The Simpsons: 10 Perfect Episodes Sci-Fi Fans Will Love

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After being on television for so many years, it’s understandable that even science fiction fans might not know about some of the best episodes of The Simpsons. Now in its 37th season and heading towards season 40, the show has explored many different genres, including horror, romance, and drama, alongside its signature comedy. And sprinkled throughout the series’ long run, there have been some surprisingly enjoyable science fiction stories too.

It’s amazing how much science fiction appears in The Simpsons, from its most famous episodes to some lesser-known ones. Here are ten episodes with cool sci-fi themes and stories that are worth watching. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the show, sci-fi lovers will enjoy these episodes.

10). Deep Space Homer

“Deep Space Homer” is one of the most beloved episodes of The Simpsons. In this Season 5 adventure, Homer is unexpectedly launched into space as part of a NASA publicity stunt, and he somehow manages to succeed despite his usual mishaps. Surprisingly, the episode features a good amount of real science—even including an appearance by astronaut Buzz Aldrin—while remaining thoroughly funny and enjoyable.

This episode is full of brilliant science fiction humor, like Kent Brockman’s immediate acceptance of ant overlords – he just says, “Make rocket go now!” – and the whole scheme to remove the ants from the spaceship. It’s a truly classic episode that deserves all the praise it gets, but there’s still more great sci-fi to discover on this list.

9). The Man Who Came to Be Dinner

Completely different from most episodes is Season 26’s “The Man Who Came to Be Dinner.” This surprising installment brought the characters Kang, Kodos, and the planet Rigel 7 into the show’s ongoing story. It was the first time, outside of the annual “Treehouse of Horror” specials, that The Simpsons encountered space aliens and even left Earth – all as part of a plan for the Rigellians to eat them! The episode has a surreal, dreamlike quality, with the Simpsons calmly accepting bizarre events, and they’re ultimately saved because they’re too poisonous to be eaten.

The episode was later considered non-canon, explained away with a joke about the characters forgetting it, but it still feels very strange compared to the rest of the series. While The Simpsons has explored some unusual storylines, this science fiction episode, which sends the family into space, is arguably its most outlandish. Despite this, it’s an interesting story worth checking out.

8). Mayored to the Mob

Okay, so a lot of Simpsons fans think the ‘Golden Era’ ended before Season 10, but I still think it has some seriously great episodes – “Mayored to the Mob” being a prime example! It kicks off with the whole family at a sci-fi convention, Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con, and it’s fun seeing what’s new with all their favorite shows. It’s classic Homer, too, with his hilarious dislike of nerds – and he actually ends up being the hero, saving Mark Hamill himself from a crowd of them! Honestly, the rest of the episode doesn’t quite keep that same energy, but the convention opening is gold.

Mark Hamill delivers some truly funny performances. He playfully pokes fun at his own image as Luke Skywalker and how fans saw him after Star Wars, and his role as the leader of a bodyguard training camp is also a highlight. The film cleverly wraps up with Hamill saying “Use the forks!” – a fun reference to Star Wars that doesn’t overdo it, leaving plenty of space for humor.

7). Holidays of Future Passed

Several episodes of The Simpsons explore the future, showing what life could be like for the characters down the road, and some do this using science fiction. The episode “Holidays of Future Passed” is a great example, offering an extended look at a futuristic Springfield where advanced technology is commonplace and simply part of everyday life—a really interesting idea for a story.

Beyond being a fantastic Christmas episode of The Simpsons, “Holidays of Future Passed” feels like a fitting series finale. It was actually considered as one before the show continued past its 23rd season. If you’re looking for a story that could have realistically ended the series, this episode delivers, blending heartfelt character moments and a touch of sci-fi into a warm and engaging future setting.

6). Simpsorama

Looking back, it’s surprising that this Futurama crossover aired in the same season as the episode that officially introduced Kang and Kodos into The Simpsons‘ story. But Season 26’s “Simpsorama” delivers another sci-fi adventure that throws the Simpsons into unfamiliar territory. More of a Futurama cast reunion (since that show was canceled again at the time), this episode blends the two series together for a fun and over-the-top story that feels right at home in the Futurama universe.

We simply don’t have enough space to fully cover both franchises. However, the story featuring Homer and Bender is excellent. They discover they have a lot in common, and the ending nicely connects to future storylines in Futurama. It all works within The Simpsons‘ established timeline – with Bender even making brief appearances in their basement later on – and it’s a fun take on what the future might look like if Bart had ruined it.

5). Time and Punishment

“Time and Punishment” isn’t a complete episode of The Simpsons; it’s a short story within the annual Treehouse of Horror V special. Despite its length, it’s remembered as one of the show’s most creative science-fiction ideas. In the segment, Homer transforms his toaster into a time machine, becoming “the first non-Brazilian” to travel to the past, which leads to a series of problems.

This ten-minute episode is jam-packed with action as Homer discovers that even small changes to the past can have huge consequences for the future. We see alternate timelines where Flanders rules the world, donuts don’t exist (as far as anyone knows), and everyone is a giant, among other surprises. It’s a fast-paced and enjoyable watch with plenty of funny details to notice.

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

As a huge Simpsons fan, I always thought “Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes” was a really clever take on the Treehouse of Horror formula, especially because it was all built around the writings of Ray Bradbury! They went pretty far with the sci-fi themes in one segment – it was inspired by Bradbury’s “Marionnettes, Inc.” and featured Chalmers hilariously replacing himself with a robot to get out of hanging around Skinner, only to discover Skinner had done the same thing! But honestly, the third segment really stuck with me – it tackled Bradbury’s most famous story and was surprisingly powerful.

The third part of the show draws inspiration from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, imagining a future where, surprisingly, bad TV is outlawed. Homer, fed up with being forced to watch high-quality shows, discovers the thrill of secretly watching guilty pleasures like reality TV. The segment mirrors the original story’s ending but offers a clever and entertaining twist that science fiction enthusiasts will enjoy.

3). Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind

“Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind” is a standout episode from the late 2000s. It presents a unique story where Homer discovers gaps in his memory after a night at Moe’s. With the help of Professor Frink and a special device, he delves into his own mind to recover what happened. The episode cleverly features interactions with memory representations of his children, revealing a surprisingly new and introspective side of Homer. It’s a visually engaging, sci-fi exploration of his inner thoughts and feelings.

2). The Springfield Files

“The Springfield Files” is a standout episode of The Simpsons. It’s a self-contained story that’s easy to enjoy even if you’ve never seen the show before, especially because it cleverly combines the worlds of The Simpsons and The X-Files. The episode begins when Homer thinks he spots an alien, leading to a town-wide conspiracy. In fact, X-Files agents Mulder and Scully even visit Springfield to investigate!

This episode is a lot of fun, especially if you’re a fan of either show. Mulder and Scully’s personalities are turned up to eleven, which creates some truly memorable scenes. Leonard Nimoy makes a fantastic guest appearance, elevating the episode even further. Remarkably, it still holds up incredibly well today. Originally aired in Season 8, it captures a sweet spot in time when both shows were at their best.

1). Itchy and Scratchy Land

When it comes to classic, standalone sci-fi episodes of The Simpsons, Season 6’s “Itchy and Scratchy Land” is about as perfect as you can find. While the sci-fi elements really kick in when the park’s robots come to life and attack, it’s brilliantly done. The episode follows the Simpson family enjoying the Itchy & Scratchy Land theme park, and then facing a thrilling climax as they battle an army of malfunctioning robots. It’s a fantastic episode packed with memorable jokes (“My son is also named Bort.”), and it’s the best choice for sci-fi fans – without a doubt.

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2025-10-31 01:15