The Best Episodes of The Simpsons
Every episode of The Simpsons ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Simpsons!
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
Top Episode Highlight
The best episode of "The Simpsons" is "Homer's Enemy", rated 9.3/10 from 6884 user votes. It was directed by Jim Reardon and written by John Swartzwelder. "Homer's Enemy" aired on 5/4/1997 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Cape Feare".
9.3/10 6,884 votes#1 - Homer's Enemy
Season 8 Episode 23 - Aired 1997-05-04
A hardworking new employee at the power plant is consumed with resentment at Homer's undeserved success.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: John Swartzwelder
9.2/10 5,819 votes#2 - Cape Feare
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 1993-10-07
The Simpsons go incognito to avoid the newly paroled Sideshow Bob, who's out to get Bart.
Director: Rich Moore
Writer: Jon Vitti
9.2/10 5,274 votes#3 - Treehouse of Horror V
Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 1994-10-30
Lack of beer and cable TV make Homer a crazed killer; the present is altered by a time-traveling Homer; and Principal Skinner turns detention students into food.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: Bob Kushell, Greg Daniels, David X. Cohen, Dan McGrath
9.2/10 4,790 votes#4 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (1)
Season 6 Episode 25 - Aired 1995-05-21
Mr. Burns makes many enemies when he steals the oil discovered beneath Springfield Elementary.
Director: Jeffrey Lynch, Wes Archer
Writer: Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein
9.2/10 6,436 votes#5 - You Only Move Twice
Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 1996-11-03
In an idyllic planned community, Homer works for a new boss who has trouble with the government. Meanwhile, the rest of the family has difficulty dealing with the bucolic burg.
Director: Mike B. Anderson
Writer: John Swartzwelder
9.1/10 5,839 votes#6 - Marge vs. the Monorail
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 1993-01-14
When Springfield gets a sudden windfall, a charismatic traveling salesman convinces the town to build a monorail.
Director: Rich Moore
Writer: Conan O'Brien
9.1/10 4,794 votes#7 - The Springfield Files
Season 8 Episode 10 - Aired 1997-01-12
Homer witnesses something out of this world in Springfield woods, but no one believes him -- not even FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who come to investigate the incident.
Director: Steven Dean Moore
Writer: Reid Harrison
9.0/10 5,240 votes#8 - Homer the Heretic
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 1992-10-08
After skipping church one Sunday morning, Homer decides to quit church altogether and spend Sundays worshiping in his own way -- with cigars and beer.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: George Meyer
9.0/10 5,314 votes#9 - Last Exit to Springfield
Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 1993-03-11
Union president Homer fights to keep the dental plan.
Director: Mark Kirkland
Writer: Wallace Wolodarsky, Jay Kogen
9.0/10 4,789 votes#10 - Homer Badman
Season 6 Episode 9 - Aired 1994-11-27
When Homer gropes for a gummy candy stuck to the babysitter's pants, she mistakes his intentions and turns the town against him.
Director: Jeffrey Lynch
Writer: Greg Daniels
9.0/10 4,512 votes#11 - Homer the Great
Season 6 Episode 12 - Aired 1995-01-08
Homer joins the secret society of the Stonecutters and is suddenly exalted when the brethren discover his birthmark. The ancient order is shaken to the core by the ineptitude of its new Chosen One.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: John Swartzwelder
9.0/10 4,346 votes#12 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (2)
Season 7 Episode 1 - Aired 1995-09-17
With Mr. Burns shot, Chief Wiggum investigates the crime, and nearly everyone in town has a motive. At the end, it all comes down to the Simpson DNA.
Director: Wes Archer
Writer: Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein
9.0/10 4,718 votes#13 - King-Size Homer
Season 7 Episode 7 - Aired 1995-11-05
Homer tries to gain sixty pounds so he can stay home on disability. When he nearly causes a catastrophe at the plant, Homer reconsiders his plan.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: Dan Greaney
9.0/10 4,179 votes#14 - 22 Short Films About Springfield
Season 7 Episode 21 - Aired 1996-04-14
Bart and Milhouse wonder if anything interesting happens to the citizens of Springfield, which leads to a series of interconnected vignettes.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein, Greg Daniels, Brent Forrester, Jennifer Crittenden, Rachel Pulido, Steve Tompkins, David X. Cohen, Richard Appel, Matt Groening, Jonathan Collier
9.0/10 5,109 votes#15 - The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
Season 9 Episode 1 - Aired 1997-09-21
Designated driver Barney absconds to Manhattan in Homer's car and leaves it there. But when the family journeys to the Big Apple to retrieve their property, Homer discovers his car has been booted.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: Ian Maxtone-Graham
8.9/10 4,020 votes#16 - And Maggie Makes Three
Season 6 Episode 13 - Aired 1995-01-22
The story of Maggie's birth is told in flashbacks: after Homer quits the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant to pursue his dream of working at a bowling alley, Marge reveals that she is pregnant.
Director: Swinton O. Scott III
Writer: Jennifer Crittenden
8.8/10 5,321 votes#17 - One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 1991-01-24
After eating poisonous blowfish at a sushi restaurant, Homer decides to live life to the fullest in the 24 hours he has left to live.
Director: Wes Archer
Writer: Nell Scovell
8.8/10 4,701 votes#18 - Flaming Moe's
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 1991-11-21
Moe steals the drink recipe Homer invented, and the rechristened “Flaming Moe” turns his tavern into a hotspot. When a national franchise wants to buy the recipe, Homer wants revenge.
Director: Rich Moore, Alan Smart
Writer: Robert Cohen
8.8/10 4,599 votes#19 - Mr. Plow
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 1992-11-19
Homer and Barney become competitors in the snow-plowing business.
Director: Jim Reardon
Writer: Jon Vitti
8.8/10 4,473 votes#20 - Rosebud
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 1993-10-21
Burns longs for a childhood toy that winds up in the grip of Maggie.
Director: Wes Archer
Writer: John Swartzwelder
8.8/10 4,332 votes#21 - Treehouse of Horror IV
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 1993-10-28
Homer sells his soul; Vampire Burns invites the Simpsons for dinner; Bart sees a gremlin damaging his school bus.
Director: David Silverman
Writer: Conan O'Brien, Bill Canterbury, Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein, Greg Daniels, Dan McGrath
8.8/10 4,429 votes#22 - Deep Space Homer
Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 1994-02-24
Homer and Barney compete to be the first "average" American in space.
Director: Carlos Baeza
Writer: David Mirkin
8.8/10 4,273 votes#23 - Bart Sells His Soul
Season 7 Episode 4 - Aired 1995-10-08
Bart sells his soul to Milhouse for five dollars, but soon regrets his decision. Meanwhile, Moe turns the Tavern into a family-friendly restaurant.
Director: Wes Archer
Writer: Greg Daniels
8.8/10 4,149 votes#24 - Homer the Smithers
Season 7 Episode 17 - Aired 1996-02-25
Forced to take a vacation, Smithers needs to find a temporary replacement who won't outshine him. Homer seems the perfect choice until a sudden outburst forces Mr. Burns to assert his independence.
Director: Steven Dean Moore
Writer: John Swartzwelder
8.8/10 4,408 votes#25 - Homer's Phobia
Season 8 Episode 15 - Aired 1997-02-16
The Simpsons befriend a shop owner, but when Homer discovers the man is gay, he worries about his influence on Bart.
Director: Mike B. Anderson
Writer: Ron Hauge