoxious teens take over a town after ingesting a growth formula, in "Village of the Giants" (1965). Meanwhile, in Deep 13, Dr. Clayton Forrester is preparing to replace TV's Frank with Torgo. This episode features the song "The Greatest Frank of All."

    Director:Kevin Murphy
    Writer:Unknown
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  20. Background image for The Creeping Terror
    8.2/10(852 votes)

    #19 - The Creeping Terror

    S6:E6

    In the theater, the crew watches as a blob-like creature terrorizes a quiet town in "The Creeping Terror" (1964). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Mike refuses to salute the flag Crow has designed.

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  21. Background image for The Undead
    8.2/10(876 votes)

    #20 - The Undead

    S8:E6

    In the theater, the crew watches as a hypnotist sends a woman from the present back into the distant past in "The Undead" (1957). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Servo's invitation to join the Observers doesn't go well.

    Director:Kevin Murphy
    Writer:Unknown
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  22. Background image for Code Name: Diamond Head
    8.1/10(571 votes)

    #21 - Code Name: Diamond Head

    S6:E8

    In the theater, the crew watches as a secret agent in Hawaii goes undercover to keep an extinction-causing chemical from falling into enemy hands, in "Code Name: Diamond Head" (1977). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Magic Voice answers the bots' "What if?" questions. This episode features the short "A Day at the Fair" (1947).

    Director:Kevin Murphy
    Writer:Unknown
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  23. Background image for San Francisco International
    8.1/10(569 votes)

    #22 - San Francisco International

    S6:E14

    In the theater, the crew watches as an airport manager winds up a pert of a scheme to rob a shipment of cash from a plane. On the SOL, Mike moderates a debate between Servo and Crow, Jan in the Pan is thrilled with Mike's Urkel imitation, so are the Mads, Pitch, and Santa Claus, and Torgo ruins everyone's good time about Mike's Urkel.

    Director:Kevin Murphy
    Writer:Unknown
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  24. Background image for Attack of the Giant Leeches
    8.0/10(656 votes)

    #23 - Attack of the Giant Leeches

    S4:E6

    In the theater, the crew watches as mutant leeches capture and drink the blood of people in a small Florida town in "Attack of the Giant Leeches" (1959). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel and the bots compare the movie to their own bizarre dreams. This episode features the short "Undersea Kingdom, Chapter One: Beneath the Ocean Floor" (1936) and the song "A Danger to Myself and Others."

    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
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  25. Background image for Hercules
    8.0/10(629 votes)

    #24 - Hercules

    S5:E2

    In the theater, the crew watches as Hercules and Jason search for the legendary Golden Fleece in "Hercules" (1958). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel and the bots get a visit from some Amazons via the Hexfield Viewscreen.

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  26. Background image for Teen-Age Strangler
    8.0/10(548 votes)

    #25 - Teen-Age Strangler

    S5:E14

    In the theater, the crew watches as a troubled teen is accused of murder when a serial killer terrorizes a small town in "Teen-Age Strangler" (1964). Meanwhile, on the SOL, the bots fit Mike with a modified pair of glasses that make him act like the teenage star of the film. This episode features the short "Is This Love?" (1957) and the song, "I'm a Janitor."

    Director:Kevin Murphy
    Writer:Unknown
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Best Episodes Summary

"12 to the Moon" is the best rated episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000". It scored 9/10 based on 1583 votes. Directed by Jim Mallon and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/5/1994. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Horrors of Spider Island".