Michael J. Nelson
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.
Photos
Movies (68)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Space Raiders
2026 · Mike Nelson, Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — The Mummy Theme Park
2026 · Mike Nelson, Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Deathsport
2026 · Mike Nelson, Writer, Producer, Director
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
2026 · Mike Nelson, Writer
Hunks of Junk
2026 · Self, Writer
GrimTrax Returns
2026 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
2025 · Self, Writer, Director
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
2024 · Self, Writer
GrimTrax
2024 · Self, Writer, Director
RiffTrax Live: RAD
2023 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
2022 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax: Zombie Nightmare
2022 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
2021 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
2019 · Self
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
2019 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
2019 · Self
The Rifftrax Yule Log
2018 · Self
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
2018 · Self
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
2017 · Self, Director
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
2017 · Self, Writer
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
2017 · Self
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
2016 · Self
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
2016 · Self, Director, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
2016 · Self
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
2016 · Self
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
2015 · Self
Rifftrax Live: The Room
2015 · Self
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
2015 · Himself
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
2014 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
2014 · Self
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
2014 · Himself
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
2013 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
2013 · Self
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
2013 · Himself
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
2013 · Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
2013 · Himself
Santa's Village of Madness
2012 · Self, Writer, Director
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
2012 · Himself
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
2012 · Self, Executive Producer, Writer
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
2010 · himself, Executive Producer, Writer
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010 · Writer
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
2009 · Himself
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
2009 · Self
Max the Hero
2007 · Stew (voice)
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
2007 · Self, Writer, Producer
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
2007 · Self, Writer, Producer
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
2007 · Self, Writer, Producer
The Three Stooges in Color
2005
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
2000 · Mike Nelson, Writer
The Last Dance: RAW
1999 · Himself / Mike Nelson
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
1999 · Mike Nelson
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
1998 · Mike Nelson, Director, Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
1998 · Mike Nelson
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
1997 · Mike Nelson, Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
1996 · Mike Nelson, Writer
Poopie!
1995
Poopie Parade of Values
1995 · Mike Nelson
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
1995 · Mike Nelson
This Is MST3K
1992 · Self
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964 · Michael J. Nelson
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
· Joel Williams
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
· Self, Writer, Producer
RiffTrax: Fever Lake
· Himself
TV shows (4)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
2026 · Mike Nelson, Writer, Creator
Total Riff Off
2014
The Adventures of Edward the Less
2001 · The Noble One (voice)
Mystery Science Theater 3000
1989 · Valeria, Mike Nelson, Torgo, Tony Travis (voice), Morrissey, Officer Mike, Holo-Clown, Imperialistic Alien, Isaac Asimov Literary Doomsday Device (voice), Kenny, Megaweapon (voice), Baywatch characters (voice), Virtual comedy heckler (voice), Frank Sinatra (voice), Director, Writer