Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie 1996

The movie, which draws inspiration from the beloved television series, kicks off inside the lair of the maniacal Dr. Clayton Forrester, portrayed by Trace Beaulieu, a deranged scientist who makes his home deep within the shadows of Deep 13. He directly addresses the audience, revealing that our innate curiosity has ensnared us in his wicked plot. His devious experiment entails subjecting his captive, Mike Nelson, played by himself (Michael J. Nelson), to the torture of enduring a series of horrendous films from the last several decades. The film that serves as the centerpiece of this particular experiment is the 1955 science fiction classic, This Island Earth.

Meanwhile, aboard the Satellite of Love, Mike starts his day with a workout routine. He is joined by the ever-charming robot Gypsy, voiced by Jim Mallon, along with Tom Servo. While they go about their morning, a mysterious banging sound echoes through the satellite. Upon investigation, Mike and Tom stumble upon the wisecracking Crow T. Robot, who is hilariously attempting to dig his way to Earth using a pickaxe, unintentionally breaching the satellite’s hull. To patch the damage, Mike cleverly places a bowl over the hole. Just then, Dr. Forrester calls in to elaborate on his malicious experiment, emphasizing that Mike has failed to show him the proper deference in recent weeks. He enforces this point by using dubious means to compel Mike and the robots to bow before him.

With a flick of a switch, Dr. Forrester activates the experiment after casually asking if anyone needs to take a restroom break. The movie sign lights up, signaling the beginning of their cinematic ordeal. With the alarm echoing, Mike and the robots brace themselves as they proceed to the theater to endure the gaudy spectacle of the 1955 film, This Island Earth.