10 Best Episodes Of The Simpsons (2024)

The best episodes of The Simpsons highlight the brilliance of one of the most beloved television shows of all time. The Simpsons first aired in 1989 and has since gone on to become one of the longest-running shows of all time as well as one of the most influential. The antics of the titular family and its members — Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie — have provided laughs for over three decades. Looking at show's the nearly 800 episodes to date and determining the best is no easy task, but some examples quickly rise to the top.

The Simpsons subverted expectations of the typical sitcom family with these abrasive, rude, destructive characters who are relentlessly and reliably hilarious. The endlessly colorful characters who make up the citizens of Springfield only added to the greatness of the show. While there are many who feel The Simpsons was past its prime many years ago, the best episodes cement its place as one of the greatest television shows of all time, filled with jokes, songs, and iconic characters.

10 Behind The Laughter

Season 11, Episode 22

While there is no sign of The Simpsons coming to an end anytime soon, "Behind the Laughter" is a rare episode in the long-running series that felt like it could have been a fitting finale. The episode switches up the format in a drastic way, revealing the life of The Simpsons is staged, with Homer, Marge, and their kids playing off a script. The mockumentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show, the family's success, and the way they were all torn apart by fame.

The episode has a lot of fun commenting on the legacy of The Simpsons and poking fun at itself. The overly serious narration provides big laughs throughout with a deadpan delivery of some ridiculous lines. It is a bold direction to take the show in that doesn't work for all fans, but it shows the characters and the humor of the series can work outside of the typical format.

9 Treehouse Of Horror V

Season 6, Episode 6

The Treehouse of Horror episodes have become an annual favorite among fans so it makes sense that the best installment of these Halloween-themed episodes turns out to be one of the best Simpsons episodes of all time. "Treehouse of Horror V" follows the established format of these specials, offering three horror stories — a parody of The Shining, a story of Homer's time travel antics changing his reality, and a gruesome tale of Lisa and Bart's teachers beginning to eat the misbehaving students.

The Shining parody is often regarded as the best segment in all of the Treehouse of Horror's long history and it is hard to argue with that. Seeing Homer unleashing his own unhinged take on Jack Nicholson is a delight as is the recreation of the movie's iconic moments. The time travel episode is filled with quick and hilarious jokes while the final segment shows how violent these Halloween episodes can be.

8 Homer The Great

Season 6, Episode 12

The town of Springfield holds a lot of unexpected secrets that often pop up never to be referred to again. Such is the case in "Homer the Great" in which Homer discovers his friends, and most of the male population of Springfield, are involved in a secret organization known as the Stonecutters. While Homer struggles to get into the organization and then is quickly dismissed, things change when he is revealed to be their prophesized leader.

This episode is a great example of the absurdity that The Simpsons can lean into without ever breaking the reality of the show. The idea of this powerful and ancient society that has secretly controlled what world operating out of Springfield is just something to accept and enjoy the ride. The episode features a terrific guest role from Patrick Stewart as well as one of The Simpsons' catchiest songs with the Stonecutters' own tune.

7 Bart Sells His Soul

Season 7, Episode 4

While Bart Simpsons has done many shameless things over the course of the series, "Bart Sells His Soul" is a great episode that shows the layers of his character. The episode sees Bart sell his soul to Milhouse for cash, deciding that a soul is a meaningless thing. However, he soon finds his life unraveling and begins to see the importance of holding onto such a key part of himself.

It is not often that the audience is in a position to feel sorry for Bart as he is usually doing whatever destructive thing that he wants. However, this is a special episode that shows the human side of the little troublemaker. It also never loses touch of the humor as Bart's increasing paranoia provides big laughs, as does a subplot in which Moe attempts to rebrand his bar as a family-friendly establishment.

6 Cape Feare

Season 5, Episode 2

Sideshow Bob is one of the most beloved recurring characters on The Simpsons, but "Cape Feare" really highlights what makes him so special. The episode finds Bob being released from prison and setting out on his mission to get revenge on Bart. In order to keep the boy safe, the Simpson family enters the witness protection and moves to a new home with Sideshow Bob in determined pursuit.

The episode is a detailed parody of Martin Scorsese's remake of Cape Fear, which is a funny movie to choose to poke fun at. However, it sets up the perfect episode to highlight the beloved Simpsons villain and is even responsible for the famous Sideshow Bob rake gag. Kelsey Grammer continues to bring the character to life with such energy and passion, making him a true menace who can also be made to look like a pathetic fool.

5 And Maggie Makes Three

Season 6, Episode 13

There have been many flashback episodes over the course of The Simpsons, but "And Maggie Makes Three" is the most effective one of the bunch. The episode is the previously untold story of how the birth of Maggie, which happened to come at an inopportune time for the Simpsons. With only two kids to raise, the family found their financial status in a comfortable place and Homer was able to leave his soul-crushing job, only for a new baby and more responsibilities to come along.

"And Maggie Makes Three" is a perfect example of how the rare emotional moments in The Simpsons can really pack a punch. The episode builds up to a heartbreaking and lovely reveal that recontextualizes Homer as a character in a beautiful way. However, the look at the family's past is also a lot of fun, filling in some blanks of their history before the show.

4 You Only Move Twice

Season 8, Episode 2

While "Cape Feare" briefly addresses the fun idea of the Simpsons living a life outside of Springfield, "You Only Move Twice" examines that idea even further. The episode sees Homer getting a surprising new job opportunity in a new town. It comes with a fancy new house, some prestigious schools for the kids, and a friendly new boss for Homer. However, it soon becomes clear that Homer is the only one who is enjoying the new life they have built.

The highlight of the episode is the scene-stealing Simpsons character of Hank Scorpio, Homer's new boss. While he is a friendly and supportive employer, the episode gradually reveals that he is a Bond villain-type of an international terrorist, which makes his decent treatment of Homer even funnier. Watching Homer as an oblivious background player in an epic action movie is a strange and hilarious touch, including the moment when Homer unexpectedly leads to James Bond being killed.

3 Lemon Of Troy

Season 6, Episode 24

The Simpsons often has a lot of fun taking small incidents and turning them into hugely entertaining adventures. "Lemon of Troy" explores the recurring joke about the rivalry between Springfield and its neighboring town of Shelbyville. When some of the local youths of Shelbyville steal Springfield's lemon tree, Bart assembles a team of his classmates to invade the town and take back the tree. Meanwhile, Homer and Flanders stage a rescue mission to find the kids.

The episode sets the stage for a genuinely entertaining team on a mission story complete with Bart identifying who fits into the proper stereotypical roles, such as Rod being the "quiet religious guy who ends up going crazy." Seeing the way Shelbyville mirrors Springfield is also a fun touch and it leads to the hilarious confrontation between Homer and his Shelbyville counterpart.

2 Homer's Enemy

One of the darkest episodes of The Simpsons is a somewhat divisive one, but it's a brilliant example of the show taking more risks with its storytelling. The episode unexpectedly takes its focus off the Simpsons and introduces a completely new character, Frank Grimes, a man who has worked hard his entire life only to find himself working alongside Homer Simpson. As Grimes witnesses Homer's incompetence and the success he has achieved despite it, he begins to mentally unravel.

While Homer's life is often seen as a mess, Grimes gives a hilarious new perspective as someone who has had a truly hard life but sees the unearned success of this deeply unqualified man. It is a smart way of making Homer almost the villain of the story but also having him be more endearing than normal, as all he wants to do is be friends with Grimes. It all leads to a darkly hilarious climax that shows off the show's bold tone.

1 Marge Vs. The Monorail

While many fans might not be aware that Conan O'Brien was a writer for The Simpsons for a short period, he delivered the greatest episode of The Simpsons during that time. "Marge vs. the Monorail" sees the town of Springfield coming into a large sum of money and deciding to spend it on a monorail system sold to them by a shady traveling salesman. However, it soon becomes clear the salesman is a crook and the monorail poses great danger to the town.

As a sign of the episode's lasting legacy "Marge vs. the Monorail" was remade in The Simpsons' 2022 "Treehouse of Horror episode. It is an episode packed with laughs, from the opening sequence of Mr. Burns' court case to Homer's misadventures as the monorail conductor to Leonard Nimoy's cameo. It also features another classic Simpsons song and a wonderful villainous performance from Phil Hartman as the salesman Lyle Lanley.

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"The Simpsons" is a legendary American animated franchise that debuted in 1987 as short segments on The Tracey Ullman Show before becoming a standalone series in 1989. The show follows the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—who live in the fictional town of Springfield. The franchise is renowned for its satirical and humorous take on various aspects of American culture, society, and the human condition. Over the years, "The Simpsons" has expanded into films, video games, comic books, and theme park attractions, becoming a cornerstone of popular culture.

Created by

Matt Groening

Upcoming Films

the simpsons movie 2

Cast

Dan Castellaneta , Julie Kavner , Nancy Cartwright , Yeardley Smith , Harry Shearer , Hank Azaria , Pamela Hayden , Tress MacNeille , Marcia Wallace , Russi Taylor

TV Show(s)

The Simpsons