Best Episodes
The Simpsons is an iconic American show that has been airing since 1989 on FOX. Set in the average American town of Springfield, the show follows the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family. Over the 36 seasons of the show, there have been many memorable episodes that have made The Simpsons a household name. Here we will rank the best episodes of The Simpsons, from the highest to the lowest rated.
The Simpsons is filled with comedy, satire and commentary directed at politics, media and American life. It has attracted hundreds of celebrities to guest star in the show, making it even more popular. With so many great episodes, it can be hard to pick out the best. Here we will rank the top episodes based on their ratings, reviews and overall popularity.
So sit back and enjoy this list of the best episodes of The Simpsons, ranked from highest to lowest. There is sure to be something here to satisfy everyone, so let’s get started!
Written by Sophie and last updated on nov 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!
Homer burns down Springfield's fast-food district. In order to float a bond issue to rebuild it, Mayor Quimby moves up election day, making Springfield's primary election the first in the nation. This causes the town to be overrun with reporters, candidates and pundits.
The episode was rated 7.19 from 382 votes.
Homer cheats on his diet, so Marge gets a reality show called "The Sneakers" to check up on him. Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa fear that a prank they played on Martin Prince had deadly consequences.
The episode was rated 7.26 from 402 votes.
Homer falls in love with the high life of flying in private planes when he saves Mr. Burns from drowning, and Burns repays him by flying him to Chicago for a night on the town.
The episode was rated 7.26 from 559 votes.
With Lisa's encouragement, Marge pursues her dream of becoming a ballerina. But when Marge auditions at the ballet academy, Lisa is invited to enroll. Unfortunately, Lisa becomes addicted to secondhand smoke from the other dancers. Meanwhile, Homer's beef-jerky operation runs into a snag.
The episode was rated 7.27 from 392 votes.
The series' 18th Halloween show features three vignettes that parody movies: one that spoofs "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"; one that sends up "E.T."; and one that parodies "Se7en."
The episode was rated 7.28 from 650 votes.
Milhouse stays with the Simpsons when his parents remarry each other and honeymoon on a cruise ship. But when his parents are knocked overboard and lost at sea, Milhouse decides to grow up and be a man.
The episode was rated 7.28 from 473 votes.
Homer's mother, Mona, returns, but Homer is reluctant to trust her because she abandoned him so many times as a child.
The episode was rated 7.28 from 343 votes.
Bart joins the 4-H club and raises a calf to be a blue-ribbon-winning bull, but panics when he learns the bull will be slaughtered.
The episode was rated 7.32 from 377 votes.
Marge opens a gym for real women because she's disenchanted with Springfield's snooty, glitzy L.A. Body Works. Her gym, Shapes: A Gym for Women, is a huge success, launching a chain that makes Marge rich and famous. But Homer fears Marge will leave him for someone more attractive and goes to extreme lengths to try to save his marriage.
The episode was rated 7.34 from 453 votes.
A new kid at school named Donny works with Bart on his pranks. But when the pranks start to backfire, Bart wonders if he can trust his new accomplice. Meanwhile, the Simpsons get a fancy loaner car after Marge gets in an accident, and Homer falls in love with it.
The episode was rated 7.35 from 405 votes.
Homer takes a job as a tow-truck driver, and Marge hires a service that claims to make babies less clingy. Both decisions have unexpected consequences.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 473 votes.
A freak accident gives Homer an operatic singing voice, and he becomes a star at the Springfield Opera. But with fame and fortune comes a price: He's continually bothered by fans, an obsessed woman in particular.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 483 votes.
Sideshow Bob tries again for revenge against the Simpsons.
The episode was rated 7.37 from 426 votes.
Flashbacks follow Marge and Homer back to their dating days, when she was a college student and he was working for his father to support her. Then Marge becomes smitten with a professor, so a sorrowful Homer turns to music--and invents grunge.
The episode was rated 7.44 from 483 votes.
Homer loses his memory--and his family--when he drinks Moe's most potent libation, the Forget-Me-Shot, in an episode that spoofs "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "It's a Wonderful Life."
The episode was rated 7.60 from 463 votes.
