
Michael J. Nelson
- Known for
- Writing
- Born
- October 11, 1964
- Birthplace
- St. Charles, Illinois
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.
Filmography

The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark TBA
as Self, Writer, Producer

The Year of Laughing Dangerously TBA
as Joel Williams
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Space Raiders
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Space Raiders 2026
as Mike Nelson, Writer

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — The Mummy Theme Park 2026
as Mike Nelson, Writer

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Deathsport 2026
as Mike Nelson, Writer, Producer, Director

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death 2026
as Mike Nelson, Writer

Hunks of Junk 2026
as Self, Writer

GrimTrax Returns 2026
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Timecop 2025
as Self, Writer, Director

RiffTrax Live: Point Break 2024
as Self, Writer

GrimTrax 2024
as Self, Writer, Director

RiffTrax Live: RAD 2023
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing 2022
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax: Zombie Nightmare 2022
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes 2022
Actor

RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins 2021
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion 2019
as Self

RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders 2019
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Octaman 2019
as Self

The Rifftrax Yule Log 2018
as Self

RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny 2018
as Self

RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors 2017
as Self, Director

RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party 2017
as Self, Writer

Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop 2017
as Self

Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls 2016
Actor

RiffTrax Live: Mothra 2016
as Self

RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion 2016
as Self, Director, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers 2016
as Self

Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016 2016
as Self

RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny 2015
Actor

RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection 2015
Actor

RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2 2015
as Self

Rifftrax Live: The Room 2015
as Self

Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015 2015
as Himself

RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus 2014
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Godzilla 2014
as Self

RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2014
as Himself

Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians 2013
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead 2013
as Self

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey 2013
as Himself

Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers 2013
as Self, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013 2013
as Himself
- Santa's Village of Madness
Santa's Village of Madness 2012
as Self, Writer, Director

RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror 2012
as Himself

RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate 2012
as Self, Writer, Executive Producer

Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer 2011
Actor

RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill 2010
as himself, Writer, Executive Producer

Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness 2010
Actor, Writer

RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza! 2009
as Himself

RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space 2009
as Self
- Max the Hero
Max the Hero 2007
as Stew (voice)

The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon 2007
as Self, Writer, Producer

The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo 2007
as Self, Writer, Producer

The Film Crew: Killers from Space 2007
as Self, Writer, Producer
- The Three Stooges in Color
The Three Stooges in Color 2005
Actor

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3 2000
as Mike Nelson, Writer

The Last Dance: RAW 1999
as Himself / Mike Nelson

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2 1999
as Mike Nelson

2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review 1998
as Mike Nelson, Director, Writer

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1 1998
as Mike Nelson

1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review 1997
as Mike Nelson, Writer

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie 1996
as Mike Nelson, Writer
- Poopie Parade of Values
Poopie Parade of Values 1995
as Mike Nelson
- Poopie!
Poopie! 1995
Actor

MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special 1995
as Mike Nelson

This Is MST3K 1992
as Self
- Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines 1964
as Michael J. Nelson
Credits from TMDB.