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The Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle

Every episode of Malcolm in the Middle ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle!

The Best Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle

A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 20 - Bowling
    9.3/10(2431 votes)

    #1 - Bowling

    S2:E20

    Malcolm and Reese go to a bowling party where they vie for the attention of a cute girl.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writer:Alex Reid

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  2. Malcolm in the Middle Season 7 Episode 22 - Graduation
    9.0/10(1691 votes)

    #2 - Graduation

    S7:E22

    Malcolm struggles with his speech when he's elected valedictorian of his graduating class at school. However, Lois refuses to listen to any of his complaints and reveals that she wants him to become President of the United States. Meanwhile, Reese does everything he can to get a permanent job as a high school janitor, which includes creating the most disgusting mess ever. In the meantime, Hal has problems with Malcolm's Harvard tuition, while Francis finally gets a real 9-5 job that he actually enjoys. Also returning for the family celebrations is Grandma Ida, as they all say goodbye to Malcolm when he leaves for college.

    Director:Linwood Boomer
    Writer:Michael Glouberman

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  3. Malcolm in the Middle Season 4 Episode 3 - Family Reunion
    8.8/10(1476 votes)

    #3 - Family Reunion

    S4:E3

    Christopher Lloyd adds to his gallery of eccentric characters, playing Hal's quirky, cranky and very wealthy father, Walter, in this rollicking episode. The occasion is a birthday celebration for the old man, but the snooty female in-laws seem more interested in offending Lois. Their shabby behavior initially goes unnoticed by Hal, who's desperately trying to bond with his self-centered dad; and by Dewey and Reese, who seek some of Grampa's dough by currying favor with him. But when Lois is reduced to tears after being excluded from a group photo, the family rallies to her side with an all-out counterattack that turns the party into pandemonium.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writer:Alex Reid

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  4. Malcolm in the Middle Season 1 Episode 13 - Rollerskates
    8.7/10(1914 votes)

    #4 - Rollerskates

    S1:E13

    Roller-skating lessons from Hal bug Malcolm, who rebels against dad's discipline while mom agonizes in bed from a backache she blames on Reese. Francis avoids his squad's survival weekend.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writer:Alan J. Higgins

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  5. Malcolm in the Middle Season 7 Episode 16 - Lois Strikes Back
    8.7/10(1151 votes)

    #5 - Lois Strikes Back

    S7:E16

    When four popular high school girls play an evil prank on Reese by pretending he has a secret admirer and then dropping a pig off at his front door, Lois comes to his rescue. She plots her revenge on the four unsuspecting girls and wreaks havoc on their adolescent lives. Meanwhile, Hal realizes Lois is at a dangerous emotional place so he decides to get some distance and stumbles upon the idea for making his own pitching machine out of stuff in the garage.

    Director:Alex Reid
    Writer:Gary Murphy

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  6. Malcolm in the Middle Season 1 Episode 16 - Water Park (1)
    8.6/10(1754 votes)

    #6 - Water Park (1)

    S1:E16

    When the family goes to a water park for a day, Dewey is left home with an elderly, stern babysitter. Francis is hustled at pocket billiards by his military-school commandant.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writers:Maggie Bandur, Pang-Ni Landrum

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Malcolm in the Middle

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  7. Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 1 - Traffic Jam (2)
    8.6/10(1649 votes)

    #7 - Traffic Jam (2)

    S2:E1

    Hal, Loi, Malcolm and Reese are trapped in a horrendous traffic jam. Francis enters himself in a bet that recalls the egg-eating wager in "Cool Hand Luke." Malcolm becomes smitten over a girl he meets. Dewey has his own little adventure--all over the world--before his family returns home.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writer:Dan Kopelman

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  8. Malcolm in the Middle Season 4 Episode 10 - If Boys Were Girls
    8.6/10(1382 votes)

    #8 - If Boys Were Girls

    S4:E10

    After being rattled by a battle among the boys, a pregnant Lois ponders the consequences of raising another brawling kid. So she fantasizes that her unruly sons have morphed into well-behaved young daughters. Malcolm becomes Mallory, Reese is transformed into Renee and Dewey turns into Daisy.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writers:Alexandra Kaczenski, Nahnatchka Khan

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  9. Malcolm in the Middle Season 1 Episode 2 - Red Dress
    8.4/10(2148 votes)

    #9 - Red Dress

    S1:E2

    Lois must take drastic steps to discover which of her sons ruined the special dress she bought for an anniversary dinner with Hal.

    Director:Arlene Sanford
    Writer:Alan J. Higgins

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  10. Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 3 - Lois's Birthday
    8.4/10(1548 votes)

    #10 - Lois's Birthday

    S2:E3

    Crummy gifts rile birthday gal Lois, who suddenly splits from home, leaving confusion, anxiety and desperation in her wake.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writer:Alex Reid

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  11. Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 24 - Evacuation
    8.4/10(1277 votes)

    #11 - Evacuation

    S2:E24

    Hal is inadvertently responsible for a toxic chemical spill that forces a neighborhood evacuation; Malcolm deals with being grounded even in the emergency shelter; Francis suffers through a date with a geeky 12-year-old.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy

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  12. Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 25 - Flashback
    8.4/10(1331 votes)

    #12 - Flashback

    S2:E25

    Lois is two weeks late with her period, causing her and Hal to panic and start a big fight, while trying to keep it from the boys. And while Dewey is scared that his parents may split up, Hal and Lois remember the troubles of getting their previous four sons.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Ian Busch

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  13. Malcolm in the Middle Season 5 Episode 22 - Reese Joins the Army (2)
    8.4/10(976 votes)

    #13 - Reese Joins the Army (2)

    S5:E22

    Reese continues to be a great soldier in the Army until he finds himself in a situation where his Sergeant cannot help. But after comparing being captured to being grounded, he takes action and leads his team to victory. But being such a successful soldier has it's bad parts as well, as Reese prepares to jump from the plane - right into Afghanistan. Malcolm has his hands full as well as he attempts to prove Hal innocent. But being good with numbers helps as Malcolm notices all of the prosecutions given dates are on Fridays - which Hal hasn't worked on in over 15 years. And with Reese missing and Hal's case, Lois falls deeper and deeper into insanity.

    Director:Peter Lauer
    Writer:Andrew Orenstein

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  14. Malcolm in the Middle Season 1 Episode 8 - Krelboyne Picnic
    8.3/10(1741 votes)

    #14 - Krelboyne Picnic

    S1:E8

    The whole family attends a Krelboyne family picnic, and Malcolm dreads his performance in the event's Academic Circus will make him look like a freak. Disasters abound as stage acts bomb, families feud, and Malcolm's dad serves meat to vegetarians.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writers:Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein

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  15. Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 13 - New Neighbors
    8.3/10(1383 votes)

    #15 - New Neighbors

    S2:E13

    New neighbors, who turn out to be even more awful than Malcolm's family, move in next door; the Marlin Academy cadets prepare for a visit from Oliver North.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writers:Maggie Bandur, Pang-Ni Landrum

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  16. Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 16 - Traffic Ticket
    8.3/10(1272 votes)

    #16 - Traffic Ticket

    S2:E16

    Lois gets a traffic ticket and immediately blames Francis and makes him get the money to her. To do this, Francis stages a stunt for the other cadets' amusement. Malcolm finds evidence that Lois was wrong about the traffic ticket.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Larry Strawther

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  17. Malcolm in the Middle Season 3 Episode 13 - Reese Drives
    8.3/10(1174 votes)

    #17 - Reese Drives

    S3:E13

    Highway horror: Reese gets a learner's permit, which he promptly proceeds to abuse by commandeering a driving-school vehicle.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein

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  18. Malcolm in the Middle Season 4 Episode 8 - Boys at Ranch
    8.3/10(1111 votes)

    #18 - Boys at Ranch

    S4:E8

    On a visit to Francis' dude ranch Hal can't help being disappointed in Francis' success, Reese and Malcolm fear Francis has turned into an overly responsible grownup, and Gretchen punishes Dewey for breaking a valuable doll.

    Director:David D'Ovidio
    Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy

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  19. Malcolm in the Middle Season 5 Episode 21 - Reese Joins the Army (1)
    8.3/10(951 votes)

    #19 - Reese Joins the Army (1)

    S5:E21

    Reese's new girlfriend Beth is about as dumb as he is. Malcolm initially dislikes her but they soon get to like each other too much and Beth breaks up with Reese. Devastated, Reese runs away and joins the army under the false surname.

    Director:Steve Love
    Writer:Andy Bobrow

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  20. Malcolm in the Middle Season 6 Episode 10 - Billboard
    8.3/10(1007 votes)

    #20 - Billboard

    S6:E10

    When Lois catches the boys vandalizing a trashy billboard for a strip club, Malcolm alters the vandalism into a women's rights protest, which sparks a colossal media circus. In no time, feminists, conservative religious groups and national new reporters descend on the scene. After Hal grants a TV interview, a woman from his past turns up at the faux protest; and Reese, inspired by the giant billboard stripper who comes to life in his dreams, gives an impassioned speech about the objectification of women.

    Director:Bryan Cranston
    Writer:Rob Ulin

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  21. Malcolm in the Middle Season 7 Episode 1 - Burning Man
    8.3/10(1125 votes)

    #21 - Burning Man

    S7:E1

    The family attends the counterculture Burning Man festival in the desert.

    Director:Peter Lauer
    Writer:Michael Glouberman

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  22. Malcolm in the Middle Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.2/10(2458 votes)

    #22 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Malcolm finds his life as the middle brother in an eccentric family made even more difficult by his being placed in a class for gifted students at school where he reluctantly befriends another boy with a high IQ and stands up to a bully.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writer:Linwood Boomer

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  23. Malcolm in the Middle Season 2 Episode 12 - Krelboyne Girl
    8.2/10(1322 votes)

    #23 - Krelboyne Girl

    S2:E12

    Lois and Hal try to end Dewey's dependence on his stuffed animal Domingo by convincing him that it is too dirty. Strangely attracted, Malcolm finds himself in emotional confusion about the new weird Krelboyne girl Cynthia. At the academy Commandant Spangler re-institutes old Hickory into the school's disciplinary system and Francis tries to convince his father Hal to lie for him to avoid punishment.

    Director:Arlene Sanford
    Writer:Bob Stevens

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  24. Malcolm in the Middle Season 4 Episode 7 - Malcolm Holds His Tongue
    8.2/10(1093 votes)

    #24 - Malcolm Holds His Tongue

    S4:E7

    After joining the basketball team at school, Malcolm soon finds himself under the coach's skin due to his constant complaining, which eventually gets him kicked off the team. Determined to put an end to his horrible habit of talking before he thinks, Malcolm starts "holding his tongue" which solves all the problems with his coach, girlfriend, and parents, but it ends up causing more stress than before. Meanwhile, Hal takes up speed walking and is desperate to be the best while Reese gets Craig to take him and Allison to a concert and almost ruins his date.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy

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  25. Malcolm in the Middle Season 5 Episode 4 - Thanksgiving
    8.2/10(1009 votes)

    #25 - Thanksgiving

    S5:E4

    Malcolm skips out on Thanksgiving to go to a party; Reese becomes abusive to Hal and Dewey as he attempts to prepare Thanksgiving dinner.

    Director:David D'Ovidio
    Writer:Matthew Carlson

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Best Episodes Summary

"Bowling" is the best rated episode of "Malcolm in the Middle". It scored 9.3/10 based on 2431 votes. Directed by Todd Holland and written by Alex Reid, it aired on 4/1/2001. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Graduation".