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The Best Episodes of Faerie Tale Theatre

Every episode of Faerie Tale Theatre ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Faerie Tale Theatre!

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A live-action children's television anthology series retelling popular fairy tales.

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Seasons6

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Faerie Tale Theatre Season 2 Episode 3 - Sleeping Beauty
    8.0/10(242 votes)

    #1 - Sleeping Beauty

    S2:E3

    Christopher Reeves and Bernadette Peters star in this charming adaption of the classic story, an evil witch puts a curse on a beautiful princess which entails that by her 16th birthday she will stick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die!!, the curse is somewhat lifted by a good fairy so that instead of death it is sleep. When the evil curse comes true the good fairy puts a spell on the castle to place everyone asleep until the princess is wakened by loves first kiss.

    Director:Jeremy Kagan
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 2 Episode 4 - Jack and the Beanstalk
    7.7/10(211 votes)

    #2 - Jack and the Beanstalk

    S2:E4

    Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum... Remember the shivers you felt from the giants cry when you were a child? Now in this delightful production of Jack and the Beanstalk, a marvelous script and magical special effects recreate the adventure. Dennis Christopher is the idealistic hero who trades a cow for magic beans, then climbs the resulting beanstalk and stumbles onto an incredible adventure. A large part of that adventure is an encounter with Jean Stapleton and Elliot Gould, a giant husband and wife time that make this one of the most memorable episodes.

    Director:Lamont Johnson
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 2 Episode 5 - Little Red Riding Hood
    5.0/10(224 votes)

    #3 - Little Red Riding Hood

    S2:E5

    Mary Steenburgen encounters a surprise on the trip to grandmas -- he has big eyes - big ears and a set of sparkling Razor sharp teeth. He has decided to take an extra liking to "Miss Hood" as he accompanies her on her trip through the forest. He hasn't counted on the cunning and ever-sweet Granny nor has he thought about what danger he might be in from Miss hoods admirer -- all in all the vain wolf learns that humans are just as cunning.

    Director:Graeme Clifford
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 2 Episode 1 - Rapunzel
    4.0/10(298 votes)

    #4 - Rapunzel

    S2:E1

    From High atop a tower, a beautiful young woman lets down her hair - and lets in love. Thats the time-honored story of Rapunzel. Shelly Duvall, producer of the entire Faerie Tale Theatre series of which Rapunzel is a part , stars as the maiden.Jeff Bridges is the prince who climbs to Rapunzel's balcony via her long , long hair.And Gena Rowlands is the lovely, but wicked witch who tries to keep them apart.

    Director:Gilbert Cates
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 2 Episode 2 - The Nightingale
    1.0/10(198 votes)

    #5 - The Nightingale

    S2:E2

    Cathay, a kingdom with harmony and peace. A simple kitchen maid, whose mother is very sick, learns of magical faeries and a root that can cure even the worst disease. She also comes across a beautiful bird, the nightingale, that she soon falls in love with its song. The emperor, is unpleased to learn that his great and vast palace does not completly please the poets, rather a simple bird, the nightingale, does. His royal court gets the bird, with the help of the kitchen maid, and the emperor is very pleased. After a while, an artificial bird is given to the emperor as a gift. He banishes the other the nightingale. But when the artificial bird breaks, he suddenly becomes deathly ill. It's up to the nightingale to save him, but will she after he banished her? Mick Jagger portrays the emperor very well, Barbara Hershey is superb as the kitchen maid, and Edward James Olomos is great as the prime minister. The Nightingale has a great message and great fun!

    Director:Ivan Passer
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 2 Episode 6 - Hansel and Gretel
    0.0/10(264 votes)

    #6 - Hansel and Gretel

    S2:E6

    A mean and selfish stepmother convinces her husband that if they are to keep from starving he must abandon his children in the woods. Lost and Hungry the children come across a wonderful gingerbread cottage covered with candy and icing. Unknown to them the house is owned by an evil witch who uses it to trap boys and girls lost in the wood. She captures the children with the intent on baking them up in her oven-- but Gretal decides to try some home cooking herself!

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Faerie Tale Theatre

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  7. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 3 Episode 1 - Goldilocks And The Three Bears
    0.0/10(189 votes)

    #7 - Goldilocks And The Three Bears

    S3:E1

    It's probably the most famous story of trespassing in fiction. In this version, its unquestionably the most entertaining. Tatum O'Neal stars as the mischievous but lovable heroine in this story of a child who invades the lives of 3 bears. The amusing threesome is headed by Alex Karras. Carole king and John Lithgow and Hoyt Axton are included in the talented supporting cast.

    Director:Gilbert Cates
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 3 Episode 2 - The Princess and the Pea
    0.0/10(200 votes)

    #8 - The Princess and the Pea

    S3:E2

    Prince Richard is looking for something to complete his life. The royal fool(jester). Helps him decide that he needs a wife, with a demanding mother and a dumbfounded father, that's all he needs in his life, until Alicia comes along. She is kind and gentle, and persists that she's a princess. Richard has had it with the demands of his mother and hates all of the princess presented to him, so he decides to marry Alicia. The mother however, is not so sure Alicia, so she puts her to a test to see if she is a real princess which has hilarious consequences! Liza Minelli is classically funny as Alicia. "The Princess and the Pea" is great family fun!

    Director:Tony Bill
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 3 Episode 3 - Pinocchio
    0.0/10(216 votes)

    #9 - Pinocchio

    S3:E3

    James Coburn, Carl Reiner, Paul Reubens and Lainie Kazan star in this amazing version of the Carlo Collodi's classic tale. A magical blue fairy brings a marionette named Pinocchio to life in order to grant a woodcutter's wish. Now Pinocchio must prove himself kind and loving in order to become a real, live boy. But, if he is bad, which sometimes he is, his nose will grow and only until he realizes his mistake will it shrink back to a valid size. This is one of the best Faerie Tale Theatre episodes, and one of the best versions of this classic Faerie Tale!

    Director:Peter Medak
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 3 Episode 4 - Thumbelina
    0.0/10(162 votes)

    #10 - Thumbelina

    S3:E4

    Carrie Fisher and William Katt are Thumb-Sized Lovers...Video magic transforms Carrie Fisher into the diminutive heroine of Thumbelina, a girl so tiny she slept in a matchbox, so kind even field mice loved her, so beautiful she married a Prince. Raised by a kindhearted charwoman, Thumbelina is kidnapped and almost forced to marry first a Toad, then a crotchety Mole, played by Burgess Meredith. She manages, however, to escape to a beautiful garden kingdom where she meets a handsome equally tiny Prince, William Katt. This tale teaches us that everyone, no matter how unique, can find someone to love. Featuring production design based on the work of 19th century illustrator George Cruikshank. Thumbelina is a marvelous fantasy that will enchant big and small alike.

    Director:Michael Lindsay-Hogg
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 3 Episode 5 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
    0.0/10(366 votes)

    #11 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

    S3:E5

    In her effort to be "fairest in the land," a jealous and evil queen attempts to be rid of her beautiful stepdaughter, Snow White, who takes refuge in the forest cottage of the seven dwarfs. The queen, disguised by magic as an old peddler woman, tempts Snow White with a poisoned apple, which puts her into an enchanted sleep until the spell can be broken by love's first kiss.

    Director:Peter Medak
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 3 Episode 6 - Beauty and the Beast
    0.0/10(264 votes)

    #12 - Beauty and the Beast

    S3:E6

    "Love can make a man become a beast and love can also make an ugly man beautiful." This is the moving message Susan Sarandon and Klaus Kinski deliver in their memorable performances of Beauty and the Beast. Beast takes Beauty into a mysterious world of misty gardens and candlelit chambers, in this world the shy unselfish beauty comes to know the grotesque beast. The suspense builds as Beauty discovers that ugliness can mask great goodness, and that promises should always be kept ... no matter what the cost.

    Director:Roger Vadim
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 3 Episode 7 - The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
    0.0/10(215 votes)

    #13 - The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

    S3:E7

    Overcoming fear is a problem for most people, but there once was a boy whose problem was his complete lack of fear! Peter MacNicol stars as that boy in this amusing production narrated by Vincent Price. The king played by Christopher Lee promises the boy treasure and a beautiful princess if he can defeat an evil sorcerer who has haunted the kings castle. The boy meets an ominous mute hunchback, a headless man and ghosts galore and finally the sorcerer himself (in a duel to the death fight). Yet, he still has no fear, until the surprise conclusion.

    Director:Graeme Clifford
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 5 Episode 1 - Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
    0.0/10(442 votes)

    #14 - Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp

    S5:E1

    Sometimes getting everything you wish isn't everything you wished for. It certainly isn't in the fantastic tale of Aladdin where he is left in a cave to die with nothing but an oil lamp! But Lo and behold rubbing it produces a fantastic Blue Genie, who will grant him every wish-- even the wish to marry the princess! but the evil Moroccan Magician attempts to get in the way by stealing the lamp! an absolutely stunning version From Tim Burton.

    Director:Tim Burton
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 5 Episode 2 - The Princess Who Never Laughed
    0.0/10(180 votes)

    #15 - The Princess Who Never Laughed

    S5:E2

    Ellen Barkin is a forlorn princess yearning for laughs. Howard Hessman is her stern father (the king) who demands to be addressed as "your seriousness". Growing up without humor, the princess becomes more and more morose, finally locking herself in the royal bedchamber and refusing to leave. The king in desperation, decrees a royal laugh-off to make his daughter happy. Enter Howie Mandell as "Weinerhead Waldo" and his pet pig Boris. Together they show the princess what the funniest act in the kingdom really is.

    Director:Mark Cullingham
    Writer:David Felton

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  16. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 6 Episode 1 - Rip Van Winkle
    0.0/10(230 votes)

    #16 - Rip Van Winkle

    S6:E1

    Rip Van Winkle is off in the Catskill mountains one day when he finds a gathering of ghosts. After drinking wine and socializing all day, he falls fast asleep. When he awakes, he discovers it is 20 years later! An interesting version of the Washington Irving Tale.

    Director:Francis Ford Coppola
    Writer:Alister Berry

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  17. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 6 Episode 2 - The Little Mermaid
    0.0/10(191 votes)

    #17 - The Little Mermaid

    S6:E2

    Pam Dawber makes a deal with a sea witch after rescuing a human from drowning -- she wants to become human. The witch agrees to give her legs, but the prince must fall in love with her or she is doomed to be sea foam forever on the sea. The Witch also takes away her voice and warns her that every step she takes will feel like she is walking on knives. Even with all odds against her, the little mermaid follows her heart, no matter where it may lead!

    Director:Robert Iscove
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Faerie Tale Theatre Season 6 Episode 3 - The Dancing Princesses
    0.0/10(221 votes)

    #18 - The Dancing Princesses

    S6:E3

    An overbearing king learns from his daughters that being overprotective is as unwise as being to permissive. The trouble starts when he learns that his 6 daughters dancing slippers nearly worn to bits Every morning (which is very costly). He wonders how they accomplish this when he locks them in their room every night. Where do they possibly go dancing? The secret isn't discovered until a wise soldier shows up at the palace and follows them by aid of an invisible cloak to a stunning fantasy world where the girls dance the night away with their dream men. This is one of the finest episodes of Faerie tale Theatre!

    Director:Peter Medak
    Writer:Maryedith Burrell

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Best Episodes Summary

"Sleeping Beauty" is the best rated episode of "Faerie Tale Theatre". It scored 8/10 based on 242 votes. Directed by Jeremy Kagan and written by Unknown, it aired on 7/7/1983. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Jack and the Beanstalk".