MST3K Stars Recapture Magic of Beloved Cult Classic TV Series With "Rifftrax"

(We recently reviewed the new Rifftrax version of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Now, here's a look at the whole line of new Rifftrax DVDs currently available from Legend Films.)

Hugely Popular RiffTrax.com Online Comedy Series Makes Much-Anticipated DVD Debut

10 RiffTrax DVD Line Titles Debut in Stores Nationwide June 16th--Hundreds of MP3 RiffTrax Commentary Tracks Available for Download Online

What Reviewers Have to Say About the RiffTrax Online MP3 Comedy Series:

"… self-described ‘Misties’ are welcoming a resurrection of sorts."
New York Times
"MST3K is one of the funniest shows of all time ... its spirit lives on in the form of RiffTrax … I laughed more than I have in ages."
Jason Snell, Macworld
"… hilarious commentary ..."
PC Gamer
"… Nelson and company are back doing what they do best …"
Geek magazine
"Cult comics return to make commentaries worth hearing."
Empire magazine

SAN DIEGO — June 1, 2009 — Based on the success of the hugely
popular RiffTrax.com online commentary tracks, Legend Films is debuting the RiffTrax DVD line with 10 titles of all-new original material, June 16.

is the next generation of the twice Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) – a hugely popular cult American TV series that enjoyed an 11-year run (1988-99) – and stars MST3K cast members: Michael J. Nelson (also MST3K’s show’s head writer), Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, as well as MP3 performances by celebrity guests, such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Fred Willard and Neil Patrick Harris.

MST3K featured Mike Nelson and his robot sidekicks Tom Servo (Murphy) and Crow (Corbett), trapped on a space satellite by an evil scientist and forced to watch especially bad sci-fi B-movies. To remain sane, they maintain a wisecracking running commentary on the film – their characters silhouetted in front of the screen. RiffTrax continues this tradition with the same high level of comedy, lampooning not only cult classics, but some of today’s biggest blockbuster movies. RiffTrax will appeal not only to fans of the original MST3K series but an entirely new generation of enthusiasts.

The initial 10 RiffTrax DVD titles to be released are: RiffTrax: Carnival of Souls, RiffTrax: House on Haunted Hill, RiffTrax: Little Shop of Horrors, RiffTrax: Missile to the Moon, RiffTrax: Night of the Living Dead, RiffTrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space, RiffTrax: Reefer Madness, RiffTrax: Swing Parade, RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 1 and RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 2.

As an exclusive special offer to retailers, each DVD includes a coupon for a free RiffTrax MP3 download at http://www.rifftrax.com/ for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a $3.99 value.
The RiffTrax commentary track line debuted in 2006.Fans are able to download MP3 files online (99 cents - $3.99) and synch the riffing to a DVD (recreating the MST3K phenomenon) for a broad range of titles, from the classic films traditionally featured on MST3K to today’s hottest films (not available to MST3K due to licensing issues).

The RiffTrax library, with hundreds of titles, includes humorous commentary tracks to be synched with such contemporary blockbusters as The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, 300, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Transformers, The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Independence Day, Ocean’s Eleven, I Am Legend, X-Men, Cloverfield, Terminator 3:Rise of the Machines, Predator, Top Gun, Jaws, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Saw, Spiderman films, Star Wars films, Lord of the Rings films, Star Trek films, Harry Potter films, and the TV shows Heroes, Lost and Grey’s Anatomy, among many others. More RiffTrax titles are in production for both the MP3 download and DVD lines.

More About RiffTrax DVDs:
RiffTrax: Carnival of Souls (1962) — Following a traumatic accident, a woman is drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 78 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00493 ● UPC Code: 844503001382

RiffTrax: House on Haunted Hill (1958) — Five strangers are offered $10,000 each if they can stay the night in a house … But this house has reputation for murder.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 75 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00496 ● UPC Code: 844503001412

RiffTrax: Little Shop of Horrors (1960) — A clumsy young man nurtures a very healthy plant and discovers that it’s bloodthirsty, forcing him to kill to feed it.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 72 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00492 ● UPC Code: 844503001375

RiffTrax: Missile to the Moon (1958) — Two escaped convicts are caught hiding in a rocket and forced to pilot the ship to the moon.
Genre: Comedy/Sci-fi ● Run Time: 77 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00494 ● UPC Code: 844503001399

RiffTrax: Night of the Living Dead (1968) — A group of people hides in an old farmhouse from bloodthirsty zombies with a taste for human flesh.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 96 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00489 ● UPC Code: 844503001344

RiffTrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) — Aliens resurrect dead humans as zombies and
vampires to stop humankind from creating a sun-driven bomb.
Genre: Comedy/Horror ● Run Time: 79 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00495 ● UPC Code: 844503001405

RiffTrax: Reefer Madness (1938) — Cautionary tale features a fictionalized and highly exaggerated take on the use of marijuana. A trio of drug dealers lead innocent teenagers to become addicted to "reefer" cigarettes by holding wild parties with jazz music.
Genre: Comedy/Drama ● Run Time: 65 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00490 ● UPC Code: 844503001351

RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 1 — Nine hilarious shorts (classic educational films), including Buying Food, It Must Be the Neighbors, Patriotism, Down and Out, Skipper Learns a Lesson, The Trouble With Women, Right or Wrong, Drugs Are Like That and Shake Hands With Danger (Which contains new 3-D animation of Mike, Kevin and Bill).
Genre: Comedy ● Run Time: 100 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00488 ● UPC Code: 844503001337

RiffTrax Shorts: Vol. 2 — Nine more hilarious shorts (classic educational films), including One Got Fat, Lunchroom Manners, Each Child is Different, Cathy-Petaluma Chicken, Act Your Age, Harm Hides at Home, Coffee House Rendezvous, Are You Popular? and Good Heath Practices. Genre: Comedy ● Run Time: 110 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00498 ● UPC Code: 844503001436

RiffTrax: Swing Parade (1946) — A struggling young singer falls for the owner of a nightclub that her millionaire father is trying to shut down. Featuring The Three Stooges as waiters.
Genre: Comedy ● Run Time: 74 Minutes ● Catalog #: LF00491 ● UPC Code: 844503001368

B&W
Not Rated
Format: DVD Only
Tech Specs: Full Frame (1.33:1)
Suggested Retail Price: $9.95 Each
Pre-Order Date: May 19, 2009
Street Date: June 16, 2009