The "Simpsons' Treehouse Of Horror" Halloween Episodes, Ranked
In the history of television, there's no spooky season tradition as prolific or acclaimed as The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials.
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Yet with the two-part 33rd edition of the series hitting next month, this writer decided to take up residence in Springfield and revisit all 32 previous entries of the seasonal spooktaculars for a definitive ranking of the "Treehouse of Horror" specials.
32.“Treehouse of Horror XXVII”
The 600th episode of The Simpsons places almost all of its chips into harmless and unfunny non-horror IP parodies, with the one remaining supernatural segment being devoid of laughter from start to finish.
31.“Treehouse of Horror XXXII”
With many supremely outdated parodies, a segment that doesn’t care enough to reach its logical conclusion and a Parasite spoof with absolutely nothing to say, the most recent Treehouse of Horror is a supreme stinker.
30.“Treehouse of Horror XVIII”
A fumble through and through, the decision to focus largely on non-horror properties for their source of parody was a colossal misstep that resulted in one of the blandest "Treehouse of Horror" entries ever.
29."Treehouse of Horror XXIX"
A plodding and laugh-free affair, this "Treehouse of Horror" is remarkable in only that it falls into a formula of recent Simpsons episodes to help it just get past the finish line of relevancy, and is saved by the fact that it’s not as disastrously bad as the series at its worst.
28.“Treehouse of Horror XXX”
The 30th "Treehouse of Horror," and 666th episode of The Simpsons altogether, ends on a collage of clips from previous "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, but the frustratingly weak segments that come before it turns what should be a loving tribute into a bittersweet reminder of what the show could and should be.
27.“Treehouse of Horror XXII”
Though “Dial D for Diddily” is one of the better late-era "Treehouse of Horror" segments, the other segments in this Halloween special die on the vine with their lame-duck parodies of Spider-Man and Avatar that age like moldy cheese.
26.“Treehouse of Horror XXXI”
There are a number of big swings and not-so-subtle callbacks to gags from "Treehouse of Horror" past in this Halloween special, but the mish-mash of tones and the eye-rolling amount of references in the middle segment make this "Treehouse of Horror" a well-meaning stumble.
25.“Treehouse of Horror XVII”
While this one has some saving graces, especially in “You Gotta Know When to Golem,” the feeling of despair that washes over you after a pointed and drawn out Dr. Phil cameo is warranted as there’s barely a laugh to be had throughout.
24.“Treehouse of Horror XVI”
A largely unmemorable "Treehouse of Horror" that is mostly saved by some inspired gags, this episode feels like a turning point for the series’ Halloween chapters into more lazy, reference-based humor that serves as the core criticism of its later seasons.
23.“Treehouse of Horror XXVI”
Though “Homerzilla” and “Telepaths of Glory” are poor additions to the "Treehouse of Horror" canon, the return of Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob in “Wanted: Dead, Then Alive” and a cameo appearance from fan-favorite Frank Grimes saves this Halloween special from becoming a flat-out failure.
22.“Treehouse of Horror XIV”
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The fourteenth The Simpsons Halloween special is also the first one to be fairly disappointing; There are certainly things to like and it’s not a complete dud, but no single segment really elicits any big laughs. In fact, outside of a surprising Jerry Lewis cameo in “Frinkenstein,” this "Treehouse of Horror" is instantly forgettable.
21.“Treehouse of Horror XXVIII”
While the return to horror IP parody helps rejuvenate the energy and humor on display, the only real memorable segment comes in the form of “Coralisa,” which employs a fun cameo from Neil Gaiman and a unique use of alternating animation styles that can at least keep your attention and garner a few well-deserved laughs from the proceedings.
20.“Treehouse of Horror XX”
The peaks are high and the valleys are low for the 20th "Treehouse of Horror," and while this one may elicit some chuckles, especially if you’re a Sweeney Todd or Hitchcock fanatic, you’re not likely to want to revisit this Halloween special anytime soon.
19.“Treehouse of Horror XXI”
With fairly amusing segments from start to finish, especially with the latter two stories, the litmus test for this "Treehouse of Horror" might come down to how much you can appreciate a Twilight parody more than 10 years later.
18.“Treehouse of Horror XV”
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There are laughs to be had in each segment (especially “The Ned Zone”) but no segment really stands out as a Treehouse classic, resulting in a simply ho-hum, lightly entertaining episode.
17.“Treehouse of Horror XIX”
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Though the episode starts with a mostly laugh-free “Untitled Robot Parody,” the fun (though horror-free) “How to Get Ahead in Dead-vertising” is a good pick-me-up while “It’s the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse” is a solid segment that, at times, feels like vintage "Treehouse of Horror."
16.“Treehouse of Horror XXV”
Riding high from the momentum of two solid previous "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, there’s still some gruesome goodness and supernatural silliness to appreciate in this special even if it sports a weaker segment track record.
15.“Treehouse of Horror X”
Though “Desperately Xeeking Xena” feels like a dated excuse to bring Lucy Lawless into the fold and parody some non-horror IP, the other two segments in this episode make up for it with some good laughs, especially with some self-deprecating cameos in “Life’s a Glitch, Then You Die.”
14.“Treehouse of Horror XII”
“House of Whacks” is the standout segment from this episode thanks to a hilariously fiendish vocal performance from Pierce Brosnan, but the sillier-than-thou “Hex and the City” and the disappointing “Wiz Kids” keep this episode from ranking higher on this list.
13.“Treehouse of Horror I”
The inaugural edition of the beloved series staple, the episode brings a lot of laughs, especially in the latter two segments which ultimately feel like the tonal primer for the specials going forward.
12.“Treehouse of Horror VI”
Anchored by another lauded segment, “Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace,” this episode gets extra credit for being bold and imaginative, even if it’s not the most memorable of the era’s "Treehouse of Horror" offerings.
11.“Treehouse of Horror XI”
While “Night of the Dolphin” is considered one of the all-timers among "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, the other segments are serviceably funny but don’t really make an imprint in the grand scheme of the series.
10.“Treehouse of Terror IX”
Though this "Treehouse of Horror" starts off strong with “Hell Toupée,” it loses a little steam with the inspired yet not exactly laugh-out-loud “The Terror of Tiny Toon” before ending on a high note with the solid “Starship Poopers.”
9.“Treehouse of Horror XXIII”
A return-to-form for The Simpsons and "Treehouse of Horror," this Halloween Special provides fans with the funniest segments in years, with a renewed energy, razor-sharp gags, and callbacks that feel organic to the show’s finest moments.
8.“Treehouse of Horror XXIV”
Though this episode would probably land higher based on the stellar Guillermo del Toro-directed opening sequence alone, the subsequent segments are surprisingly imaginative, funny, and fresh, especially with their willingness to deep dive to mine humor from more obscure horror properties in the latter segments.
7.“Treehouse of Horror II”
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These three stories really helped the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes kick into next gear, with “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Bart Zone” remaining as classic segments with fantastic replay value.
6.“Treehouse of Horror IV”
Featuring a wraparound segment written by Conan O’Brien, this installation of "Treehouse of Horror" has many of the qualities that defined The Simpsons’ golden era, and is anchored by the fan-favorite segment, “Bart Simpson’s Dracula.”
5.“Treehouse of Horror XIII”
A "Treehouse of Horror" worthy to hang with those from The Simpsons’ best years, this episode brings more bite than most Halloween specials, even with the inherent goofiness of its climactic segment.
4.“Treehouse of Horror VIII”
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Probably best remembered for the memorable “Easy-Bake Coven” segment, the exceptional (if not classic) preceding segments make for an overall great "Treehouse of Horror" worth revisiting.
3.“Treehouse of Horror VII”
While “The Genesis Tub” is the weak link of the episode, both “The Thing and I” and “Citizen Kang” are grand slams of The Simpsons hilarity, and deservedly remain two of the most referenced pieces of Simpsons media more than 25 years later.
2.“Treehouse of Horror III”
With three of the most quotable segments in the series history, if not the history of the show in general, The Simpsons’ third Halloween special is a close second for the crown of best "Treehouse of Horror" ever.
1.“Treehouse of Horror V”
Not many Simpsons fans will argue against this edition of "Treehouse of Horror" as the all-time best, with the through-line of Groundskeeper Willie’s untimely deaths, the pitch-perfect parodies, and a hysterical spoof of A Chorus Line to put a bow on the unforgettable episode.
