31 Best Halloween TV Episodes Ever
Spooky season is finally here! While Halloween is obviously a prime time for horror movies, don't forget that the small screen is also a reliably hilarious and/or terrifying source of ominous entertainment—as our picks for the 31 best Halloween episodes will attest!
Plenty of beloved TV series have knocked their Halloween-themed episodes out of the park—and for the faint of heart, most of them are less likely to give nightmares at bedtime. Whether you're squeamish or just craving shorter snippets of creepy content, don't worry—we've rounded up the 31 best Halloween episodes from your favorite TV sitcoms, cartoons, dramas and more to get you excited on this spooky, special day!
Best Halloween Episodes of TV Sitcoms
1. Community Season 2, Episode 6: "Epidemiology"
After eating some bad meat from an Army ration surplus shop, the staff and students at Greendale's Halloween party contract a virus that gives them high fevers and turns them into zombie-like iterations of themselves, driven by a taste for blood. Community lampoons numerous zombie apocalypse films in this fan-favorite episode, which also heavily features ABBA songs to hilarious effect.
2. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 6, Episode 7: "Who Got Dee Pregnant?"
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has had a number of mystery-themed episodes (who can forget their investigation into who pooped in the bed?), but one of fans' all-time favorites is "Who Got Dee Pregnant?," which sees the gang trying to figure out which of them may have impregnated their beloved "bird." Keep an eye out for an actual ostrich in one scene—as well as appearances from the McPoyles that will make you want to immediately douse your head in shampoo.
3. The Office Season 9, Episode 5: "Here Comes Treble"
Sure, "Halloween" is a classic episode of The Office. But any fan of the show knows that Creed Bratton delivers every time, and his closing line in "Here Comes Treble," which also takes place on the holiday, is an absolute classic #CreedThought.
4. Black-ish Season 2, Episode 6: "Jacked O'Lantern"
Black-ish delivers a hilarious and heartfelt Halloween episode with "Jacked O'Lantern." Michael Strahan guest stars as Dre's cousin, Junebug, who terrifies him—and brings along his kids, who terrify the younger Johnsons as well.
5. Two Guys And a Girl Season 2, Episode 6: "Two Guys, A Girl and a Psycho Halloween"
Ryan Reynolds murders not just his friends, but also his sitcom's continuity in Two Guys and a Girl's first Halloween episode, "Two Guys, A Girl and a Psycho Halloween." We don't want to give too much away, because it's a doozy—but there is as much horror and shocked silence as there are laughs and punchlines, some of which are at the expense of network television as a whole.
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6. Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 2, Episode 3: "Trick or Treat"
Larry David gets cranky when teenagers trick or treat at his home without costumes in this classic Curb Your Enthusiasm episode.
7. Cheers Season 3, Episode 4: "Fairy Tales Can Come True"
Looking for more heartfelt than horrifying or hilarious? Enter Cheers' iconic Halloween episode that is sweeter than any trick-or-treater's stash that ever existed.
8. The League Season 2, Episode 7: "Ghost Monkey"
Adults with kids miss having grownup, alcohol-fueled Halloween parties and then both a song about mourning and a dead primate named Potato take center stage in The League's fan-favorite Halloween episode, "Ghost Monkey."
9. Family Matters Season 9, Episode 7: "Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone"
Beloved Family Matters icon Steve Urkel is a nerd, not a dummy—until his ventriloquist doll alter ego, "Stevil," makes his debut and tries to steal his soul... more than once!
10. 30 Rock Season 4, Episode 3: "Stone Mountain"
Tracy Morgan's Tracy Jordan is terrified that he will fall victim to the deadly celebrity "rule of threes," and Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) travel to the hometown of Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) to find a comedian who can satisfy "real America" in this hilarious 30 Rock episode.
Related: 30 Spooky (But Not So Spooky) Halloween Movies for Kids That You Can Watch Now on Netflix
11. Modern Family Season 2, Episode 6: "Halloween"
No one loves Halloween more than Claire Dunphy. This 2010 Modern Family episode, a fan fave, shows the rarely seen fun side of the high-strung matriarch—plus, it won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. Jesse Tyler Ferguson was also nominated for his hilarious performance.
12. New Girl Season 3, Episode 6: "Keaton"
Jess throws a Halloween party, and she and Nick team up to catfish Schmidt as Michael Keaton in order to get his life back on track following a bad breakup and some serious binge eating.
13. Frasier Season 5, Episode 3: "Halloween"
Frasier takes Roz to Niles' costume party for Halloween—and finds himself having to keep his lips zipped when the producer confesses to him that she may be pregnant. As is wont to happen on Frasier, Niles overhears only a small part of a conversation, which leads him to believe Frasier and Daphne, with whom Niles is madly in love, are up to no good.
14. Psych Season 1, Episode 15: "Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast"
Psych's "Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast" isn't just a great Halloween episode, it's also the show's Season 1 finale. Alexandra Breckenridge of Virgin River guest stars in this eerie, urban legend-themed episode that sees someone named Scary Sherry possibly haunting a sorority house... or is she?
15. That '70s Show Season 3, Episode 5: "Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die"
You know when an episode has a title referencing a Jethro Tull album (in this case, Too Old To Rock and Roll Too Young To Die), it's going to be good. Ashton Kutcher's clueless Kelso suggests how awesome it would be if everyone in That '70s Show's group of friends were in an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and the episode lampoons several of the iconic suspense director's films. Look for references to Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, Rear Window and more throughout.
16. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Season 2, Episode 7: "A River of Candy Corn Runs Through It"
Of course, a show about witches is going to always have some festive elements come Halloween time, but Sabrina, The Teenage Witch took it up a notch. Though the title references A River Runs Through It, thankfully, that's where the comparisons to the tragic novella and film end: This episode is about a Halloween party, and it feels like a Halloween party. There's friendship drama, talking furniture, a performance by the 10,000 Maniacs—and, yes, a river of candy corn.
17. Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1, Episode 6: "Halloween"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine features a "Halloween heist" each year, but the original may be the best for setting the stage: Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) vows to steal Captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher)'s medal of honor, and he enlists a slew of surprises and twists in his efforts to snatch it.
18. M*A*S*H Season 11, Episode 2: "Trick or Treatment"
M*A*S*H gets macabre in its 242nd episode, when the crew exchanges ghost stories to keep themselves busy while caring for a slew of wounded soldiers, combining the real-life horror and macabre of war with the terror and spookiness of Halloween. Look for cameos from guest stars George Wendt and Andrew Dice Clay.
19. Martin, "The Night He Came Home"
Martin Lawrence's Martin Payne and pals (including pint-sized Roscoe, also played by Lawrence) exchange ghost stories and perform a seance in this hilarious Martin Halloween special.
20. Glee Season 2, Episode 5: "The Rocky Horror Glee Show"
Glee does the Rocky Horror Picture Show justice with "The Rocky Horror Glee Show," which features guest stars Barry Bostwick and Meat Loaf from the film.
Best Halloween Episodes of Animated TV Shows
21. Bob's Burgers Season 2, Episode 4: "Fort Night"
Bob's Burgers never fails to deliver both hilarity and wholesomeness with its holiday specials, and "Fort Night" is no exception: Bob and Linda work to build a Chinese dragon costume for the kids and encounter a slew of obstacles (including an exchange with the always cantankerous Edith Cranwinkle), while the kids and their pals are trapped in a cardboard fort leaving them at the mercy of Louise's extremely irritating classmate, Millie Frock.
22. The Simpsons Season 6, Episode 6: "Treehouse of Horror V"
The Simpsons ends up being inspired by The Shining in this classic installment of their "Treehouse of Horror" specials, which sees Homer go nuts and try murdering the rest of the family. While most "Treehouse of Horror" episodes have an overarching theme connecting each of the vignettes within them, "Treehouse of Horror V" features all standalone stories—though, in each one, Groundskeeper Willie does his best to be a hero to ill-fated results.
23. South Park Season 2, Episode 15: "Spookyfish"
Among the things that make the South Park episode "Spookyfish" amazing are the completely unexplained photos of Barbra Streisand framing all of the action for its entirety. Aside from that, there's also a murderous goldfish, a portal to Hell and a bearded Cartman!
24. The Real Ghostbusters Season 1, Episode 8: "When Halloween Was Forever"
Bring on the nostalgia! Though theoretically for kids, The Real Ghostbusters brings some serious warm fuzzies with its "When Halloween Was Forever" episode. The spirit of Samhain (a giant pumpkin-headed spirit) takes over New York City and declares Halloween to be permanent. Who you gonna call when that happens?
25. Futurama Season 2, Episode 18: "The Honking"
Referencing both the 1981 werewolf flick The Howling and the 1977 film The Car, Futurama delivers a spooky story in "The Honking." The episode centers around Bender, who suffers from blackouts and nightmares—and who eventually learns the truth about what's really important.
26. The Venture Bros. Season 5 Special: "A Very Venture Halloween"
Where to begin with The Venture Bros. Halloween special? You'll find murder, zombies, costumes, a war over full- and fun-sized candy bars and even Santa Claus in "A Very Venture Halloween."
27. American Dad Season 7 Episode 3: "Best Little Horror House In Langley Falls"
A hilarious satire of our obsessions with true crime and keeping up with the Joneses, American Dad's "Best Little Horror House in Langley Falls" has all the humor we love from the animated show, as well as some darker turns. A bonus: Sandra Oh guest stars!
Best Halloween Episodes of TV Drama, Horror and Sci-Fi Series
28. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4, Episode 4: "Fear, Itself"
In this Buffy the Vampire Slayer Halloween episode, Buffy and the gang go to a Halloween frat party designed as a house of horrors—but those horrors turn out to be real. The poor girl cannot get one night off!
29. Tales From the Darkside Season 1, Episode 1: "Trick or Treat"
This Halloween special from Tales From the Darkside is actually the show's pilot! With a script penned by horror icon George Romero, "Trick or Treat" features an evil miser (who takes pleasure in tormenting children) getting what's coming to him. It's equal parts spooky, scary and schadenfreude!
30. Beverly Hills, 90210 Season 2, Episode 13: "Halloween"
Beverly Hills, 90210 tackles something truly terrifying, but potentially triggering and all too real: Sexual assault. The episode was ahead of its time in its nuanced portrayal of trauma and the importance of consent.
31. Stranger Things Season 2, Episode 2: "Trick or Treat, Freak"
Honestly, how cute are the Stranger Things kids in their Ghostbusters get-ups? (It almost feels like foreshadowing to Finn Wolfhard starring in Ghostbusters: Afterlife later on!)
