Treehouse of Horror episodes are where the writers and animators of The Simpsons are given the opportunity to spread their creativity as far as it will possibly go. This annual tradition lets the show delve into ideas and animation styles that wouldn’t work within the context of the main show, constantly getting fans excited to see what they will choose to do or parody in the next instalment.
To celebrate Halloween and the legacy these specials have had on the show’s history, here are the top 10 best Treehouse of Horror episodes according to us.
10. Treehouse of Horror XXV (S26,E4)
One thing the writers love to do during these Halloween specials is use the unique format to see how many films, TV shows and books they can spoof while adding a Simpsons flare to them. This one doesn’t disappoint as it includes parodies of A Clockwork Orange and The Others, the latter of which cleverly sees the family come face to face with the early, Tracey Ullman Show versions of themselves.
9. Treehouse of Horror XIV (S15,E1)
Ever wanted to see Homer as the Grim Reaper? Well you can in this devilish offering of very funny stories. This edition of Treehouse of Horror works mostly because of its simplicity in how these ideas and parodies are warped for the sake of this episode. For instance, one segment takes the premise of the 1994 comedy The Santa Clause but swaps Santa for the Grim Reaper. Another segment shows the consequences of being able to stop time after Bart and Milhouse take their new found ability too far. Straightforward concepts that are made better by small but impactful changes.
8. Treehouse of Horror IV (S5,E5)
When it comes to jokes, the segments in this Treehouse of Horror may have some of the best. A lot of segments here are fairly simple in their setups but its executions of those stories that makes them incredibly funny. Whether it’s Bart losing his mind over a gremlin on the side of the school bus, Homer being forced to eat an eternity’s worth of donuts in hell or the fourth wall breaking farewell that ends the episode. There certainly is a lot of great humour stuffed into these three well told stories.
7. Treehouse of Horror XII (S13,E1)
During these Halloween specials the show can delve into some very bizarre territory and this instalment is no exception. From a killer AI powered house voiced by Pierce Brosnan to an over the top yet hilarious spoof on Harry Potter, this special truly highlights the levels of absurdity that The Simpsons can reach with its writing and animation.
6. Treehouse of Horror XXXIII (S34,E6)
Recent Treehouse of Horror episodes have often lacked the memorability of the classic ones; that is certainly not the case with this 33rd instalment that manages to pack a lot into its 3 stories. Here you get an incredibly meta Westworld parody, a fairly straightforward remake of The Babadook and a fantastic anime-style send up of Death Note which delivers some stunning animation.
5. Treehouse of Horror (S2,E3)
The original and still one of the best, the debut of the Treehouse of Horror format perfectly laid the groundwork of what would become a must watch staple of the show. This one strips the concept down to its basic essentials which is all it needs to still be as good as it was when it first aired. The standalone segments aren’t as wacky or inventive as they would be in later seasons but this episode still managed to give us a very authentic adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven.
4. Treehouse of Horror VII (S8,E1)
There are certain Treehouse of Horror segments that become instantly iconic and are constantly referenced within the fanbase well outside of the initial episode it was first featured in. This special includes three of the show’s most memorable, and arguably best, segments in one episode. Lisa growing her own mini civilisation in a petri dish, Bart’s evil twin named Hugo and King and Kodos running for US president. Three classic stories all in one episode.
3. Treehouse of Horror XIII (S14,E1)
Clones, gun toting zombies and…animals? This special has a literal bit of everything. Possibly the most famous segment from this episode is Send in the Clones where Homer proceeds to clone himself hundreds of times before it gets out of control and the US military is called into help. This story alone has some hilarious gags and visual references that make it work so well. The other two stories, The Fright to Creep and Scare Harms and The Island of Dr. Hibbert are just as great and have enough of their own brilliant jokes to make this special as fondly remembered as it is.
2. Treehouse of Horror VI (S7,E6)
If you saw our other list on the 35 best Simpsons episodes, you’ll know that this and one other Treehouse of Horror made the final cut and for good reason. This instalment alone includes one of the most iconic segments of any Simpsons Halloween special with Homer3, a hilarious short where Homer gets stuck in a 3D world leading to an array of visual gags that really play to the strengths of the 3D animation. It also goes without saying that Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores and Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace are also two great stories as well, fitting as many jokes as they possibly can into their respective segments.
1. Treehouse of Horror V (S6,E6)
The fifth instalment of this Halloween tradition is commonly regarded as the best and though it is a rather predictable pick, it’s called the best by many because it really is that good. This episode gives you a bit of everything that you’d expect from Treehouse of Horror. This one delivers some truly great short stories, from a humorous segment following Homer as he travels through time to the staff of Springfield Elementary turning into cannibals. However, the segment this episode is fondly remembered for is its genius send-up of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining which is just as faithful as it is consistently funny.
Seasons 1-35 of The Simpsons available to stream now globally on Disney+.
