The perfect MST3k/Rifftrax pairing for a movie theme night.
How to have a great theme night
1. Watch a good movie
2. Watch a closely-related b-movie riffed by the pros at MST3k or Rifftrax
These b-movies are usually shameless rip-offs, but sometimes they're just another example of a film fad, or a movie that failed miserably where the first movie succeeded.
Since there are no listings for Rifftrax on this site, I've noted if a movie is rifftraxed.
The Rifftax Website
https://www.rifftrax.com/
You can watch previews for all their offerings. Just search the title on their front page.
I've made more MST3k musings.
1. Watch a good movie
2. Watch a closely-related b-movie riffed by the pros at MST3k or Rifftrax
These b-movies are usually shameless rip-offs, but sometimes they're just another example of a film fad, or a movie that failed miserably where the first movie succeeded.
Since there are no listings for Rifftrax on this site, I've noted if a movie is rifftraxed.
The Rifftax Website
https://www.rifftrax.com/
You can watch previews for all their offerings. Just search the title on their front page.
I've made more MST3k musings.
List activity
302 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
62 titles
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsRoy ScheiderRobert ShawRichard DreyfussWhen a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.
- DirectorMichael J. NelsonStarsKevin MurphyMichael J. NelsonMary Jo PehlA sea monster eats out for some Italian while dolphins seek revenge against the SOL.alternate choice : Rifftrax the Last Shark
alternate choice : Rifftrax Grizzly
The Last Shark feels like a terrible sequel to Jaws. Grizzly is a beat-for-beat character-for-character ripoff transported to the woods of California. - DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.
- DirectorRobert CohenJoel HodgsonStarsFelicia DayPatton OswaltJonah RayPerms, skimpy battle outfits and cheap effects abound in this 1978 "Star Wars" knockoff with David Hasselhoff and Christopher Plummer.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsSam NeillLaura DernJeff GoldblumA pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.
- DirectorMichael J. NelsonStarsKevin MurphyMichael J. NelsonMary Jo PehlThe guys take a crack at "Future War (1997)" in which a man escapes to LA but is being tracked by cyborgs. Mike and the Bots thank Pearl for not killing them which derails her plans. Tom makes himself a pair of legs so he can kick-box.alternate choice : Rifftrax Dinosaurus
alternate choice : Rifftrax Planet of the Dinosaurs - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsSally HawkinsOctavia SpencerMichael ShannonAt a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.
- 1988–1999TV-147.6 (465)TV EpisodeDirectorJim MallonStarsBill CorbettJim MallonMichael J. NelsonThe creature from the black lagoon is captured and taken to a Florida aquarium to be studied in Revenge of the Creature (1955). Mike and the Bots almost crash into Earth and when they try to get in touch in Deep 13, it's not Dr. Forester who responds to their call. Meanwhile, Mike and Tom try to figure out why Crow seems so different.
- DirectorS. Craig ZahlerStarsKurt RussellPatrick WilsonMatthew FoxIn the dying days of the old west, an elderly sheriff and his posse set out to rescue their town's doctor from cannibalistic cave dwellers.A great Horror-Western
(%90 on Rotten Tomatoes)
where it's %80 Western and the horror element is kinda unnecessary. - 2017–20221h 26mTV-147.3 (378)TV EpisodeDirectorRobert CohenJoel HodgsonStarsFelicia DayPatton OswaltJonah RaySaddle up for a trip to a Mexican ranch with a nasty secret in this part-Western, part-monster movie that's all torture for Jonah and the bots.A terrible Horror-Western where it's %80 Western and the horror element is kinda unnecessary
- DirectorGeorge SeatonHenry HathawayStarsBurt LancasterDean MartinGeorge KennedyA bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved.
- 1988–19991h 33mTV-147.5 (459)TV EpisodeDirectorKevin MurphyStarsTrace BeaulieuMichael J. NelsonJim MallonIt's a day in the life of the people who operate San Francisco International Airport while Mike distracts everyone with his Steve Urkle impersonation.
- DirectorRonald NeameStarsGene HackmanErnest BorgnineShelley WintersA group of passengers must embark on a harrowing struggle for survival after a rogue wave capsizes their cruise ship at sea.Or Towering Inferno.
- DirectorRobert CohenJoel HodgsonStarsFelicia DayPatton OswaltJonah RayWhile Jonah and crew dig into a schlocky ski-resort disaster flick starring Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow, Kinga Forrester connects with her long-distance lover.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryGert FröbeHonor BlackmanWhile investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.The best of 1960s Sean Connery James Bond. But any one will do.
- DirectorKevin MurphyStarsTrace BeaulieuMichael J. NelsonJim MallonDanger!! Death Ray (1967) features a slick secret agent investigating an evil organization that stole a top secret death ray. Tom makes his own death ray for peaceful use but caves in to the pressure to use it on Crow. Later, the Bots stage an episode of "This is your life" for Mike and Crow shows off his sunglasses designs.alternate choice : MST3k Agent for H.A.R.M.
- DirectorRichard LoncraineStarsIan McKellenAnnette BeningChristopher BowenThe classic Shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15th-century king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s England as clouds of fascism gather.My personal favorite Shakespeare movie, but any one you like will do.
- DirectorKevin MurphyMichael J. NelsonStarsKevin MurphyMichael J. NelsonMary Jo PehlThe SOL crew watches "Hamlet (1960)," a dark and dreary West German production of one of Shakespeare's greatest plays while Pearl concocts a deadly new virus.The worst Shakespeare movie
- DirectorJohn MiliusStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerJames Earl JonesMax von SydowA powerful warrior seeks to avenge the genocide of his people and the murder of his parents at the hands of a snake cult.
- DirectorJoe D'AmatoStarsMiles O'KeeffeSabrina SianiRitza BrownThe son of Torren learns of his heritage, goes to avenge the deaths of his fellow villagers, and rescue his sister from the evil Dakkar and his spider cult.Rifftraxed
Alternate Choice: MST3k Ator (the rifftrax one is better)
Alternate Choice : MST3k Outlaw of Gor - DirectorGeorge MillerStarsMel GibsonBruce SpenceMichael PrestonIn the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline-rich community get rid of a horde of bandits.
- DirectorEnzo G. CastellariStarsGiancarlo PreteFred WilliamsonGeorge EastmanTwo mercenaries help wandering caravans fight off an evil and aimless band of white-clad bikers after the nuclear holocaust.Rifftraxed
- DirectorWalter HillStarsMichael BeckJames RemarDorsey WrightA street gang known as the Warriors must fight its way from the Bronx to its home turf on Coney Island when its members are falsely accused of assassinating a respected gang leader.
- DirectorJim MallonStarsTrace BeaulieuMichael J. NelsonJim MallonA grunge punk fights an evil corporation enforcing an evacuation of the Bronx in Escape from the Bronx (1983). Mike and the Bots have "Men's Night" on the SOL and Dr. Forester tries to come up with a way to boost the show's ratings.One of many Italian 80s movies where its just The Warriors and Mad Max thrown into a blender.
- DirectorMario BavaStarsBarbara SteeleJohn RichardsonAndrea ChecchiA vengeful witch and her fiendish servant return from the grave and begin a bloody campaign to possess the body of the witch's beautiful look-alike descendant.
- 1988–1999TV-147.8 (552)TV EpisodeDirectorJim MallonStarsTrace BeaulieuMichael J. NelsonJim MallonWhile Mike and the Bots wrestle with Santo vs. the Vampire Women (1962), TV's Frank is assumed into Second Banana Heaven, leaving no one for Dr. Forrester to kill.alternate choice : Rifftrax Brainiac
- DirectorJohn LandisStarsDavid NaughtonJenny AgutterJoe BelcherTwo American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.The best Werewolf Movie ...but I guess any werewolf movie you like would do.
- DirectorKevin MurphyStarsKevin MurphyMichael J. NelsonMary Jo PehlA guy turns people into werewolves for his own sick pleasure while Mike turns into a were-Crow.The worst Werewolf Movie
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.
- DirectorMichael J. NelsonStarsBill CorbettPatrick BrantsegMichael J. NelsonConstantly-Out-Of-His-League Man battles evil while Pearl hosts her Castle Forrester Ball.alternate choice: Rifftrax Supersonic Man
- DirectorJoe DanteStarsZach GalliganPhoebe CatesHoyt AxtonA young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.
- DirectorMichael J. NelsonStarsBill CorbettPatrick BrantsegMichael J. NelsonMike and the Bots suffer through the 1988 B movie "Hobgoblins," the story of tiny goblin-like creatures who attack a group of teenagers.
- DirectorFred WaltonStarsCarol KaneCharles DurningRutanya AldaA psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.
- DirectorFred WaltonStarsCarol KaneCharles DurningJill SchoelenA young babysitter, all alone in the house with two children asleep above, is bothered by a stranger. Unfortunately, the phone's dead...Rifftraxed
It follows the same structure as the first one and that first half hour is actually pretty good. - DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsDonald PleasenceJamie Lee CurtisTony MoranFifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
- DirectorStephen TylerStarsJan JensenNancy MeyerJoann WhitleyLinda, Tracy, and Chris are a trio of teenage girls who decide to celebrate the last day of high school by having a slumber party at Linda's house. A few guys also show up to further enhance the merry festivities. However, things take a turn for the worse when a homicidal maniac who has just escaped from a mental hospital crashes the bash.Rifftraxed
alternate choice : Rifftrax Terror at Tenkiller - DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonMichael BiehnA human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.
- DirectorCullen BlaineStarsMargaret TriggRichard GessweinJayne SmithRobotic Officer Tactical Operation Research. A prototype robot intended for crime combat escapes from the development lab and goes on a killing rampage.Rifftraxed
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.
- DirectorDavid GiancolaStarsSean AstinBruce CampbellStacy KeachAt the the Killington ski resort something has gone awry. Evil terrorists led by the sinister Greig have taken the resort hostage with a stolen nuclear device. It's up to Ski Patrol bum Matt Foster to save the day - and his fiancé.Rifftraxed
- DirectorColin EgglestonStarsJohn HargreavesBriony BehetsMike McEwenWhen a suburban couple go camping for the weekend at a remote beach, they discover that nature isn't in an accommodating mood.a good animals attack movie
- DirectorWilliam GirdlerStarsChristopher GeorgeLeslie NielsenLynda Day GeorgeA battle for survival ensues after a group of hikers encounters a chemically imbalanced forest.Rifftraxed
a terrible animals attack movie - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.
- DirectorRené Cardona Jr.StarsStuart WhitmanDonald PleasenceBradford DillmanThree groups of adventurers all vying to find treasure in the jungle clash against each other, the merciless natives, and the dangerous wildlife.Rifftraxed
- DirectorMike HodgesStarsSam J. JonesMelody AndersonMax von SydowA football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.
- DirectorAlbert PyunStarsLee HorsleyKathleen BellerSimon MacCorkindaleA mercenary with a three-bladed sword rediscovers his royal heritage's dangerous future when he is recruited to help a princess foil the designs of a brutal tyrant and a powerful sorcerer in conquering a land.Rifftraxed
SATS is really several 80s Fantasy movies thrown in a blender with Han Solo and some violence and sexiness. - DirectorPeter YatesStarsKen MarshallLysette AnthonyFreddie JonesA prince and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet, Krull.OK, it's not 'Great', but I like Krull
A fun 80s Fantasy/Adventure - DirectorTerry MarcelStarsJack PalanceJohn TerryBernard BresslawWith the aid of his companions, a man seeks to defeat his evil brother who has taken a nun hostage.Rifftaxed
A crappy 80s Fantasy/Adventure - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsRod TaylorTippi HedrenJessica TandyA wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people.
- DirectorJames NguyenStarsAlan BaghWhitney MooreTippi HedrenA horde of mutated birds descends upon the quiet town of Half Moon Bay, California. As the death toll rises, two citizens manage to fight back, but will they survive Birdemic?Rifftraxed
Alternate Choice : Rifftrax Kingdom of the Spiders - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartKim NovakBarbara Bel GeddesA former San Francisco police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with the hauntingly beautiful woman he has been hired to trail, who may be deeply disturbed.
- DirectorJames NguyenStarsJohn David BraddockLana DykstraRick CampSuffering from kidney failure, Joe, a computer chip salesman goes through an organ transplant administered by Dr. Evelyn Tyler who is a biogeneticist for Therapeutic Technology located at 1 DNA Drive. Joe is not only grateful for his new kidney, but he becomes interested and obsessed in Dr. Tyler who shows him the world of miraculous, amazing and wonderful biotechnology. But this seemingly technological panacea is also filled with uncertainty, danger and dilemma that changes their life forever.Rifftraxed
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsJack NicholsonShelley DuvallDanny LloydA family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsLara WendelGreg RhodesMary SellersVisions of a deceased girl and her doll bring doom to the visitors of a deserted house.Rifftraxed
- DirectorGordon ParksStarsRichard RoundtreeMoses GunnCharles CioffiA crime lord hires black private eye, John Shaft, to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.the best blaxploitation movie
- DirectorRene Martinez Jr.StarsLoye HawkinsCathy DavisPatricia FultonA private detective operating in Miami is hired to protect the wife of an African head of state in town for diplomatic business, and to recover the daughter of the leader of a criminal organization, who has been kidnapped by a rival gang.Rifftraxed
the worst blaxploitation movie - DirectorGerard JohnstoneStarsMorgana O'ReillyRima Te WiataGlen-Paul WaruA young woman is forced to return to her childhood home after being placed under house arrest, where she suspects that something evil may be lurking.A cute and fun horror movie
%97 on Rotten Tomatoes - DirectorMark RosmanStarsKate McNeilEileen DavidsonJanis WardAfter a seemingly innocent prank goes horribly wrong, a group of sorority sisters are stalked and murdered one by one in their sorority house while throwing a party to celebrate their graduation.Rifftraxed
Has the same twist ending as Housebound. Actually, this twist is used in several horror movies. This isn't even the worst one I've seen. - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHenry ThomasDrew BarrymorePeter CoyoteA troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.
- DirectorJoel HodgsonRob SchrabStarsFelicia DayPatton OswaltJonah RayIn part one of a Gauntlet six-movie binge, Jonah and the bots take on the 1988 film Mac and Me: an alien is befriended by a wheelchair-bound boy while trying to escape from NASA.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsEd HarrisMary Elizabeth MastrantonioMichael BiehnA civilian diving team is enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine and faces danger while encountering an alien aquatic species.
- DirectorJoel HodgsonRob SchrabStarsFelicia DayPatton OswaltJonah RayIn part three of a Gauntlet six-movie binge, Jonah and the bots take on the 1989 film Lords of the Deep: researchers and miners aboard a self-contained undersea laboratory come in contact with the inhabitants of an undiscovered world.