Mystery Science Theater 3000 Episode Ratings Heatmap
1989 · 10 Seasons · 176 Episodes · Overall Score: 7.4/10 (167 rated)
Season 5 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 5 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.48), maintaining an average of 7.4.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 10 seasons and 176 episodes, Mystery Science Theater 3000 has earned an overall series rating of 7.4 out of 10. The series displays remarkable consistency across its narrative arc, maintaining reliable ratings from premiere to conclusion.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 5, Episode 12 ("Mitchell"), rated at an extraordinary 9.2/10 with 5 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 10, Episode 8 ("Hamlet"), landing at 4.2/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 1 between Episode 9 ("Robot Holocaust", 9) and Episode 10 ("Moon Zero Two", 4.5), a swing of 4.5 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 5, Ep 12 | Mitchell | 9.2 | 5 | Oct 23, 1993 |
| #2 | Season 1, Ep 9 | Robot Holocaust | 9.0 | 1 | Jan 13, 1990 |
| #3 | Season 3, Ep 21 | Santa Claus Conquers the Martians | 8.8 | 6 | Dec 21, 1991 |
| #4 | Season 3, Ep 13 | Earth vs. the Spider | 8.7 | 3 | Sep 14, 1991 |
| #5 | Season 3, Ep 3 | Pod People | 8.6 | 8 | Jun 15, 1991 |
| #6 | Season 9, Ep 10 | The Final Sacrifice | 8.5 | 11 | Jul 25, 1998 |
| #7 | Season 3, Ep 1 | Cave Dwellers | 8.5 | 6 | Jun 1, 1991 |
| #8 | Season 7, Ep 1 | Night of the Blood Beast | 8.5 | 4 | Feb 3, 1996 |
| #9 | Season 7, Ep 5 | Escape 2000 | 8.5 | 2 | Mar 2, 1996 |
| #10 | Season 2, Ep 4 | Catalina Caper | 8.4 | 7 | Oct 13, 1990 |