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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 17h•Peaking at 9.3/10

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 8 Episode 23 - Homer's Enemy
    9.3/10(8040 votes)

    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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  2. The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 2 - Cape Feare
    9.2/10(6899 votes)

    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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  3. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 6 - Treehouse of Horror V
    9.2/10(6288 votes)

    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, David X. Cohen, Greg Daniels

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  4. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 25 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (1)
    9.2/10(5586 votes)

    S6:E25

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

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

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  5. The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 2 - You Only Move Twice
    9.2/10(7334 votes)

    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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  6. The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 12 - Marge vs. the Monorail
    9.1/10(6813 votes)

    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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Simpsons

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  7. The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 10 - The Springfield Files
    9.1/10(5619 votes)

    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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  8. The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 17 - Last Exit to Springfield
    9.0/10(6141 votes)

    S4:E17

    Union president Homer fights to keep the dental plan.

    Director:Mark Kirkland
    Writers:Wallace Wolodarsky, Jay Kogen

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  9. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 9 - Homer Badman
    9.0/10(5454 votes)

    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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  10. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 12 - Homer the Great
    9.0/10(5189 votes)

    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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  11. The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 1 - Who Shot Mr. Burns? (2)
    9.0/10(5098 votes)

    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:Josh Weinstein, Bill Oakley

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  12. The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 7 - King-Size Homer
    9.0/10(5332 votes)

    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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  13. The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 21 - 22 Short Films About Springfield
    9.0/10(4911 votes)

    S7:E21

    Bart and Milhouse wonder if anything interesting happens to the citizens of Springfield, which leads to a series of interconnected vignettes.

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writers:Jennifer Crittenden, David X. Cohen, Matt Groening, Richard Appel, Steve Tompkins, Josh Weinstein, Bill Oakley, Rachel Pulido, Brent Forrester, Jonathan Collier, Greg Daniels

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  14. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 1 - The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
    9.0/10(5719 votes)

    S9:E1

    Designated driver Barney absconds to Manhattan in Homer's car and leaves it there. But when the family journeys to the Big Apple to retrieve their property, Homer discovers his car has been booted.

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writer:Ian Maxtone-Graham

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  15. The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 3 - Homer the Heretic
    8.9/10(5953 votes)

    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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  16. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 13 - And Maggie Makes Three
    8.9/10(4897 votes)

    S6:E13

    The story of Maggie's birth is told in flashbacks: after Homer quits the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant to pursue his dream of working at a bowling alley, Marge reveals that she is pregnant.

    Director:Swinton O. Scott III
    Writer:Jennifer Crittenden

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  17. The Simpsons Season 2 Episode 11 - One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish
    8.8/10(6213 votes)

    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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  18. The Simpsons Season 3 Episode 10 - Flaming Moe's
    8.8/10(5607 votes)

    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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  19. The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 9 - Mr. Plow
    8.8/10(5440 votes)

    S4:E9

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

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writer:Jon Vitti

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  20. The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 4 - Rosebud
    8.8/10(5007 votes)

    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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  21. The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 5 - Treehouse of Horror IV
    8.8/10(5211 votes)

    S5:E5

    Homer sells his soul; Vampire Burns invites the Simpsons for dinner; Bart sees a gremlin damaging his school bus.

    Director:David Silverman
    Writers:Dan McGrath, Josh Weinstein, Bill Canterbury, Bill Oakley, Conan O'Brien, Greg Daniels

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  22. The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 15 - Deep Space Homer
    8.8/10(5035 votes)

    S5:E15

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

    Director:Carlos Baeza
    Writer:David Mirkin

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  23. The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 24 - Lemon of Troy
    8.8/10(4369 votes)

    S6:E24

    Springfield boys try to recapture the town's beloved lemon tree after it's stolen.

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writer:Brent Forrester

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  24. The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 4 - Bart Sells His Soul
    8.8/10(4819 votes)

    S7:E4

    Bart sells his soul to Milhouse for five dollars, but soon regrets his decision. Meanwhile, Moe turns the Tavern into a family-friendly restaurant.

    Director:Wes Archer
    Writer:Greg Daniels

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  25. The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 17 - Homer the Smithers
    8.8/10(4532 votes)

    S7:E17

    Forced to take a vacation, Smithers needs to find a temporary replacement who won't outshine him. Homer seems the perfect choice until a sudden outburst forces Mr. Burns to assert his independence.

    Director:Steven Dean Moore
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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Best Episodes Summary

"Homer's Enemy" is the best rated episode of "The Simpsons". It scored 9.3/10 based on 8040 votes. Directed by Jim Reardon and written by John Swartzwelder, it aired on 5/4/1997. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Cape Feare".