The Simpsons Every Treehouse of Horror Halloween Special Ranked

The Simpsons: Every Treehouse of Horror Halloween Special, Ranked

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1 The Simpsons: Every Treehouse of Horror Halloween Special, Ranked

The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episodes have been a Halloween tradition for decades; we rank the series of specials from worst to best.

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The Treehouse of Horror specials have been a staple of The Simpsons for decades, but how do the annual Halloween episodes rank from worst to best? Since the series began in 1989, The Simpsons has never let confusing continuity get in the way of a good joke. An anarchic animated sitcom, The Simpsons has always played fast and loose with canon, often altering existing backstories to fit new gags.

However, the annual Treehouse of Horror episodes gives The Simpsons an opportunity for truly wild concepts. A segment where the town of Springfield is overrun by zombies, or Ned Flanders becomes a vengeful serial killer, would never fly in a normal episode of The Simpsons, but both of these stories have been explored (twice) by the show’s Halloween specials. At their best, the Treehouse of Horror specials allows The Simpsons to tell darker, stranger stories than normal episodes can manage.

However, much like reviews of The Simpsons itself, the critical reception of the recent Treehouse of Horror Halloween episodes has been mixed at best. While early Treehouse of Horror episodes took inspiration from The Twilight Zone and were beloved by fans, more recent Halloween specials have seen The Simpsons parody contemporary pop culture with less successful results. With The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror XXXII” (season 33, episode 3) released, there is no better time to look back on the best—and worst—that their long history of Halloween episodes has to offer.

32. Treehouse of Horror XXII

Although some fans argue that The Simpsons is deteriorating as it continues, the nadir of the show’s Halloween offerings was released over a decade ago. “Treehouse of Horror XXII” featured a deeply forgettable Dexter parody that borrowed liberally from the far funnier “The Ned Zone” and a far-too-late Avatar spoof, but neither of these lesser segments is responsible for its ignominious reputation. The episode’s decision to spoof The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and 127 Hours—both tragic, moving real-life dramas—is as inexplicable as it is unfunny, making this one of The Simpsons’ most-hated episodes.

31. Treehouse of Horror XXIV

Credit where it is due, “Treehouse of Horror XXIV” features a stunning opening credits sequence from guest director Guillermo del Toro. Unfortunately, that’s where the episode’s redeeming features end. A bizarre Dr. Seuss parody is groan-inducing, while the interesting but too-brief spoof of Tod Browning’s seminal horror classic Freaks is fun but not substantial enough to redeem this one.

30. Treehouse of Horror XVIII

Where early Treehouse of Horror episodes relied on The Simpsons spoofing classic horror stories and movies, later outings broadened the remit of what the show parodied. Thus, “Treehouse of Horror XVIII” sees The Simpsons spoof Mr. & Mrs. Smith, an already-comedic action movie mostly forgotten by this episode’s 2007 release date. Ned Flanders scaring Springfield’s kids with his “Heck House” is fun, but this mostly feels like the product of a writer’s room still tired by the then-recent release of The Simpsons Movie.

29. Treehouse of Horror XXXI

“Treehouse of Horror XXXI” was seemingly designed to annoy any fans who were still expecting horror parodies, with none of its three segments spoofing scary fare. Instead, The Simpsons took on Russian Doll (already a comedy), Toy Story (a comedy and a family-friendly one at that), and Spider-man: Into The Spiderverse in a series of spoofs that were consistently less funny than the objects of their supposed satire. One of the show’s weakest Halloween outings in years, this one earns its position near the end of the list.

28. Treehouse of Horror XXVI

Bart finally being killed by Sideshow Bob is the only surprise on display in the anemic “Treehouse of Horror XXVI.” Elsewhere, “Homerzilla” offers a weak Godzilla spoof that can’t compare to the show’s earlier King Kong parody. Finally, “Telepaths of Glory” is a limp superhero spoof that makes Thunder Force look razor-sharp.

27. Treehouse of Horror XII

“Treehouse of Horror XII” infamously earned the ire of Harry Potter and The Simpsons fans alike when the show parodied the books despite the writers seemingly being unfamiliar with them. The complaint seems quaint after the many weaker spoofs that have come since, and Pierce Brosnan’s futuristic house that attempts to seduce Marge means this outing has at least one funny segment. That said, a rewatch does reveal The Simpsons is starting to lose focus and slacken its pace here.

26. Treehouse of Horror XIII

Spoofing Michael Keaton-starring sci-fi comedy Multiplicity is hardly Halloween or horror-related, but it does let The Simpsons mock Family Guy’s creative debt to the series. Later, zombie cowboys make for the show’s least funny iteration of the shambling undead, while Dr. Hibert’s The Island of Dr. Moreau spoof redeems this uneven outing. A weaker Simpsons Halloween episode, “Treehouse of Horror XIII” does at least have a few inspired moments.

25. Treehouse of Horror XXX

“Treehouse of Horror XXX” starts strong with a Lovecraft parody that sees Homer out-eat Cthulu. However, soon the series starts struggling with a Heaven Can Wait parody that retreads territory from “Reaper Madness” and “G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad,” and an already-outdated Shape of Water parody. The weakest moments come from The Simpsons’ inexplicably bad Stranger Things spoof “Danger Things,” a parody that proves The Simpsons needs to pay closer attention to the objects in its satirical sights.

24. Treehouse of Horror XXIII

It was only a matter of time before The Simpsons spoofed the Paranormal Activity movies. Luckily, “Un-Normal Activity” is the best of the “Treehouse of Horror XXIII” offerings. A black hole plagues Springfield in the perfunctory opening segment, while Bart and Homer’s spoof of the already-comedic Bill and Ted’s movies falls flat in the closer.

23. Treehouse of Horror XXV

Parodying The Others by having the Simpsons haunted by their Tracy Ullman Show-era selves is a genius premise. Unfortunately, that’s all it is, and the show fails to make use of this clever setup. However, an unexpectedly inspired spoof of Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange adaptation (of all things) ensures “Treehouse of Horror XXV” is still worthwhile.

22. Treehouse of Horror XXXII

2021s Treehouse of Horror was a major step up from recent years, thanks mostly to its interesting subject matter. Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite gets a spoof alongside The Ring, while the artwork of Ed Gorey is memorably recreated in the show’s strangest interlude. It’s uneven, but “Treehouse of Horror XXXII” proves The Simpsons can still make interesting (if hardly scary or hilarious) Halloween specials.

21. Treehouse of Horror XXVII

An original story about Lisa’s killer imaginary friend, ‘BFF RIP,’ elevates “Treehouse of Horror XXVII,” as does its welcome Sarah Silverman cameo. However, outside of this standout segment, this outing is very much business as usual. The Hunger Games/Fury Road parody is too fast-paced and unfocused to land while parodying the already-funny Kingsman movies proves an exercise in futility.

20. Treehouse of Horror XVII

Although there’s not much to hate about “Treehouse of Horror XVII,” there’s not much memorable about the middling episode either. The Blob parody wherein Homer eats his way to becoming the titular monster is lazy, while a segment centered around a Golem doesn’t make much use of the potentially interesting mythical figure. The War of the Worlds spoof is comparatively fine but won’t make any fan’s list of favorite segments any time soon.

19. Treehouse of Horror XXIX

“Treehouse of Horror XXIX” features a solid Jurassic Park parody and its spoof of M Night Shyamalan’s Split wisely casts the usually-sweet Lisa as James McAvoy’s unhinged killer. However, a smug Invasion of the Body Snatchers spoof that features an outdated anti-tech moral drags this one down. Nonetheless, it’s one of the better post season-20 offerings.

18. Treehouse of Horror XXI

Maybe the most bizarre combination of parodies seen on the series so far, “Treehouse of Horror XXI” spoofs Twilight, Dead Calm, and Jumanji. The Jumanji parody is passable while the Dead Calm spoof wastes Hugh Laurie, but both are elevated by at least choosing memorable source material. Daniel Radcliffe’s voice acting, meanwhile, ensures the Twilight parody is surprisingly funny as the actor single-handedly saves this otherwise-uneven outing.

17. Treehouse of Horror XVI

Casting Springfield’s citizens as contestants in the Most Dangerous Game makes for a solid segment, but “Treehouse of Horror XVI” is otherwise unfocused. “I’ve Grown A Costume To Your Face” is a great title in search of a good story, while parodying Spielberg’s flop AI makes the first segment a forgettable dud. Still, one very strong segment out of three could be much worse.

16. Treehouse of Horror XIX

The opening segment of “Treehouse of Horror XIX” is a Transformers parody named “Untitled Robot Parody.” This level of comedic invention continues throughout the episode, whose sole highlight is a “Treehouse of Horror XX” spoof that casts Milhouse as Charlie Brown. Even then, Robot Chicken imagined a killer Great Pumpkin before and better.

15. Treehouse of Horror XXVIII

The Simpsons adapted Stephen King’s infamous story “Survivor Type” before the Creepshow TV series, and it made for the standout segment of “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII.” However, for fans uninterested in seeing Homer chow down on himself, there’s plenty more to love here. The Coraline spoof is a joy to look at and The Exorcist parody is clever and funny, making this one of the strongest late-season outings for the series.

14. Treehouse of Horror XIV

Despite boasting the talents of Simpsons legend John Scwartzwelder, 2003’s “Treehouse of Horror XIV” is not quite the show’s strongest outing. Still, it’s got a funny spin on Frankenstein starring the always-welcome Professor Frink and an inventive sci-fi story that sees Milhouse and Bart mess with a time-stopping watch. What holds this one back from greatness is “Reaper Madness,” an over-familiar story that sees Homer stand-in for the Grim Reaper in a rare case of The Simpsons borrowing from Family Guy, rather than the inverse.

13. Treehouse of Horror IX

There are no particularly strong segments in “Treehouse of Horror IX,” but the episode still stands up as a whole. The revelation that Maggie is an alien leads to a Jerry Springer appearance (that proves celebrities shouldn’t play themselves on The Simpsons), but Larry Doyle’s segment that sees Bart and Lisa dropped into the TV shows they’re watching has the anarchic verve of his strongest episodes like “Wild Barts Can’t Be Broken” (season 10, episode 11). Snake’s possessed toupee also earns a few laughs, despite the segment dragging.

12. Treehouse of Horror XX

It is sacrilege, in some circles, to suggest that a post-season 20 Simpsons episode would rank so high. However, the unexpectedly inspired “Treehouse of Horror XX” proves the animated sitcom has classic episodes outside of its The Simpsons’ nostalgic, fan-favorite Golden Age. The 28 Days Later spoof makes zombies funny again somehow while casting Moe as Sweeney Todd is ingenious. However, it is this episode’s Hitchcock parody, filled with moments of affectionate homage, that make “Treehouse of Horror XX” a late-season classic.

11. Treehouse of Horror XI

“Treehouse of Horror XI” is one of the show’s most well-rounded Halloween specials. Seeing Homer try to earn his way into Heaven after an untimely death is pure fun while spoofing fairy tales is an idea so ingenious it’s hard to believe it took The Simpsons so long to get around to the subject. However, it is the unexpectedly gory “Night of the Dolphin,” which mashes up Free Willy and The Birds, that makes this one a stone-cold classic.

10. Treehouse of Horror II

The second “Treehouse of Horror” is not quite as inspired as the first, but it’s still one of The Simpsons’ best. A Twilight Zone parody featuring a super-powered Bart ends on a hilariously cynical send-up of schmaltzy sitcoms and Burns replacing Frankenstein is a clever, if obvious, spoof. However, it is this episode’s parody of “The Monkey’s Paw,” with its mile-a-minute gag rate, that epitomizes just how great the writing on the series would soon become.

9. Treehouse of Horror X

With two weaker segments out of three, “Treehouse of Horror X” truly needs to deliver with its one great spoof. Luckily, a parody of I Know What You Did Last Summer that casts Flanders as the vengeful killer brought back from the dead — “I Know What You Diddily-Iddily-Did” — is enough to elevate this episode to classic status. That said, a very dated Y2K parody and a superhero spoof that relies on Lucy Lawless’ star power keep this one from being one of The Simpsons’ greatest hours — even if overall, it’s still among the best.

8. Treehouse of Horror VIII

Parodying influential body horror legend David Cronenberg is tough since even spoofs of his work tend to be too gross for many viewers to enjoy. In “Treehouse of Horror VIII,” The Simpsons wisely bases their parody of The Fly on the ’50s original and gains massive laughs as Bart switches heads with the pest, while “The Homega Man” sees The Simpsons once again wring laughs out of the hoariest old subject for horror spoofs, the zombie apocalypse. ‘Easy Bake Coven’’s Crucible spoof, though, is the strongest of this trio, and one of the show’s funniest segments.

7. Treehouse of Horror VII

One of the best-balanced Halloween specials, “Treehouse of Horror VII” has something for everyone. Viewers who enjoy Twilight Zone parodies will get a kick out of Lisa accidentally inventing a civilization in a petri dish, while fans who love The Simpsons’ political satire will love the timeless “Citizen Kang.” Those who prefer something creepier, meanwhile, will love the genuinely unsettling “The Thing and I,” an evil twin story whose twist—Bart was the evil one all along—is an ingenious spin on the well-worn trope.

6. Treehouse of Horror I

The first Treehouse of Horror has no business being as strong as it is. There are rough edges to be ironed out, but from the opening spoof of The Amityville Horror to the inspired Twilight Zone parody “Hungry Are The Damned,” this goofy outing moves with the speed and deft wit of The Simpsons’ Golden Age despite arriving far earlier. The standout, though, is the surprisingly affecting recitation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” a classic segment whose many great jokes don’t stop it from being a creepy, sincere tribute to the legendary author’s work.

5. Treehouse of Horror XV

Much as it may shock some fans of The Simpsons to see a post-season 12 outing this low on the rundown, “Treehouse of Horror XV” boasts the impressive achievement of having no weak links in its three segments. The Victorian-era murder mystery is sublime, featuring some classic Simpsons sight gags and one-liners. However, everything from the Fantastic Voyage parody to the Dead Zone spoof is inspired, featuring some of The Simpsons’ best horror parodies since the Scorsese-spoofing ‘Cape Feare.’ Although the later seasons of The Simpsons are often derided as its weakest, “Treehouse of Horror XV” proves that there are gems hidden outside its Golden Age.

4. Treehouse of Horror VI

There is not a wasted moment in “Treehouse of Horror VI.” “Homer3” makes innovative use of 3D animation and live-action for an inventive, trippy segment, while “Attack of the 50 Foot Eyesores” takes sharp satirical jabs at the world of advertising. However, by combining Tex Avery-inspired cartoony gags with a rapid-fire slew of jokes to make for one of The Simpsons’ strongest “Treehouse of Horror” segments, it is Groundkeeper Willie’s spoof of A Nightmare On Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger that stands out.

3. Treehouse of Horror III

The first two outings are solid, but “Treehouse of Horror III” is where The Simpsons hit its stride with Halloween specials. Homer replacing King Kong makes for a memorably hilarious segment filled with moments of dry wit, like Burns ‘dreading the reviews’ after King Homer’s New York stage debut ends with a rampage through the city. Krusty standing in for Childs Play villain Chucky results in some of the show’s most quotable lines, while the zombie segment remains The Simpsons’ funniest spoof of undead invasion movies even after the Treehouse of Horror series repeatedly revisited the sub-genre.

2. Treehouse of Horror IV

The only thing holding “Treehouse of Horror IV” back from the top spot is the existence of its successor. From the slide down into Burns’ basement to the revelation that Marge is a vampire, the Bram Stoker’s Dracula spoof “Bart Simpson’s Dracula” is a goofy delight, while “Terror at 5 1/2 Feet” is scarier than its Twilight Zone inspiration and still a hysterically funny segment. Not only that but the revelation that the devil can’t claim Homer’s soul because it belongs to Marge proves The Simpsons could inject unexpected heart into even the silliest setups, making “Treehouse of Horror IV” one of its finest hours even disregarding the episode’s status as a Halloween special.

1. Treehouse of Horror V

Still the single strongest Simpsons Halloween outing, “Treehouse of Horror V” is a peerless parody of the horror genre. ‘Time and Punishment’ is a relentlessly paced Ray Bradbury spoof and “Nightmare Cafeteria” manages to be authentically creepy and gruesome, as does the episode’s gross-out ending. However, it is “The Shinning” that truly shines here. The Simpsons’ spoof of Kubrick’s legendary Stephen King adaptation combines blitzkrieg comic pacing with a genuine affection for the source material, resulting in one of the funniest horror spoofs ever and comfortably the best Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Halloween special.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/simpsons-treehouse-horror-halloween-episodes-best-worse/

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