45 Best 'Simpsons' Episodes of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb (2024)

The Simpsons isn’t just a successful animated sitcom; it’s an American institution. With over 700 episodes since its 1989 inception, The Simpsons is the longest-running animated series, American sitcom, and scripted primetime TV series.

America’s favorite dysfunctional family, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and little Maggie, have more than 30 years' worth of hijinks in the bag. While every fan has their favorite episode, most agree that these top 10 Simpsons episodes have the perfect mix of satire and irreverence that makes The Simpsons magic. With 36 seasons, it continues to prove it's the longest-running American animated series. The best Simpsons episodes on IMDb continue to slightly shift with each new season, but still largely feature titles from the beloved classic Simpsons era.

The Simpsons

TV-14

Where to Watch

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Release Date

December 17, 1989

Cast

Dan Castellaneta , Julie Kavner , Nancy Cartwright , Yeardley Smith , Hank Azaria , Harry Shearer

Seasons

36

Main Genre

Comedy

45 "Homer's Triple Bypass" (Season 4, Episode 11)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Homer's poor eating habits and less-than-desirable stature have been a constant presence throughout the entirety of the series, yet "Homer's Triple Bypass" directly addresses the implications of Homer's health. The episode sees Homer's health finally catching up to him after he receives a heart attack on the job, soon taken to the hospital to find a solution. Dr. Hibbert soon informs the Simpsons family that Homer will need an expensive artery bypass surgery, eventually reaching a point where they must go to the sketchy Dr. Nick to get the surgery cheap.

It was seemingly inevitable that an episode of the Simpsons would tackle the often uncomfortable and all too real topic of heart disease and obesity, as it has been a central part of Homer's character since the beginning. While it certainly has its comedic jabs at the expense of Homer, the episode also treats the terrifying nature of heart problems with the utmost severity, finding an effective balance that makes the episode a fan-favorite.

44 "Trilogy of Error" (Season 12, Episode 18)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

When it comes to anthology episodes in The Simpsons, many are quick to tout the exceptional Treehouse of Horror series of episodes, yet one of the best anthologies not a part of the Halloween specials comes in the form of "Trilogy of Error." The episode follows three different stories each taking place on the same day, where Bart, Lisa, and Homer all have their own wild ventures that intertwine in strange ways. Homer is in a rush to the hospital to re-attach a severed thumb, Lisa is rushing to school so that she can win the science fair, and Bart has an ongoing scheme involving illegal fireworks.

While many other anthology stories keep each segment separate from one another and disconnected, the small connections and overlap are what make the stories of "Trilogy of Error" so effective. As more information is given with each subsequent story, more context and layers are added to the previous stories, with all of them coming together to create a cohesive and effective interconnected story. The epilogue is also highly effective at tying everything together for a comical and succinct ending.

43 "Stark Raving Dad" (Season 3, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

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Infamous for being a banned episode of The Simpsons that even now isn't available on Disney+, "Stark Raving Dad" provides some of the most wholesome and emotional moments of the entire show. The episode sees Homer being sent to a mental health facility for wearing a pink shirt to work, where he ends up making an unexpected friend in the form of Leon Kompowsky, who claims that he is Michael Jackson. Once he gets out of the institution, Bart ends up spreading the word around Springfield that the real Michael Jackson is coming to the Simpsons household.

It's a genuine shame that this all-timer episode isn't more widely available due to its inclusion of Michael Jackson as a guest star, as it features many exceptional jokes and one of the best endings in the series. Leon's song that he sings to Lisa for her birthday is a standout moment from the early seasons of the show, showing that beneath all of the troubles and mischief that the Simpson family gets up to, they still deeply care about one another at the end of the day.

42 "Lisa's Substitute" (Season 2, Episode 19)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Widely considered to be one of the best Lisa episodes of The Simpsons, "Lisa's Substitute" cuts to the very core of Lisa's love of academics and how her family fails to understand her. The episode sees Lisa's regular teacher, Miss Hoover, taking medical leave, bringing in a substitute teacher Mr. Bergstrom (Dustin Hoffman), who proves to be an unexpected hit among Lisa and her classmates. Bergstrom proves to introduce a new type of fun and excitement that can be had from learning, and while Lisa is devastated when Bergstrom has to leave, she learns that she can find role models in other people in her life.

"Lisa's Substitute" tackles the all too effective and relatable message of having to say goodbye to those we love, as well as accepting those around us and finding a positive spin on the world no matter how sad things may be. It's a beautifully heartwarming experience that makes for one of the strongest emotional cores that the series has ever seen, filled with iconic moments and a top-notch ending. The episode's side-story about Bart running for class president also has its own array of great comedic moments, coming together to make an all-time episode.

41 "A Star is Burns" (Season 6, Episode 18)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

While The Simpsons finds itself crossing over with other adult animated series like Family Guy and Futurama much more frequently, the early seasons of the show only had one notable crossover with another adult animated series. "A Star is Burns" sees The Simpsons crossing over with the forgotten 90s cartoonThe Critic, with Jay Sherman being invited to Springfield to act as a judge for a film festival. The festival proves to have many great and exciting works from the residents of Springfield, including a touching introspective about alcoholism from Barney Gumble.

While audiences of the time were divided on how to approach such a blatant crossover episode with another, much less successful animated series, time has certainly been kind to "A Star is Burns". It largely helps that Jay Sherman and his style of humor feels perfectly in line with the world of The Simpsons, to the point where audiences may not even realize he's from another show. The crossover is also only the jumping-off point for the episode, as the core surrounding the film festival provides many exceptional gags as well as great inflection into the citizens of Springfield.

40 "Homie the Clown" (Season 6, Episode 15)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Acting as a deeper dive into one of the show's most beloved and iconic side characters, "Homie the Clown" sees Homer becoming a Krusty the Clown impersonator, pretending to be him for birthday parties and other such local occurrences. Eventually, it becomes apparent that pretending to be Krusty has its fair share of positives, as the people of Springfield treat him better when they believe he's Krusty. However, it soon gets taken too far when he gets kidnapped by the Mafia, who have been searching for Krusty since he is indebted to them.

"Homie the Clown" is a classic example of the many ups and downs of a signature Homer scheme and antics, seeing the blissful highs and perilous lows of Homer's new lifestyle. Especially for a character who is rife with such comedic potential and iconic moments as Krusty, the episode fully delivers on the character's comedy and brings him to the front. Even outside of the jokes that are directly tied to Krusty or clowns, there are a lot of iconic and classic jokes throughout the episode that have helped it stand the test of time.

39 "The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer" (Season 8, Episode 9)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

In one of the most visually enthralling and metaphysical episodes of the entire series, "The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer" sees Homer competing in a chili-eating contest, eating massive amounts of hot peppers after coating his tongue in hot wax. After winning the competition, he finds himself experiencing increasingly wild hallucinations, where he is seemingly guided through his mind by a Coyote (voiced by Johnny Cash).

The episode already reaches its high status thanks to the magical and mystifying visuals of Homer's hallucination journey, but what also helps the episode become an icon of the series is its themes of true love and alcohol use. It's one of the best episodes when it comes to establishing and solidifying the love between Homer and Marge as soulmates and perfect matches for one another, despite their many differences and occasional arguments. Cash also does a great job voicing the alluring and calming Coyote who helps Homer along his wild journey in the spirit world.

38 "Boy Scoutz 'n the Hood" (Season 5, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

A great showcase of just how quickly and comedically the stakes can be raised in a singular episode, "Boy Scoutz 'n the Hood" sees Bart having accidentally signed up for the Junior Campers after a sugar rush night on the town. He decides to stick it out in order to get out of pop quizzes, and reluctantly, Homer joins Bart on a father-son rafting trip with Ned and Rod Flanders. The group accidentally finds themselves separated from the rest of the campers and eventually even lost at sea, being stranded in the middle of the ocean blue for what seems like days on end.

The relationship and connection between Bart and Homer is one that is always touched upon and building throughout the show, with this episode being a great self-contained reflection of how the duo grow and learn from one another. This is on top of the many great moments throughout the episode, from Bart and Milhouse's 'Springfield, Springfield' musical number to the comedic wallowing of the group while they are lost at sea.

37 "Bart the Murderer" (Season 3, Episode 4)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Bart always seems to find himself in precarious situations as the quintessential troublemaker of the Simpsons family, with no episode showing this off quite like "Bart the Murderer/" The episode sees Bart wallowing after a bad day at school, where he discovers and gets hired at a local Mafia club as a bartender. However, after relaying his sorrows of the day to the mafia bar's patrons, Principal Skinner suddenly ends up missing, with Bart now acting as the prime suspect and put on trial for his assumed murder.

"Bart on trial for murder" is such a simple yet perfect premise for the show, and the episode is able to perfectly make the most out of its exceptional premise and the dynamics and characteristics of Bart in the court of law. The episode finds great inspiration not only from classic crime movies, but also classic court dramas in making the most hilarious and memorable portrayals of the Simpsons Mafia and Fat Tony in the series.

36 "Bart on the Road" (Season 7, Episode 20)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Ironically, despite its title, "Bart on the Road" easily makes for one of the series' best outings for not just Bart, but his entire group of friends and classmates, including Milhouse, Martin, and Nelson. The episode sees the quartet on a wild road trip across the country after using a fake driver's license to rent a car at the DMV. It soon becomes up to Lisa to chase the group down in an attempt to get them to return home, all while they experience the wild wonders of the country and personal growth on their trip.

While many episodes are quick to write off Milhouse, Martin, and Nelson as simple background characters who are given a joke or two per episode, "Bart on the Road" provides them with real character traits and development, fully fleshing them into memorable characters. It works great for the episode's singular coming-of-age adventure, creating an experience that finds clear inspiration from classic coming-of-age films of the era.

35 "$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)" (Season 5, Episode 10)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

"$pringfield" sees the fallout following the city of Springfield's legalization of gambling to revitalize the economy, leading to Mr. Burns opening a high stakes casino where Homer is hired as a blackjack dealer. At the same time, Marge ends up developing a gambling addiction, Bart opens his own, smaller-stakes casino in his tree house, and the ongoing struggle of running a casino proves itself to become a toil on Mr. Burns' mental state.

"$pringfield" is an exceptional example of an episode that allows the entire Simpson family to shine in their own stories, as opposed to primarily centering on a singular family member or character in the story. Each member of the family, as well as an array of other characters, have their changes and reactions to the legalization of gambling, each with inherent comedy strewn throughout. While the episode has an effective message about the dangers of gambling, it features a great deal of comedic absurdity to get this point across.

34 "Treehouse of Horror VI" (Season 7, Episode 6)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

One of many legendary Treehouse of Horror episodes of the series, "Treehouse of Horror VI" features some of the most beloved and iconic segments in the entire series. In the first segment, Springfield finds itself being terrorized by an army of dangerous giant evil advertisements. The second segment is a direct parody of A Nightmare on Elm Street, with Groundkeeper Willie taking on the villainous role of Freddy Krueger. The third and most iconic segment sees Homer getting stuck in a strange 3D world, before eventually ending up stuck in the real world.

Treehouse of Horror episodes have become famous in themselves even outside of the show for just how hilarious, iconic, and inventive they take their parodies and premises. "Treehouse of Horror VI" is easily one of the best Treehouse of Horror episodes in the series, with the Nightmare on Elm Street segment especially being widely praised and in contention for the best segments in the show's history.

33 "Bart's Comet" (Season 6, Episode 14)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

"Bart's Comet" sees the outcry and consequences following Bart's miraculous discovery of a comet, which scientists soon theorize is heading straight for Springfield in a collision course. Several of Springfield's residents have their solutions and ways of dealing with the news, ranging from ineffective ways to stop the comet to simply leaving town or hunkering down in a shelter. The Simpson family soon finds themselves taking refuge in Flanders' bomb shelter, but nearly the entire city finds themselves crowding the shelter to its maximum occupancy.

"Bart's Comet" is a simple and timeless premise pulled off masterfully by the show, able to get a great deal of mileage out of the inherent dread and dark comedy of the situation. There are countless memorable and iconic jokes and sequences throughout the episode that has made it a widely beloved and appreciated episode with time, as well as one of the best episodes of the golden era of the show.

32 "Bart of Darkness" (Season 6, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

The Simpsons' own rendition of the cinematic classic, Rear Window, "Bart of Darkness" sees Bart confined to his room after breaking his leg, leaving him stuck and unable to socialize with anyone. He soon finds enjoyment in observing the outside world through a telescope gifted to him by Lisa, but it doesn't take long before Bart begins to suspect that Ned Flanders murdered his wife, Maude. The episode's b-plot sees Lisa dealing with the consequences of being the new center of popularity following the installation of a pool in the family backyard.

"Bart of Darkness" is easily one of the best Bart episodes in the entire series, giving the character the room and opportunity to expand and cover all angles while he's stuck in his room. While the character has always been a bit of a troublemaker, seeing him spring into action to do what's right paints a great picture of his true character and honesty, even if his assumptions are misleaded. Even outside the strengths surrounding Bart himself, the episode is a great parody of an Alfred Hitchcock classic, with enough distinct Simpsons charm to make it feel like its own standalone experience.

31 "Lemon of Troy" (Season 6, Episode 24)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

While mostly forgotten in the later seasons thanks to the increased focus on Springfield, "Lemon of Troy" is easily the series' best example of their endless rivalry with their neighboring city, Shelbyville. In the episode, a group of Shelbyville kids steal Springfield's sacred lemon tree, which entices Bart and his friends to go on a high-stakes heist into the city to take it back. It soon turns into a Mad Max-style chase where nearly all of Shelbyville is chasing down Bart and his friends.

As far as consistent and episode-long parodies go, "Lemon of Troy" is an easy stand-out in the series, finding great deals of comedy from having such major stakes surrounding something as trivial as a lemon tree. The episode itself, on top of having exceptional action and humor, has a great core message and themes about the importance of history and stories being passed down from generation to generation, as well as just how easy it can be to muddle the truth over time.

30 "Mother Simpson" (Season 7, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

"Mother Simpson" starts with Homer enacting a scheme to fake his death to get out of work, a plan that inadvertently has him learn that his mother, who he presumed to have died 26 years ago, is still alive. After an emotional reunion where Mona Simpson meets the rest of the family, it becomes increasingly apparent that she is harboring a mysterious secret that may just be the reason why she left and never returned. One thing leads to another, and she ends up being chased off by the FBI, once again leaving Homer's life.

"Mother Simpson" may just feature the most iconic singular ending in an episode of the show, with its signature shot of Homer looking up at the night sky that forever impacted a generation. It acted as the perfect climax to an already emotionally resonating episode, thanks to the great guest performance by Glenn Close as Mona Simpson, who helps bring home this tear-jerking story of Homer's short reunion with his long-lost mother.

29 "Lisa's First Word" (Season 4, Episode 10)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

One of the most emotional episodes in the sitcom's history, "Lisa's First Word" is a flashback episode following many attempts to get Maggie to speak her first words. It conjures up the story of how Lisa said her first words, telling the heartfelt story that would begin before Lisa was even born, and the jealousy and resentment that Bart was beginning to form for having to share his life with a sibling. However, the episode has an emotionally poignant ending that makes for one of the best moments in the show's history.

As opposed to many other Simpsons episodes where the primary draw is inherent comedy and hijinks, the biggest draw of "Lisa's First Word" is its powerful heartwarming energy. It provides much greater context into the relationships and undeniable love in the Simpsons family between siblings, telling a powerful story that no matter how things may appear, the bonds of family are forever strong.

28 "Hurricane Neddy" (Season 8, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

More commonly recognized as the episode where Ned Flanders snaps at everyone in Springfield, "Hurricane Neddy" sees the town coming together to rebuild Ned's home after it was taken out by a hurricane. However, the shoddy reconstruction of the house has Ned boil over in rage, completely laying into the flaws and failures of everyone in Springfield after years of being the kindhearted neighbor. He then commits himself to a mental hospital, bringing into question the repressed problems from his childhood that caused him to become this way.

"Hurricane Neddy" is a clear example of a great Simpsons episode that doesn't center around a member of the family, with a great deal of the focus and perspective being on Ned and his struggles. Ned Flanders was already such a beloved and iconic character in the show's history, with this episode only further going into detail and scope into the inner struggles and process of the most iconic neighbor in television history.

27 "Homer at the Bat" (Season 3, Episode 17)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

"Homer at the Bat" sees Homer and the rest of his co-workers joining the plant's softball team, managing to bring the team to great success, putting them in the finals against their rivals, the Shelbyville Power Plant team. However, the stakes find themselves to be astronomically raised when Mr. Burns makes a million-dollar bet that his team will win, and in order to secure victory, Burns hires a full MLB team to play instead.

"Homer at the Bat" is easily the ultimate Simpsons episode for baseball fans, with numerous stellar cameos of the era's biggest players, as well as a great deal of classic sports shenanigans. Even outside of these appearances, the episode is chock-full of great comedic moments, as well as effective stakes, as the game with Shelbyville grows closer and closer, absolutely down to the wire. It's without a doubt the best sports episode that The Simpsons has ever seen.

26 "Homer the Smithers" (Season 7, Episode 17)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

"Homer the Smithers" provides a closer look into the work relationship between Homer and his notoriously evil boss, Mr. Burns, following Homer as he is appointed as the temporary replacement to Smithers. This results in a wide number of comedic hijinks, as Homer attempts to do his best to do a great job to Mr. Burns for the sake of his own job prospects, to the point of being overworked. It's all the more ironic because the only reason that Smither chose Homer to be the replacement was that he knew that Homer wouldn't outshine him and the work he'd done while on vacation.

The episode is easily one of the show's brightest showcases of the undeniable bond between Mr. Burns and Smithers, two of the most iconic side characters in the show's history. The episode also features its fair share of genuinely emotional moments, as Homer's dedication and self-destruction for the sake of his job and his family is commendable, and it's easy to feel for him with just how comically strict Burns's demands are.