Every ‘Simpsons’ ‘Treehouse of Horror’ Special Ranked

Celebrating the most iconic annual Halloween special on TV, 29 years and counting.
Treehouse Of Horror

12. Treehouse of Horror XI  (Season 12, November 1, 2000)

While the last tale in this episode just didn’t really cut it for me, the previous two along with the Munsters opening, really make up for it. Especially considering it’s always fun to see Homer take on God, which in this case he does because he can’t get into Heaven without doing a good deed. This one definitely falls into more of the funny category than the scary, but it’s nice to change things up every now and then. However, it was only a matter of time until The Simpsons pulled in some of Grimm’s fairy tales into the Treehouse of Horror mix, upping the overall eeriness of the episode. Framing the tales in this context, really makes you once again consider why any of these stories were ever even adapted for children at all.


11. Treehouse of Horror XVIII (Season 19, November 4, 2007)

Who doesn’t love a good E.T. parody? Ok, I’ll admit, I don’t really care too much for E.T. At least, not as much as the world seems to. But I had good fun with this episode. Since Kang and Kodos appear in every Treehouse special anyway, it makes sense to incorporate them into a story every now and then, as The Simpsons is wont to do. So to have Kodos, not exactly the most lovable alien, and Bart, the world’s biggest punk, take the roles of Elliot and E.T., one of the most beloved pairs in film history, is some nice juxtaposition that works to a comedic effect. And this is not even to mention the totally creepy “Heck House” tale at the end of the show when Flanders turns into the devil and takes the kids to Hell to show where a life of sinning will lead, to which Bart says, “Sin gets us something. Awesome!” Ever notice how Flanders is always the devil in these things?


10. Treehouse of Horror I (Season 2, October 25, 1990)tre

Not only should this episode get some props for being the first, but it does a really great job at setting expectations for the Halloween tradition that was to follow. The episode opens with Bart, Lisa, and Maggie telling scary stories in the treehouse, perfectly encapsulating the title of the special. In these tales, we hear all the Halloween classics: A haunted house story, an alien abduction tale, and an adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.” So, not the most inventive, but still a truly solid Halloween spook.


9. Treehouse of Horror XXIII (Season 24, October 7, 2012)

On their own, I find the actual Paranormal Activity films a little scary (I’m a chicken), but even I can also see that the way the films are shot opens up many opportunities for comedy. And here The Simpsons does just that. A really great parody of a Paranormal Activity film called “UnNormal Activity,” years after the first film premiered, but just around the time of the fourth release. The episode also ends on a cool note with a fun Back to the Future story, where Bart basically does the exact opposite of Marty McFly. He tells Marge not to marry Homer and she listens.


8. Treehouse of Horror II (Season 3, October 31, 1991)

The second Treehouse of Horror is possibly one of the most fun of all the specials, with the monkey paw from the first tale being one of the more memorable aspects of all the episodes ever. It’s such classic Simpsons storytelling, and I mean that in a really positive way. After all the harm the monkey paw wishes inflict on everyone, it’s Homer’s dry turkey sandwich that finally convinces him to throw it away to Ned. Plus, everyone bowing down in fear of Bart, who has the ability to turn anyone into anything, in reference to The Twilight Zone is the perfect example of taking an already established story and character, and going one step further with it.


7. Treehouse of Horror XX (Season 21, October 18, 2009)

This episode feels more aligned with the Treehouse of Horror specials of the ’90s, and by that, I mean that it’s a nice blend of goofy and eerie, with simple stories. Having a tale focus on Lisa, rather than Bart’s mischievousness in a Hitchcock parody, however, is a really nice change in pace. The Simpsons surviving an apocalypse with zombie munchers is pretty great, too. And it all ends with a Moe-centered musical story. What more could you want?


Previous 4 of 5 Next

Natalie Mokry: Film lover and pop culture enthusiast.