If you’re a child of the 90s, you’re undoubtedly familiar with “The Simpsons.” Kicking off its first season in December of 1989, this show has gone on to produce 34 seasons, making it one of the longest-running TV shows of all time.
In each episode, we follow the Simpson family. Homer, Marge and their three children Bart, Lisa and Maggie are a middle-class family living in fictional Springfield, USA. Several other characters like Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders and Milhouse also make up life in Springfield and have become staples in pop culture today.
While “The Simpsons” was originally created by Matt Groening, several well-known writers have had their hand in creating some of the episodes as well. From comedian and late-night host Conan O’Brien to creator of “The Office” Greg Daniels, many writers got their career start with “Springfield’s First Family.”
Throughout the three decades of the animated sitcom, we’ve watched the Simpsons save the world more than once and meet numerous celebrities. Additionally, the show has earned 37 Emmy awards in its time on TV as well as 148 various other awards. This animated TV classic has been nominated for a staggering 357 awards over its time on the air.
As we break down each episode below, keep in mind that, unlike many other TV shows, “The Simpsons” doesn’t have to be watched in order. Even if you’ve never seen an episode, you can easily jump into any of the shows listed below due to each episode having its own beginning and ending storyline. If you’re looking for more iconic one-liners from this family, “The Simpsons” is also one of many popular TV shows that have been turned into movies.
To determine the best episodes of The Simpsons, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on audience reception from IMDb. Episodes were ranked based on average IMDb user rating as of March 2024. In the case of a tie, the episode with the greater number of audience ratings was ranked higher.
Here is the list of the best episodes of “The Simpsons.”
25. Homer the Smithers (Season 7, Episode 17)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,062
24. Bart Sells His Soul (Season 7, Episode 4)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,164
23. Treehouse of Horror IV (Season 5, Episode 5)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,226
22. Homer’s Phobia (Season 8, Episode 15)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,322
21. Deep Space Homer (Season 5, Episode 15)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,328
20. Rosebud (Season 5, Episode 4)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,365
19. Mr. Plow (Season 4, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,487
18. Flaming Moe’s (Season 3, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,575
17. One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish (Season 2, Episode 11)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 5,187
16. And Maggie Makes Three (Season 6, Episode 13)
- IMDb user rating: 8.9/10
- IMDb user reviews: 3,909
15. 22 Short Films About Springfield (Season 7, Episode 21)
- IMDb user rating: 8.9/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,075
14. Homer the Heretic (Season 4, Episode 3)
- IMDb user rating: 8.9/10
- IMDb user reviews: 5,099
13. Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two (Season 7, Episode 1)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,242
12. Homer the Great (Season 6, Episode 12)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,405
11. King Size Homer (Season 7, Episode 7)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,620
10. Homer Badman (Season 6, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,668
9. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson (Season 9, Episode 1)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 5,003
8. Last Exit to Springfield (Season 4, Episode 17)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 5,178
7. The Springfield Files (Season 8, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,690
6. Marge vs. the Monorail (Season 4, Episode 12)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 5,697
5. Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part One (Season 6, Episode 25)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,671
4. Treehouse of Horror V (Season 6, Episode 6)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 5,153
3. Cape Feare (Season 5, Episode 2)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 5,684
2. You Only Move Twice (Season 8, Episode 2)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,321
1. Homer’s Enemy (Season 8, Episode 23)
- IMDb user rating: 9.3/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,744