Best Episodes
South Park is an iconic adult animated sitcom that has been airing on Comedy Central since 1997. It follows the misadventures of four grade-schoolers in South Park, Colorado. Its absurd humor and social commentary has earned it a cult following and critical praise. With 27 seasons, there are many great episodes to choose from. Here are our top picks for the best South Park episodes, ranked!
From classic episodes like "Scott Tenorman Must Die" and "Make Love, Not Warcraft" to more recent gems like "Band in China" and "Time to Get Cereal," South Park has offered up a wide variety of hilarious and thought-provoking stories over the years. With its blend of satire, parody, and wit, it's no wonder South Park is still going strong after 27 seasons.
Whether you're a die-hard fan or just getting into the show, these are the best South Park episodes you need to check out. From classic favorites to more recent standouts, there's something for everyone in this list of the best South Park episodes, ranked!
Written by Sophie and last updated on dec 20, 2024.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
As talent agents, Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny can bank 10% of their client’s earnings. After they pool all their resources to impress their one and only client, another agency steals him away. Desperate to earn their money back, they take on another client with plans to launch her on a new reality show.
The episode was rated 7.55 from 655 votes.
Mr. Garrison goes to great lengths to get what he’s always wanted…a sex change. As he enjoys his new womanly attributes, the rest of the town gets in touch with their inner feelings too. Meanwhile, Kyle wrestles with the fact that Jews just aren’t good at basketball.
The episode was rated 7.55 from 700 votes.
Mrs. Garrison realizes he still has feelings for Mr. Slave. But, Mr. Slave has moved on. He plans to marry his new love as soon as the Governor signs the same-sex marriage bill. Mrs. Garrison leads the charge against gay marriage.
The episode was rated 7.61 from 586 votes.
All the kids are getting ready for the big South Park Elementary Talent Show and Jimmy can’t wait to perform his new comedy routines. But lately, just like generations of little boys before him, Jimmy’s noticed that one of his body parts has a mind of its own. Knowing he can’t get up in front of the entire school in an excited state, Jimmy must find a way to gain control of his raging hormones in time to perform in the show.
The episode was rated 7.63 from 640 votes.
Stan is embarrassed in front of his friends when his dad gets pulled over for drunk driving. In a neighboring town, a bleeding statue of Mary is discovered and the faithful are flocking to the site hoping to be healed. Stan’s dad is sure the bleeding Virgin can cure him of his disease.
The episode was rated 7.78 from 672 votes.
Kenny is the only one of his friends to get the newest, coolest portable gaming device and Cartman can’t deal with it. Will they remain best friends forever?
The episode was rated 7.79 from 718 votes.
A “talking” whale inspires the fourth-graders to risk everything to return him to his family. With the police on their tails, the boys enlist the help of a foreign government and embark upon an adventure you’ll not soon forget. One in which the boys learn just how far you would go for a friend.
The episode was rated 7.90 from 641 votes.
A global warming state of emergency is declared in South Park. The world’s largest beaver dam breaks and floods the adjacent town of Beaverton. As the victims wait for help to arrive, everyone in South Park tackles priority number one: who is to blame? Only Stan and Cartman know who’s really at fault.
The episode was rated 7.92 from 728 votes.
Cartman seeks to rid the world of hippies once and for all.
The episode was rated 8.07 from 785 votes.
The Losing Edge is an all-time classic South Park episode that brilliantly flips the usual “ragtag group of kids win the big game” narrative on its head. The boys are trying everything they can to lose their little league baseball games so they can go home and play video games and have fun. With the opposing team straining to guess the pitch so as to strike out and bringing in Connecticut Kyle as a ringer, the boys’ competing efforts to lose all lead to great comedy.
Randy Marsh’s half of the story is just as amusing. His drunken dad antics and desire to be an obnoxious dad make for a funny B-story. Sharon’s disbelief and Stan's dismay each time his dad fights is even better. The two stories dovetail perfectly in the end with the boys rooting for Randy to fight so they can get disqualified and won’t have to go to nationals. Randy’s “I thought this was America” protests to the cops is the icing on the cake.
The episode was rated 8.09 from 758 votes.
The episode was rated 8.13 from 808 votes.
In the South Park episode “Ginger Kids,” Cartman is suddenly afflicted with a mysterious condition called Gingervitus. After being teased for his red hair, light skin and freckles, he rallies all ginger kids everywhere to fight against discrimination. Cartman twists and turns like a twisty, turny thing in this episode, all motivated by his hate. Even though his behavior is extreme and sometimes hard to love, it is consistent, and in a strange way, admirable.
In this episode, Cartman takes his mission of defending ginger kids seriously. He educates the other kids on the plight of ginger kids, and even gives a speech at City Hall. He also organizes a protest rally, and manages to get a bill passed that makes it illegal to discriminate against ginger kids. Even though Cartman’s methods are extreme, it’s clear that he is genuinely trying to make a difference in the world.
The episode was rated 8.14 from 728 votes.
In the South Park episode Marjorine, the 4th grade girls are having a sleepover. The boys are desperate to know what goes on behind those closed doors and devise a plan to send Butters undercover. Butters is chosen to fake his death, transform into a girl, and infiltrate the girls' sleepover.
The episode is full of hilarity, from Butters' reactions to the things he experiences at the sleepover to the boys' attempts to make him appear more feminine. One of the most memorable lines from the episode is when Butters exclaims "Can I just have some Spaghetti-Os?!" This memorable line resonates with many fans of the show and has become a beloved quote. Fans of the show love this episode for its humor and its unexpected twists, making it one of the most popular episodes of South Park.
The episode was rated 8.17 from 721 votes.
In South Park's episode "The Death of Eric Cartman", Butters is confronted with his fears of ghosts when he believes he can communicate with the dead. Despite his parents' insistence that there are no such things as ghosts, Butters is certain one is haunting him and knows he must either give up his ghost pal or be put into a mental institution. The episode opens with a humorous take on how Butters deals with bullies, and it's clear his character is still very much in tact. However, Cartman is also portrayed in a very different light as he expresses genuine sadness and regret, proving he may have a good heart after all.
The episode deals with the concept of death and the fear associated with it, while also exploring the depths of Cartman's character. Butters eventually learns to accept his fear and come to terms with the fact that the ghost he's been communicating with is actually himself. Through the episode, characters learn to confront their fears and accept death, while Cartman's character development is taken to a new level. All in all, it's a poignant episode that offers a unique perspective on death and human emotion.
The episode was rated 8.23 from 775 votes.
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