The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air backdrop
Comedy•Family

The Best Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Every episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!

Binge this in 2d 9h•Peaking at 8.9/10

Will, a street-smart teenager, moves from the tough streets of West Philly to posh Bel-Air to live with his Uncle Philip, Aunt Vivian, his cousins — spoiled Hilary, preppy Carlton and young Ashley — and

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons6

All123456

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 24 - Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse
    8.9/10(16 votes)

    #1 - Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse

    S4:E24

    Ben Vereen plays Will's long-lost father, who breezes into town and promises Will the moon, which angers an unforgiving Philip.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:David Zuckerman, Bill Boulware

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 5 Episode 15 - Bullets Over Bel-Air
    8.5/10(14 votes)

    #2 - Bullets Over Bel-Air

    S5:E15

    A planned camping trip is cut short for Carlton and Will when a robber approaches them at an automated bank-teller machine - and fires a gun.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:Maiya Williams, Eddie Gorodetsky

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 19 - Just Say Yo
    8.4/10(14 votes)

    #3 - Just Say Yo

    S3:E19

    Will learns a sobering lesson after Carlton pops the wrong pills from Will's locker, mistaking amphetamines for vitamins, and winds up in hospital.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Efrem Seeger

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 6 - Mistaken Identity
    8.2/10(19 votes)

    #4 - Mistaken Identity

    S1:E6

    Jailed, Will and Carlton stage a media stunt.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 22 - Banks Shot
    8.2/10(15 votes)

    #5 - Banks Shot

    S1:E22

    Will crawls to Philip for help after sneaking out on the town and getting hustled by sleazy pool sharks.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Bennie R. Richburg Jr.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 3 - All Guts, No Glory
    8.1/10(12 votes)

    #6 - All Guts, No Glory

    S4:E3

    Registration day finds Will signing up for no-brainer classes, plus one that might truly challenge him - a philosophy course he takes to meet a girl.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Maiya Williams

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    READ
  7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 10 - Home is Where the Heart Attack Is
    8.1/10(12 votes)

    #7 - Home is Where the Heart Attack Is

    S4:E10

    Will sneaks greasy, high-fat foods to Philip after he promises to diet and exercise, then blames himself when Philip has a heart attack.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Eddie Gorodetsky

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 6 Episode 1 - Burnin' Down the House
    8.1/10(17 votes)

    #8 - Burnin' Down the House

    S6:E1

    While Carlton is away at a Young Republican camp, Will cooks up a flambe of a disaster on a night when an influential judge is coming to dinner, and Will can only make it through the night with the help of Geoffrey, and other plan is not to make Phil find out.

    Director:Madeline Cripe
    Writers:Adam Markowitz, Joel Madison

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 2 Episode 24 - Strip-Tease for Two
    8.0/10(13 votes)

    #9 - Strip-Tease for Two

    S2:E24

    Will and Carlton lose their shirts investing on a tip - then take jobs as strippers to recoup their losses and get Vivian's bracelet out of hock.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:Leslie Ray, David Steven Simon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 6 - Will Goes a-Courtin'
    8.0/10(12 votes)

    #10 - Will Goes a-Courtin'

    S4:E6

    When Phillip sues Will and Carlton for unpaid rent, two different versions of the dispute are aired - neither entirely truthful.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Bill Boulware

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 19 - It Had to Be You
    7.9/10(15 votes)

    #11 - It Had to Be You

    S1:E19

    Will has girl problems after a date with Jazz's domineering sister, who's ready to pick out a china pattern before the night is over.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Cheryl Gard

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 10 - Asses to Ashes
    7.9/10(14 votes)

    #12 - Asses to Ashes

    S3:E10

    Election results are in and Philip fights to remain cool amid lies by Judge Robertson, which prompt Will to confront the outspoken incumbent. Will Will go to far? Will he say what everyone is feeling? Will Judge Robertson be able to take it?

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Bryan Winter

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 6 Episode 22 - Eye, Tooth
    7.9/10(12 votes)

    #13 - Eye, Tooth

    S6:E22

    William Shatner stars as Hilary's talk-show guest, but Will must find a way to beam him from the dentist's chair to the set. Meanwhile, Hilary's show treks to New York and Ashley insists on tagging along.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Adam Markowitz

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 1 - The Fresh Prince Project
    7.8/10(37 votes)

    #14 - The Fresh Prince Project

    S1:E1

    Aunt Vivian tries to mediate between her husband Philip and the newly arrived Will.

    Director:Debbie Allen
    Writers:Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 13 - Knowledge is Power
    7.8/10(17 votes)

    #15 - Knowledge is Power

    S1:E13

    Hilary becomes Will's personal maid when he threatens to disclose she's dropped out of UCLA.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Rob Edwards

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 16 - The Lucky Charm
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #16 - The Lucky Charm

    S1:E16

    Philip may lose a superstitious client whom he advises not to make decisions based on Will's spontaneous remarks.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Samm-Art Williams

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 17 - The Ethnic Tip
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #17 - The Ethnic Tip

    S1:E17

    Will proposes a black history class be instituted at Bel-Air Academy, and gets a surprise when Aunt Viv arrives to teach it.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Benny Medina, Jeff Pollack

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 2 Episode 3 - Will Gets a Job
    7.8/10(13 votes)

    #18 - Will Gets a Job

    S2:E3

    Will tries to juggle school and a new job in order to earn money for the homecoming party, at the same time Ashley's classmate Tina becomes interested in Carlton. Will starts becoming paranoid when he constantly is getting confused with Carlton.

    Director:Ellen Gittelsohn
    Writer:Efrem Seeger

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 2 Episode 9 - Cased Up
    7.8/10(13 votes)

    #19 - Cased Up

    S2:E9

    A pompous lawyer who's dating Hilary is no fan of Will's after he's sideswiped by Will's roadster.

    Director:Ellen Gittelsohn
    Writer:Bennie R. Richburg Jr.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 9 - A Night at the Oprah
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #20 - A Night at the Oprah

    S3:E9

    The Bankses appear on Oprah's show and fail to invite Will on-stage, which may cause Philip to lose the election.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:Leslie Ray, David Steven Simon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 14 - Winner Takes Off
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #21 - Winner Takes Off

    S3:E14

    Geoffrey humiliates himself by insulting the Banks family and quitting his job when Will and Carlton trick him into thinking he has won millions of dollars in the lottery.

    Director:Werner Walian
    Writer:Casey Maxwell Clair

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 18 - The Alma Matter
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #22 - The Alma Matter

    S3:E18

    Depressed and suicidal over having ruined his chances of attending Princeton University, Carlton is visited by his Guardian Angel, who shows him how awful the Banks family would be if he weren't alive.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Bryan Winter

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 22 - Ain't No Business Like Show Business
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #23 - Ain't No Business Like Show Business

    S3:E22

    Will lands a spot in a comedy showcase after accompanying a comic friend to an audition.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 24 - Six Degrees of Graduation
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #24 - Six Degrees of Graduation

    S3:E24

    Vy anticipates Will's graduation with enthusiasm, but there may be discord when she learns Will is failing music. To pass his music class, Will must sing at the graduation ceremony - with a class of eight-year-olds.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:Bryan Winter, Efrem Seeger

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 7 - Hex and the Single Guy
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #25 - Hex and the Single Guy

    S4:E7

    Will disses a seance - until the spiritualist zaps him with a hex that (uh-oh) seems to work.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:David Pitlik, Barry Gurstein

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse" is the best rated episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". It scored 8.9/10 based on 16 votes. Directed by Shelley Jensen and written by David Zuckerman, Bill Boulware, it aired on 5/9/1994. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Bullets Over Bel-Air".