The Simpsons: Every Treehouse of Horror From Seasons 31 to Present Ranked (Including the Specials)

For decades, The Simpsons has consistently delivered new Halloween specials, known as Treehouse of Horror episodes. These specials have been a beloved tradition since the show’s second season, and many are considered among the best episodes ever made. But the spooky fun doesn’t stop with just the annual Halloween broadcasts.

The Simpsons doesn’t limit its horror to the annual Treehouse of Horror specials. The show has also released standalone horror-themed episodes over the years. As we finish ranking these episodes, it’s important to include both the Treehouse of Horror specials and these additional episodes from the last ten years of the show.

Here’s our list of the best Treehouse of Horror episodes from Seasons 31 through 37, plus a look at other great Simpsons specials you may not have seen.

11). Treehouse of Horror XXX

Treehouse of Horror XXX marked a shift in style for the series, moving away from its classic feel and hinting at what’s to come. Unfortunately, it’s the weakest Halloween special in recent years, continuing some disappointing trends from the last decade – specifically, a lack of genuine horror and an over-reliance on comedy. As the 666th episode, fans expected more than a late and uninspired parody of Stranger Things with the segment “Danger Things.”

The more original idea, “Heaven Swipes Right,” is similar to Heaven Can Wait, with Homer repeatedly dying and inhabiting different bodies until Marge approves. While funny, it feels out of place. The same goes for the Shape of Water parody, “When Hairy Met Slimy.” Selma and Kang are a fun duo, but their segment lacks the sharp humor of the best Treehouse of Horror episodes – and this is especially true for the 666th episode.

10). Treehouse of Horror XXXII

What fans expect from The Simpsons‘ Treehouse of Horror specials is a real sense of danger and mortality – something you don’t usually find in the regular show. Even when the special spoofs a serious thriller like Parasite, it doesn’t shy away from violence and death, featuring a large-scale fight with many casualties (and a darkly humorous scene of Maggie playing on the bodies). So, even if a particular segment isn’t perfect, it delivers on the idea that actions have consequences.

The segment referencing “Nightmare on Elm Street” cleverly transforms the classic “Treehouse of Horror” setting into a revolutionary tree. While the show has explored similar ideas with plants and furniture before, this installment still manages to deliver plenty of chaotic and violent fun. It’s a little brief, and includes a curious detour focusing on Bart. The segment concludes with a playful take on “The Ring,” called “Dead Ringer,” where Lisa attempts to befriend a comical version of Sadako. There’s something special when “Treehouse of Horror” aims for genuine scares.

9). Treehouse of Horror XXXV

Treehouse of Horror XXXV is a bit uneven in quality. While “The Fall of the House of Monty” is the strongest segment – and shares similarities with the Thanksgiving of Horror special – it doesn’t quite capture the Halloween spirit, despite looking good. The monster designs for Homer and the others are creative, and the segment has a fun conclusion, but it feels out of place for a Halloween special. “The Information Rage” suffers from a similar problem, with political arguments manifesting as giant monsters that wreak havoc on the town.

I saw a really fun parody of Pacific Rim with Bart and Lisa, though it leaned more into sci-fi than horror. Thankfully, the segment featuring “Denim”—a stop-motion animated pair of jeans created by the folks at Stoopid Buddy Studio—brought things back around with some genuinely funny moments. Unfortunately, the show didn’t finish strong, which was a bit of a disappointing way to end the year. It wasn’t a fantastic episode, but it was definitely better than some years we’ve had.

8). Treehouse of Horror XXXI

Treehouse of Horror XXXI delivers the spooky fun we expect. The episode starts with a quick, somewhat outdated, reference to the 2020 election (including COVID masks) before launching into “Toy Gory.” This segment is a computer-animated take on Toy Story, where Bart’s toys come to life and turn the tables on him. It’s a particularly dark and shocking story for the Treehouse of Horror series, featuring a truly depressing ending – Marge and Homer grieving over Bart’s broken toys – and a relentlessly brutal series of events as the toys torment and ultimately ‘kill’ Bart piece by piece.

While “Into the Homerverse” doesn’t deliver on horror, and relies heavily on multiple Homers, it does playfully introduce different versions of Mr. Burns. However, the episode truly shines with “Be Nine, Rewind,” a cleverly structured story where Lisa and Nelson repeatedly die in funny and over-the-top ways. They eventually realize they must eliminate Gil to break the time loop, leading to many humorous scenarios – like Nelson accidentally killing Ralph. Thankfully, this episode provides a strong and enjoyable conclusion to the season.

7). Treehouse of Horror XXXIV

Treehouse of Horror XXXIV is a really solid installment in the series, hitting all the right notes for a Halloween special. While the segment about NFTs, “Wild Barts Can’t Be Token,” doesn’t hold up well, it’s still entertaining to see Marge destroy them to protect Bart. The last segment, “Lout Break,” revisits the Homer clone concept, and it’s arguably the funniest version since the classic “Send in the Clones” from Treehouse of Horror XIII. With everyone turning into Homers, the segment delivers a non-stop stream of jokes.

Dan Castellaneta’s voice work really ties everything together, especially his portrayal of Homer and Marge – it’s a perfect fit. However, the episode truly shines with “Ei8ght,” which cleverly revisits the classic Sideshow Bob vs. Bart conflict from “Cape Feare.” We see Sideshow Bob finally succeed in harming Bart, and then a grown-up Lisa investigating a new, unsettling threat. It’s a genuinely creepy and violent story with a brilliantly unexpected twist. This segment fulfills the long-awaited promise of Sideshow Bob finally getting his revenge on Bart, making it one of the most memorable stories in the Treehouse of Horror series. It’s a shame the rest of the episode doesn’t quite live up to its standard.

6). Thanksgiving of Horror

The Simpsons‘ “Thanksgiving of Horror” is a fantastic concept, and the show should explore more scary stories around the holiday. Instead of a Halloween special, this episode from Season 31 features three tales with a Thanksgiving horror theme. “A-Gobble-Ypto” depicts Pilgrims violently attacking turkeys, mirroring the historical violence shown in the film Apocalypto. “The Fourth Thursday After Tomorrow” involves an artificial intelligence version of Marge attempting to eliminate the real Marge because she isn’t recognized for making Thanksgiving dinner, and “The Last Thanksgiving” centers on a monstrous cranberry sauce blob that devours children in space.

The visuals in this are truly striking and genuinely unsettling. The introduction of this new holiday seems to have breathed fresh life into the horror elements of the story. It features some of the most impactful and gruesome kills we’ve seen lately—the scene with the cranberry sauce and Martin’s bones is a perfect example—and it’s all just incredibly entertaining.

5). Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes

Season 36 of The Simpsons featured a unique Halloween special called ‘Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes,’ which presented three shorts inspired by the works of Ray Bradbury. These included adaptations of ‘The Screaming Woman,’ ‘Marionettes, Inc.,’ and the well-known ‘Fahrenheit 451.’ Each story cleverly incorporated Simpsons characters and offered an engaging plot. The standout segments were either the hilarious ‘Marionettes, Inc.’ – featuring Skinner and Chalmers replacing themselves with robots and a resulting school showdown – or the take on ‘Fahrenheit 451’.

This episode envisions a future where only high-quality, critically acclaimed TV shows are allowed – things like reality shows have been banned. Homer is the ideal character to explore this world, as he becomes obsessed with the forbidden, older shows and stumbles upon a secret group dedicated to preserving them. Similar to the ‘Thanksgiving of Horror’ episode, this installment feels incredibly inventive and energetic, clearly benefiting from being outside the usual ‘Treehouse of Horror’ format.

4). Treehouse of Horror XXXIII

Treehouse of Horror XXXIII is easily one of the best Halloween specials The Simpsons has ever done, thanks to its three really strong segments. “The Pookadook” cleverly riffs on The Babadook, with a terrifying twist: Marge threatening to harm Maggie. The danger feels especially intense because Maggie is a baby, even though she’s unusually capable. Julie Kavner delivers a genuinely frightening performance as Marge. The special then switches gears completely with “Death Tome,” featuring animation from the studio behind the anime series Death Note.

“Death Tome” is a strong entry into the world of animated shows, featuring a large number of inventive and gruesome deaths – Lisa has to come up with a new way to kill each person. While it isn’t particularly scary, the final part is cleverly done, resembling “Westworld” with a “Simpsonsworld” segment that’s packed with references to the show’s history, enjoyable action, and plenty of other fun details. The episode’s ending, hinting at even more animated worlds, is also one of the most rewarding conclusions in the series recently.

3). Not It

“Not It” is a really enjoyable episode that cleverly adapts Stephen King’s IT into the world of The Simpsons. The entire episode focuses on this story, reimagining Homer and his friends as children facing a spooky, clown-like version of Krusty. This allows for a surprisingly intense and creative narrative, even including a quirky love triangle between Homer, Marge, and Comic Book Guy. The episode clearly benefits from this fresh approach, and the writers do a great job with the unexpected changes.

The show playfully flips characters – Bart becomes the smart one, and Lisa the underachiever. Homer even runs Moe’s Tavern, haunted by his past. This setup creates a fun dynamic, especially when the latter half revisits earlier storylines. The longer format allows for more developed parodies and surprisingly strong storytelling. Hopefully, The Simpsons explores other franchises with this expanded approach in the future.

2). Treehouse of Horror XXXVI

Okay, I know some people think these newer Treehouse of Horror episodes get a little too much credit, but seriously, Treehouse of Horror XXXVI is the best we’ve seen in ages! Every segment is fantastic. The first one, “The Last Days of Crisco,” with that giant Fatberg tearing through the festival? Amazing, and poor Bart… it’s a wild ride. Then “Clown Night with the Devil” is just brilliant – it feels like those classic 90s episodes visually, and it’s got the most genuinely shocking and bloody moments we’ve seen in years! And it’s not all gore, either – the zombie kids’ show bit is hilarious. Honestly, it’s a perfect blend of scary and funny.

“Plasticworld” is a standout episode, though its unique art style isn’t for everyone. It cleverly mixes 3D and 2D animation, and features a memorable return to the Kwik-E-Mart. The plot escalates to an epic battle where the fate of humanity rests on defeating mutant plastic versions of Homer and Marge! It’s packed with references for longtime fans, balanced with exciting action, and delivers a satisfying conclusion to the year. Overall, it’s a consistently strong episode, and part of a trio of specials that really stand out – something we haven’t seen in a while.

1). Halloween of Horror

Despite decades of spooky and often deadly ‘Treehouse of Horror’ specials, the best Halloween episode of The Simpsons isn’t one of them. Season 27’s ‘Halloween of Horror’ was the first episode set on Halloween outside of the ‘Treehouse of Horror’ format. This allowed the show to explore the holiday within its regular storyline, offering fresh and surprising insights into the characters.

The heart of this episode lies in the relationship between Homer and Lisa, and their scenes are among the series’ finest. We learn Lisa used to carry a stuffed tail as a child, and a frightening experience at Krustyland causes her to briefly return to that younger state. The episode also features genuinely scary moments, like a home invasion by famous pop stars, before ultimately wrapping up with a heartwarming holiday ending. It’s a particularly sweet conclusion, considering all the spooky Halloween episodes The Simpsons has created over the years, and many fans consider it the show’s best Halloween offering ever.

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2025-10-27 03:19