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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!

Binge this in 12d 16h•Peaking at 8.6/10

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 2 - Cape Feare
    8.6/10(51 votes)

    #1 - Cape Feare

    S5:E2

    The Simpsons go incognito to avoid the newly paroled Sideshow Bob, who's out to get Bart.

    Director:Rich Moore
    Writer:Jon Vitti

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  2. The Simpsons Season 37 Episode 6 - Bart 'N' Frink
    8.6/10(9 votes)

    #2 - Bart 'N' Frink

    S37:E6

    When Bart becomes Professor Frink's lab assistant, the Simpsons are thrown into a world of tech billionaires determined to live forever, with the future of the internet at stake.

    Director:Rob Oliver
    Writer:Brian Kelley

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  3. The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 12 - Marge vs. the Monorail
    8.5/10(56 votes)

    #3 - Marge vs. the Monorail

    S4:E12

    When Springfield gets a sudden windfall, a charismatic traveling salesman convinces the town to build a monorail.

    Director:Rich Moore
    Writer:Conan O'Brien

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  4. The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 2 - You Only Move Twice
    8.5/10(47 votes)

    #4 - You Only Move Twice

    S8:E2

    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

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  5. The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 18 - Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment
    8.5/10(40 votes)

    #5 - Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment

    S8:E18

    When Prohibition is revived in Springfield, Homer and Bart supply the town with alcohol.

    Director:Bob Anderson
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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  6. The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 6 - Iron Marge
    8.5/10(13 votes)

    #6 - Iron Marge

    S35:E6

    When Marge's heart is broken by a bad birthday present, Bart and Lisa must dig into their mom's past to show that they really know her. Homer becomes a neighborhood fear-monger.

    Director:Matthew Faughnan
    Writer:Mike Scully

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Simpsons

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  7. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 12 - Homer the Great
    8.4/10(47 votes)

    #7 - Homer the Great

    S6:E12

    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

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  8. The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 7 - King-Size Homer
    8.4/10(44 votes)

    #8 - King-Size Homer

    S7:E7

    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

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  9. The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 10 - The Springfield Files
    8.4/10(42 votes)

    #9 - The Springfield Files

    S8:E10

    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

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  10. The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 23 - Homer's Enemy
    8.4/10(48 votes)

    #10 - Homer's Enemy

    S8:E23

    A hardworking new employee at the power plant is consumed with resentment at Homer's undeserved success.

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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  11. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 9 - Homer Badman
    8.3/10(43 votes)

    #11 - Homer Badman

    S6:E9

    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

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  12. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 25 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (1)
    8.3/10(48 votes)

    #12 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (1)

    S6:E25

    Mr. Burns makes many enemies when he steals the oil discovered beneath Springfield Elementary.

    Directors:Wes Archer, Jeffrey Lynch
    Writers:Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein

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  13. The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 15 - Homer's Phobia
    8.3/10(44 votes)

    #13 - Homer's Phobia

    S8:E15

    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

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  14. The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 1 - Bart's Birthday
    8.3/10(19 votes)

    #14 - Bart's Birthday

    S36:E1

    Bart celebrates the most shocking birthday party of his entire life — one that might just change everyone in Springfield forever.

    Director:Rob Oliver
    Writer:Jessica Conrad

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  15. The Simpsons Season 2 Episode 11 - One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish
    8.2/10(59 votes)

    #15 - One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish

    S2:E11

    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

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  16. The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 3 - Homer the Heretic
    8.2/10(54 votes)

    #16 - Homer the Heretic

    S4:E3

    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

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  17. The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 15 - Deep Space Homer
    8.2/10(46 votes)

    #17 - Deep Space Homer

    S5:E15

    Homer and Barney compete to be the first "average" American in space.

    Director:Carlos Baeza
    Writer:David Mirkin

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  18. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 18 - A Star Is Burns
    8.2/10(40 votes)

    #18 - A Star Is Burns

    S6:E18

    Film critic Jay Sherman is among the judges at the Springfield Film Festival, which Mr. Burns conspires to win by bribing some judges.

    Director:Susie Dietter
    Writer:Ken Keeler

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  19. The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 1 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (2)
    8.2/10(43 votes)

    #19 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (2)

    S7:E1

    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
    Writers:Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein

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  20. The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 13 - Clan of the Cave Mom
    8.2/10(12 votes)

    #20 - Clan of the Cave Mom

    S35:E13

    A parenting disagreement between Marge and Luann Van Houten escalates into a life-or-death struggle for survival.

    Director:Rob Oliver
    Writer:Brian Kelley

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  21. The Simpsons Season 3 Episode 10 - Flaming Moe's
    8.1/10(56 votes)

    #21 - Flaming Moe's

    S3:E10

    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.

    Directors:Rich Moore, Alan Smart
    Writer:Robert Cohen

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  22. The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 9 - Mr. Plow
    8.1/10(50 votes)

    #22 - Mr. Plow

    S4:E9

    Homer and Barney become competitors in the snow-plowing business.

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writer:Jon Vitti

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  23. The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 4 - Rosebud
    8.1/10(47 votes)

    #23 - Rosebud

    S5:E4

    Burns longs for a childhood toy that winds up in the grip of Maggie.

    Director:Wes Archer
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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  24. The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 8 - Boy-Scoutz 'N the Hood
    8.1/10(47 votes)

    #24 - Boy-Scoutz 'N the Hood

    S5:E8

    After a reckless Squishee bender with Milhouse, Bart wakes to the shocking realization that he joined the Junior Campers. Lured by pocketknives and knot-tying lessons, Bart assimilates into the group but then must face the father-son rafting trip.

    Director:Jeffrey Lynch
    Writer:Dan McGrath

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  25. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 6 - Treehouse of Horror V
    8.1/10(42 votes)

    #25 - Treehouse of Horror V

    S6:E6

    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
    Writers:Dan McGrath, Bob Kushell, Greg Daniels, David X. Cohen

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Best Episodes Summary

"Cape Feare" is the best rated episode of "The Simpsons". It scored 8.6/10 based on 51 votes. Directed by Rich Moore and written by Jon Vitti, it aired on 10/7/1993. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Bart 'N' Frink".