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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).

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  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.

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    Writer:Unknown
  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."

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  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."

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Earth vs. the Spider
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #5 - Earth vs. the Spider

    S3:E13

    In the theater, the crew watches as teenagers and a science teacher attempt to exterminate the giant spider that's rampaging through their small town in "Earth vs. the Spider" (1958). Meanwhile, on the SOL, there's a surprise performance from the rock group, Spidorr. This episode features the short "Speech: Using Your Voice."

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Pod People
    8.6/10(8 votes)

    #6 - Pod People

    S3:E3

    In the theater, the crew watches as a little kid befriends a magic alien he calls Trumpy, while Trumpy's alien family go on a murder spree in "Pod People" (1983). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Trumpy's magic is causing chaos. This episode features the songs "Idiot Control Now" and "Clowns in the Sky."

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

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  8. Background image for Cave Dwellers
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #7 - Cave Dwellers

    S3:E1

    In the theater, the crew watches as blonde barbarian called Ator fights to protect the mighty "Geometric Nucleus" from falling into the hands of a power-hungry villain in "Cave Dwellers" (1984). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel teaches the bots the art of Foley.

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

    #8 - 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!"

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Bloodlust!
    8.5/10(855 votes)

    #9 - 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).

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    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Night of the Blood Beast
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #10 - Night of the Blood Beast

    S7:E1

    In the theater, the crew watches as an astronaut finds himself pregnant with alien embryos in "Night of the Blood Beast" (1958). Meanwhile, in Deep 13, Dr. Forrester is adjusting to his overbearing mother now living with him.

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    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Escape 2000
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #11 - Escape 2000

    S7:E5

    In the theater, the crew watches as a street punk protects the Bronx from being razed by an evil corporation in "Escape 2000" (1985). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Crow accidentally lights several fires and Mike chokes Servo with cigar smoke.

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Blood Waters of Dr. Z
    8.5/10(1.0k votes)

    #12 - 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.

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    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Catalina Caper
    8.4/10(7 votes)

    #13 - Catalina Caper

    S2:E4

    The crew watches "Catalina Caper" (1967). TV's Frank botches his Tupperware sales pitch.

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for The Amazing Colossal Man
    8.4/10(4 votes)

    #14 - The Amazing Colossal Man

    S3:E9

    In the theater, the crew watches as a military pilot is exposed to radiation that causes him to grow to an unmanageable size in "The Amazing Colossal Man" (1957). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Crow and Tom Servo make a fort to hide from Joel and get out of doing their chores.

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Hercules and the Captive Women
    8.4/10(563 votes)

    #15 - 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.

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for Future War
    8.4/10(938 votes)

    #16 - 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.

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    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Final Justice
    8.4/10(943 votes)

    #17 - 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.

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    Director:Kevin Murphy
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Godzilla vs. Megalon
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #18 - Godzilla vs. Megalon

    S2:E12

    In the theater, the crew watches as the undersea nation of Seatopia sends the gigantic Megalon to destroy the world above while Godzilla and the size-shifting robot Jet Jaguar try to stop him in "Godzilla vs. Megalon" (1973). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel and the Bots host a stereotypical morning magazine show.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #19 - Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster

    S2:E13

    In the theater, the crew watches as a young man steals a boat to find his brother but ends up shipwrecked on a mysterious island inhabited by a giant sea monster and a slumbering Godzilla in "Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster" (1966). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel reads the Velveteen Rabbit and does all the voices.

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for The Atomic Brain
    8.3/10(504 votes)

    #20 - 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).

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for The Beast of Yucca Flats
    8.3/10(782 votes)

    #21 - 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).

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for Gamera
    8.2/10(2 votes)

    #22 - Gamera

    S3:E2

    In the theater, the crew watches as Japan comes under attack by Gamera, a giant, fire-breathing turtle monster, who also befriends a schoolboy in "Gamera" (1965). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Gamera pays a visit. This episode features the song "Tibby, Oh Tibby."

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Space Travelers
    8.2/10(792 votes)

    #23 - 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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  25. Background image for Indestructible Man
    8.2/10(515 votes)

    #24 - 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).

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    Director:Jim Mallon
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Monster a Go-Go
    8.2/10(853 votes)

    #25 - 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).

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    Director:Joel Hodgson
    Writer:Unknown

Best Episodes Summary

"12 to the Moon" is the best rated episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000". It scored 9/10 based on 1577 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".