- Mystery Science Theater 3000 video releases
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Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American TV show which aired between 1988 and 1999. This page summarizes video tape and DVD releases of episodes of the show. Episodes were initially released by Rhino Entertainment, with the rights later being purchased by Shout! Factory. Releases usually consist of boxsets of 4 episodes, although early releases consisted of just single episodes.
Episodes are not released in chronological order. This is because releasing the episodes on home video can be very difficult due to rights issues involved in licensing the movies featured within the episodes. As a result, long negotiations are involved, and many episodes are not able to be released on home video. According to Shout! Factory, releases are prevented because either the rightsholder or rightsholders will refuse to license the movie, will license the movie but will not allow the Mst3k version to be released because of the mockery of the films (one example that was officially announced is Kadokawa Pictures), or will license the movie and allow them to release the Mst3k version, but will charge more money than the distributor can afford to pay them. [1] Some movies can be expensive to clear for release because the rights owner increased the cost of the movie rights due to the exposure that MST3K has given them. [2] Because of these issues, it has been announced that the only way for those certain episodes to be released is if the rights transfer hands to someone who will definitely license the material and allow any version of the film to be released, and will only want a little cash in return. [3] Any movies featured in the episodes that are public domain will not have to be cleared, and can instantly be released without any trouble.
Contents
VHS releases
Rhino Home Video released several episodes from the Comedy Central era on VHS from April 1996 to January 2001. As of 2004, all of the tapes are out of print on their official website, but since then, all the episodes originally released on home video have been released on DVD either as a single or part of a volume pack. The only exception was 309 - The Amazing Colossal Man, which was pulled due to rights issues with the movie shortly after it was released (but has yet to be re-released by Shout! Factory on DVD if possible). When these episodes were released on VHS (and then on DVD), all of the commercial sign logos after the theater segments were edited out, except for 320 - The Unearthly and 518 - The Atomic Brain, which is also known for missing the stinger on both the VHS and DVD Rhino release. It has been said that Best Brains is certain the master had the stinger, but Rhino has denied this.
Best Brains has produced VHS tapes and DVDs for independent sale through their info club newsletters, including the Play MSTie for Me series, the Tom Servo's Favorite Host Segments series, and the Poopie! series of outtake collections. They also released several Sci Fi Channel-era episodes from seasons 9 and 10, the 'MST Scrapbook tape (containing a diary of Mst3k from KTMA-Season 6), and two shorts tapes of their own. The last original Best Brains video product was The Last Dance Raw!, containing behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the final episode of MST3K, 1013 (Danger: Diabolik). As of 2007, all of the tapes are now out of print but the Poopie! series has since been resurrected as a special feature on some of the Rhino DVD releases (along with the first Poopie tape re-released by Rhino on home video in 1998, but Poopie II has been cut down for reasons unknown), along with both of the two shorts tapes they made (Mr. B's Lost Shorts?!! as a separate disc, Assignment Venezuela and Other Shorts as a bonus) and all of the Sci-Fi episodes re-released by Rhino.
Best Brains re-released the entire Play Mistie For Me series onto one DVD (entitled Play MSTie For Me Triple Decker), along with Volume 1 of Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments and the first Poopie! tape in one DVD, entitled Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments! Vol. 1 (and MST Poopie!), which are both currently available for purchase on MST3K.com. The MST Scrapbook has been re-released by Shout! Factory, but only with the clips from KTMA and behind-the-scenes of the making of 321 - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. They explained that they would've loved to release the entire scrapbook, but it's full of too many clearance issues (logos, uncleared faces, movies used in the tape etc.). All the other Best Brains tapes have not yet been re-released on DVD.
A listing of video tapes released is listed below.
Best Brains
VHS Title Episode/Special Released Play MST For Me The first Play MST For Me tape Holiday 1991 Play MST For Me 2 The second Play MST For Me tape Spring 1994 MST Poopie The first Poopie tape, with skits from Seasons 2-6. Spring 1995 The MST Scrapbook A diary of Mst3k from the KTMA pilot to Season 6 Spring 1995 MST Poopie II The second Poopie tape, with skits from Seasons 7-8. Holiday 1997 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments The first of 5 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Spring 1998 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Vol. II The second of 5 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments 1998 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Vol. III The third of 5 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Spring 1999 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Vol. IV The fourth of 5 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Holiday 1999 The Last Dance - Raw Behind the scenes of Experiment 1013 - Danger Diabolik Holiday 1999 Mr. B's Lost Shorts??!! A collection of shorts from the Comedy Central era Spring 2000 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Vol. V The fifth of 5 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments Spring 2000 Play MST For Me 3 The third (and final) Play MST For Me tape Holiday 2000 Assignment Venezuela and Other Shorts A Collection of shorts from the Sci-Fi era and a short never shown on Mst3k before. Spring 2001 Boggy Creek II 1006 - Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues... Holiday 2001 The Girl in Gold Boots 1002 - The Girl in Gold Boots Holiday 2001 The Touch of Satan 908 - The Touch of Satan Holiday 2001 Hamlet 1009 - Hamlet Holiday 2001 Rhino
VHS Title Episode/Special Released Cave Dwellers 301 - Cave Dwellers April 30, 1996 Mitchell 512 - Mitchell April 30, 1996 The Amazing Colossal Man 309 - The Amazing Colossal Man April 30, 1996 Pod People 303 - Pod People October 1, 1996 The Brain that Wouldn't Die 513 - The Brain that Wouldn't Die October 1, 1996 The Unearthly 320 - The Unearthly August 26, 1997 Eegah 506 - Eegah August 26, 1997 I Accuse My Parents 507 - I Accuse My Parents October 21, 1997 The Atomic Brain 518 - The Atomic Brain October 21, 1997 Red Zone Cuba 619 - Red Zone Cuba October 21, 1997 Manos: The Hands of Fate 424 - Manos: The Hands of Fate February 17, 1998 Gunslinger 511 - Gunslinger February 17, 1998 Poopie! The first MST Poopie tape, re-released by Rhino February 17, 1998 Angels Revenge 622 - Angels Revenge July 21, 1998 Shorts Vol. 1 The first MST Shorts tape July 21, 1998 The Crawling Hand 106 - The Crawling Hand March 16, 1999 The Wild, Wild World of Batwoman 515 - The Wild, Wild World of Batwoman March 16, 1999 Beginning of the End 517 - Beginning of the End March 16, 1999 Catalina Caper 204 - Catalina Caper October 1, 1999 The Skydivers 609 - The Skydivers October 1, 1999 Shorts Vol. 2 The second MST Shorts tape October 1, 1999 The Sidehackers 202 - The Sidehackers March 21, 2000 The Creeping Terror 606 - The Creeping Terror March 21, 2000 Bloodlust 607 - Bloodlust March 21, 2000 The Hellcats 209 - The Hellcats January 30, 2001 Shorts Vol. 3 The third MST Shorts tape January 30, 2001 DVD releases
Rhino
Since the show was taken off the air in 2004, much of MST3K's fanbase has relied on DVD releases by Rhino Entertainment.
Several Rhino releases (Beginning of the End, The Collection: Volume 9, The Collection: Volume 10) were discontinued due a rightsholder or rightsholders objecting the episode/episodes released, or the rights to the movies have expired and are not able to be renewed. Volume 10 was discontinued only months after its initial release for reasons unknown (though it was rumored that the Japanese film company Toho, producers of the Godzilla films, objected to the inclusion of the Godzilla vs. Megalon episode in the set). This rumor's validity was later confirmed when Rhino reissued Volume 10 with a new episode (The Giant Gila Monster) in place of Godzilla vs. Megalon.
Volume 1 and Volume 3 were also discontinued back in October 2006 and March 2007, due to a loss of rights in all of the movies to Volume 1 and a loss of right to The Sidehackers in Volume 3, but during the same year renewed the rights to those movies and were officially back in print. As of January 2010, many Rhino releases except for Volumes 3, 12 and the essentials have been discontinued, due to the company no longer having the rights to distribute Mst3k, but most of the volume packs and one single are still available on Mst3k.com.
A complete listing of releases is shown in the table below. Any DVDs listed as "Out of print" are currently no longer available on the Rhino (for the Rhino DVDs), Shout! Factory (for the Shout DVDs), or official Mystery Science Theater 3000 websites (for all DVDs).
DVD title Episodes Extras The Brain That Wouldn't Die (Released March 21, 2000)
(out of print)513 – The Brain That Wouldn't Die Uncut version of the movie Eegah (Released March 21, 2000)
(out of print)506 - Eegah Uncut version of the movie The Wild World of Batwoman (Released January 30, 2001)
(out of print)515 – The Wild World of Batwoman (with short: Cheating) Uncut version of the movie The Beginning of the End (Released January 30, 2001)
(out of print)517 – The Beginning of the End Uncut version of the movie Manos: The Hands of Fate (Released November 20, 2001)
(out of print)424 – Manos: The Hands of Fate (with short: Hired! Part II) The original MST3K Poopie! blooper reel. Mitchell (Released November 20, 2001)
(out of print)512 – Mitchell The movie's trailer I Accuse My Parents (Released March 26, 2002)
(out of print)507 – I Accuse My Parents (with short: The Truck Farmer) None Red Zone Cuba (Released March 26, 2002)
(out of print)619 – Red Zone Cuba (with short: Speech: Platform Posture and Appearance) None The Crawling Hand (Released June 11, 2002)
(out of print)106 – The Crawling Hand The uncut version of the movie and the theatrical trailer The Hellcats (Released June 11, 2002)
(out of print)209 – The Hellcats The uncut version of the movie and the theatrical trailer The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 1 (Released November 12, 2002)
(out of print)204 – Catalina Caper 606 – The Creeping Terror
607 – Bloodlust! (with short: Uncle Jim's Dairy Farm)
609 – The Skydivers (with short: Why Study Industrial Arts?)
Uncut version of each movie and the theatrical trailer for 204, 607, and 609. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 2 (Released February 11, 2003)
(out of print)301 – Cave Dwellers 303 – Pod People
622 – Angels Revenge
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Shorts, Vol. 1
None The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 3 (Released April 8, 2003)
(out of print)202 – The Sidehackers 320 – The Unearthly (with shorts: Posture Pals and Appreciating Your Parents)
518 – The Atomic Brain (with short: What About Juvenile Delinquency)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Shorts, Volume 2
Alternate takes of the host segments on 202, 320, and 518 The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 4 (Released November 18, 2003)
(out of print)820 – Space Mutiny 822 – Overdrawn at the Memory Bank
1002 – Girl in Gold Boots
1009 – Hamlet
Intros by Mike on all episodes and trailer and TV spot on 1002 The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 5 (Released March 9, 2004)
1006 – Boggy Creek II 1003 – Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders
821 - Time Chasers
908 – The Touch of Satan
Intros by Mike on all episodes, interview with Mike and Kevin on 1003, and trailer for 908 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Essentials (Released August 31, 2004)
out of print424 – Manos: The Hands of Fate (with short: Hired! Part II) 321 – Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
(a bonus disc of shorts (The Shorts, Volume 3) was included for people who ordered it through a special web site.)
The original MST3K Poopie! blooper reel on 424. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 6 (Released October 26, 2004)
404 – Teenagers From Outer Space 406 – Attack of the Giant Leeches(with short: The Undersea Kingdom Part I)
511 – Gunslinger
Mr. B's Lost Shorts
None The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 7 (Released April 19, 2005)
408 – Hercules Unchained 410 – Hercules Against The Moon Men
816 – Prince of Space
407 – The Killer Shrews (with short: Junior Rodeo Daredevils)
Bonus Shorts: Assignment: Venezuela, Century 21 Calling, and A Case of Spring Fever on 407 The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 8 (Released November 8, 2005)
907 - Hobgoblins 902 – The Phantom Planet
421 – Monster A-Go-Go (with short: Circus on Ice)
603 – The Dead Talk Back (with short: The Selling Wizard)
None The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 9 (Released May 16, 2006)
(out of print)104 – Women of the Prehistoric Planet 207 – Wild Rebels
613 – The Sinister Urge (with short: Keeping Clean and Neat)
812 – The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies
Intro by Irene Tsu on 104 and Intro by Conrad Brooks on 613 The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 10 (Released August 29, 2006)
(out of print)212 – Godzilla vs. Megalon 503 – Swamp Diamonds (with short: What To Do On a Date)
514 – Teen-age Strangler (with short: Is This Love?)
Photo Gallery on 212, Poopie! II on 514, and Video Jukebox on 810. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 11 (Released June 26, 2007)
206 – The Ring of Terror (with short: The Phantom Creeps Part III) 409 – The Indestructible Man (with short: The Undersea Kingdom Part II)
414 – Tormented
1011 – Horrors of Spider Island
Original theatrical trailers (for all except 206), Tormented "Reunion" featurette, the Mystery Science Theater Hour "Jack Perkins" wraps for 414, Video Jukebox II on 206. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 12 (Released October 30, 2007)
419 – The Rebel Set (with short: Johnny At the Fair) 504 – Secret Agent Super Dragon
612 – The Starfighters
811 – Parts: The Clonus Horror
Original Theatrical Trailers, Interview with The Rebel Set star Don Sullivan on 419, MST Hour "Jack Perkins" Wraps for 504, Video Jukebox III on 612, interview with Parts: The Clonus Horror director Robert Fiveson on 811. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 10.2 (Released February 5, 2008)
(A re-release of Volume 10, with The Giant Gila Monster in place of Godzilla VS Megalon)402 – The Giant Gila Monster 503 – Swamp Diamonds (with short: What To Do On a Date)
514 – Teen-age Strangler (with short: Is This Love?)
Photo Gallery, interview with Giant Gila Monster star Don Sullivan, two songs by Don Sullivan, "Volume 10.2 Upgrade" sketch featuring Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, and Frank Conniff on 402, Poopie! II on 514, Video Jukebox on 810. The Giant Gila Monster (Released February 11, 2008)
(Only available to buyers of Volume 10 for a short time. Out of print.)402 – The Giant Gila Monster Volume 10.2 Upgrade, interview with actor Don Sullivan, two songs by Don Sullivan, and Photo Gallery. Shout! Factory
In January 2008, Best Brains transferred the worldwide home entertainment and digital download license for MST3K from Rhino to Shout! Factory.
DVD title Episodes Extras Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition (Volume XIII) (Collector's edition released October 28, 2008. Standard version released November 18, 2008)
211 – First Spaceship on Venus 706 – Laserblast
904 – Werewolf
1004 – Future War
"History of MST3k" documentary, "Evolution of the Theme Song," footage from the Comic-Con reunion panel, original theatrical trailers, and 4 mini posters. Collector's edition set includes Crow T. Robot figurine.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XIV (Released February 3, 2009)
103 – Mad Monster (with short: Commando Cody, Part 2) 413 – Manhunt in Space (with short: General Hospital, Part 1)
1001 – Soultaker
1008 – Final Justice
Interviews with Joe Estevez and Greydon Clark, Mike, Tom and Crow on the ESPN show "Cheap Seats Without Ron Parker," original theatrical trailer for Mad Monster, and 4 mini posters. Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XV (Released July 7, 2009)
102 – The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (with short: Commando Cody, Part 1) 509 – The Girl in Lovers Lane
604 – Zombie Nightmare
616 – Racket Girls (with short: Are You Ready For Marriage?)
"Glimpses of KTMA: MST3K Scrapbook Scraps I", "Behind the Scenes: MST3K Scrapbook Scraps II", New Interviews with “Zombie Nightmare” stars Frank Dietz and Jon Mikl Thor , Kevin Murphy And Trace Beaulieu in a Sneak Peek of the upcoming indie feature film Hamlet A.D.D., trailers/promos, and 4 mini posters. Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XVI (Collector's edition released December 1, 2009. Standard version released July 20, 2010)
105 – The Corpse Vanishes (with short: Commando Cody, Part 3) 501 – Warrior of the Lost World
521 – Santa Claus
701 – Night of the Blood Beast (with short: Once Upon A Honeymoon)
A new interview with “Warrior of the Lost World” director David Worth, "Santa Claus Conquers the Devil: A 50-Year Retrospective", "Santa Claus" original radio spot, "Santa Claus" still gallery, teaser for “Wonder World of K. Gordon Murray in Colorscope”, "Night of the Blood Beast" Comedy Central "Turkey Day Marathon" host segments, "Turkey Day" ‘95 bumpers, original theatrical trailers, and 4 mini posters. Collector's edition set includes Tom Servo figurine.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XVII (Released March 16, 2010)
101 – The Crawling Eye 415 – The Beatniks (with short: General Hospital, Part 2)
910 – The Final Sacrifice
1005 – Blood Waters of Dr. Z
The Crawling Eye special introduction by Joel Hodgson;,Mystery Science Theater Hour Wraps on The Beatniks, The Main Event: Crow vs. Crow at DragonCon ‘09, Blood Waters of Dr. Z photo gallery, new interview with Bruce J. Mitchell (Zap Rowsdower from The Final Sacrifice), original trailers and promos, and 4 mini posters. Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XVIII (Released July 13, 2010)
208 – Lost Continent 417 – Crash of the Moons (with short: General Hospital, Part 3)
621 – The Beast of Yucca Flats (with shorts: Money Talks and Progress Island USA)
813 – Jack Frost
New introduction to Lost Continent by Frank Conniff and original theatrical trailer, Mystery Science Theater Hour Wraps for Crash of the Moons, "No Dialogue Necessary: Making an 'Off-Camera Masterpiece" and "Coleman Francis: The Cinematic Poet of Parking" featurettes for The Beast of Yucca Flats, plus original theatrical trailer and stills gallery, new introduction to Jack Frost by Kevin Murphy, and 4 mini posters. Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XIX (Collector's edition released November 9, 2010.)
107 - Robot Monster (with shorts: Commando Cody, Parts 4 and 5) 423 - Bride of the Monster (with short: Hired!, Part 1)
818 - Devil Doll
911 - Devil Fish
New introduction to Robot Monster by J. Elvis Weinstein, "Cult Filmmaker Larry Blamire Geeks Out on Robot Monster", "Citizen Wood: Making 'The Bride,' Unmaking 'The Legend'" for Bride of the Monster, "Inventing the 'Invention Exchange' with Joel Hodgson", "The Puppet Master: Richard Gordon on Devil Doll", "MST3K: Origins and Beyond" at CONvergence 2009, original trailers and promos, and 4 mini posters. Collector's edition set includes Gypsy figurine.
Beginning of the End (Released February 15, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available as a single from Rhino).517 - Beginning of the End None The Incredibly Strange Creatures who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (Released February 15, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available from Rhino in MST3K Volume 9).812 - The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies None Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XX (Released March 8, 2011)
109 - Project Moonbase (with shorts: Commando Cody, Parts 7 & 8) 322 - Master Ninja I
324 - Master Ninja II
A featurette on the look of MST3K with director of photography Jeff Stonehouse, introduction to Magic Voyage of Sinbad by Trace Beaulieu, Mystery Science Theater Hour wraps, a look back at Master Ninja with guest star Bill McKinney, Servo vs. Servo at Dragon Con, original trailers, and 4 mini posters. Orders of the DVD from Shout! Factory's official website include MST3K globe stress ball.
Gunslinger (Released June 21, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available from Rhino in MST3K Volume 6).511 - Gunslinger None Hamlet (Released June 21, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available from Rhino in MST3K Volume 4).1009 - Hamlet None Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XXI (Tin box released August 2, 2011)
302 - Gamera 304 - Gamera vs. Barugon
308 - Gamera vs. Gyaos
312 - Gamera vs. Guiron
316 - Gamera vs. Zigra
So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera, Gamera Obscura: A History by August Ragone (author of “Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters), Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers, MST Hour host segments, Original Japanese Trailers, 5 Exclusive Mini-Posters By Artist Steve Vance Orders from Shout Factory's website include the previously-available stress ball, along with a pack of Gamera post cards, previously available from all the DVDs of the movies on their own.
Red Zone Cuba (Released August 16, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available as a single from Rhino).619 - Red Zone Cuba (with short: Speech: Platform Posture and Appearance) None The Unearthly (Released August 16, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available from Rhino in MST3K Volume 3).320 - The Unearthly (with shorts: Posture Pals and Appreciating Your Parents) None Manos: The Hands of Fate (Released September 13, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available from Rhino as a single and in The Essentials).424 – Manos: The Hands of Fate (with short: Hired! Part II) Uncut version of the movie, Interviews with Joel, Frank, Mary Jo and Trace; MST3K short 'Hired!' Parts 1 and 2 (together for the first time), Mystery Science Theater Hour wraps, brand-new 'Jam Handy and You!' featurette, 'Hotel Torgo' (30-min. making-of doc.)".[1] The Touch of Satan (Release date: October 18, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available from Rhino in MST3K Volume 5).908 - The Touch of Satan None The Atomic Brain (Released October 18, 2011)
(Re-release, previously available from Rhino in MST3K Volume 3).518 - The Atomic Brain None Mystery Science Theater 3000 - XXII (Released December 6, 2011)[2]
306 - Time of the Apes 314 - Mighty Jack
610 - The Violent Years (with short: Young Man's Fancy)
702 - The Brute Man (with short: The Chicken of Tomorrow)
TBA Best Brains
Best Brains' DVDs originally from their fanclub, now on Mst3k.com .
DVD title Special Released Play Mistie for Me Tripple Decker The entire Play Mistie For Me series 2004 Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments! Vol. 1 (and MST Poopie!) The first Volume of Tom Servo's All Time Favorite Host Segments and the first Poopie! tape 2005 Other official releases
The feature film Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie was released on VHS in 1997 by MCA/Universal Home Video. Image Entertainment released it on DVD in 1998, but was taken out of print by MCA/Universal Home Video in 2000. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie was re-released by Universal on May 6, 2008..
Many released episodes, including the feature film, are available from the mail rental DVD service Netflix. Several can be viewed online using Netflix's "Watch Instantly" feature. Several MST3K episodes (from previously released collections) are available from the iTunes Store and Hulu, but all episodes have films in the public domain.
As of February 2011, many episodes that have been released are now available for online viewing on Amazon.
References
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Media In-universe Satellite of Love crew"The Mads"Minor charactersSpin-offs Related projects Related terminology Categories:- Mystery Science Theater 3000
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