Cast
Michael J. Nelson
Writing
Cast
Michael J. Nelson
Known for
Writing
Born
1964-10-11
From
St. Charles, Illinois
Also known as Mike Nelson
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.
MOVIE2026
GrimTrax Returns
as Self
MOVIE2026
MST3K: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
as Mike Nelson
MOVIE2025
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
as Self
MOVIE2026
Hunks of Junk
as Self
★6.6
MOVIE1996
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
as Mike Nelson
MOVIE2007
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
as Self
MOVIE2007
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
as Self
★9.0
MOVIE1964
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
as Michael J. Nelson
MOVIE2007
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
as Self
MOVIE2022
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
★6.1
MOVIE2017
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE1992
This Is MST3K
as Self
★8.7
MOVIE2015
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
★8.7
MOVIE2012
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
as Self
★9.0
MOVIE2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
as Self
★6.4
MOVIE2019
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
as Self
★7.7
MOVIE2015
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
as Himself
MOVIE1997
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
as Mike Nelson
★8.2
MOVIE2016
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
as Self
★8.0
MOVIE2023
RiffTrax Live: RAD
as Self
MOVIE2012
Santa's Village of Madness
as Self
★6.3
MOVIE2014
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
as Himself
★9.4
MOVIE2014
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
as Self
★10.0
MOVIE2024
GrimTrax
as Self
★8.6
MOVIE2009
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
as Self
★8.0
MOVIE2019
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE2014
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
as Self
★7.8
MOVIE2017
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
as Self
MOVIE1995
Poopie Parade of Values
as Mike Nelson
★10.0
MOVIE2013
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
as Self
MOVIE1999
The Last Dance: RAW
as Himself / Mike Nelson
★9.0
MOVIE2024
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
as Himself
★8.5
MOVIE2010
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
as himself
★9.0
MOVIE2016
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
★8.2
MOVIE2009
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
as Himself
MOVIE2018
The Rifftrax Yule Log
as Self
★8.8
MOVIE2015
Rifftrax Live: The Room
as Self
★7.6
MOVIE2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
as Self
MOVIETBA
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
as Joel Williams
★10.0
MOVIE2011
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
★9.0
MOVIE2010
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
★8.0
MOVIE2021
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
as Self
★7.7
MOVIE2016
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
as Self
MOVIETBA
RiffTrax: Pressure Point
as Himself
★8.0
MOVIE2015
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
★9.7
MOVIE2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
as Self
★5.5
MOVIE2022
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
as Self
★10.0
MOVIE2025
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
as Self
★6.0
MOVIE2007
Max the Hero
as Stew (voice)
★8.0
MOVIE1995
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
as Mike Nelson
★8.5
MOVIE2018
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
as Self
★10.0
MOVIE2019
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
as Self
★8.2
MOVIE2012
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
as Himself
★9.0
MOVIE1995
Poopie!
★8.0
MOVIE2005
The Three Stooges in Color
★4.7
MOVIE2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
as Self
MOVIE2013
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
as Himself
★9.0
MOVIE2017
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
as Self
★8.5
MOVIE1999
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
as Mike Nelson
★9.0
MOVIE2000
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
as Mike Nelson
★7.5
MOVIE2013
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
as Self
MOVIE1998
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
as Mike Nelson
MOVIETBA
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
as Self