Futurama: Every Xmas Episode Ranked (And #1 Is a True Gem)

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Over the years, Futurama has given us some really enjoyable Christmas episodes. Now, let’s revisit them and decide which one stands out as the very best. Futurama isn’t your typical cartoon; because it’s set 1,000 years in the future and focuses on science, it often features subtle cultural shifts that the characters simply accept as normal. The show’s take on Christmas is definitely the most unexpected example of this.

The show Futurama quickly establishes that Christmas has drastically changed in the future. Now known as “XMas,” the holiday is a much more somber occasion, reflecting the world’s advancements in robotics and science. Looking back at the Futurama episodes centered around XMas, it’s clear the show offers some surprisingly insightful moments.

4). The Futurama Holiday Spectacular

I remember watching the Futurama holiday special from Season 7 – it was the only one they did while the show was on Comedy Central. Honestly, it wasn’t their best Christmas episode. It was structured like an anthology, with three separate stories focusing on Christmas, Robanukah, and Kwanzaa. Each story was pretty charming on its own, but they all kind of led to the planet being in danger, and that felt especially true for the Christmas segment.

Bringing back a long-gone type of pine tree causes trees to rapidly spread and overwhelm the Earth with oxygen, leading to a funny, but not particularly striking, explosion. The most memorable disaster of the episode, however, is the beeswax candle incident from the Kwanzaa segment. Ultimately, if Christmas isn’t a major focus, this episode won’t rank very high on the list.

3). A Tale of Two Santas

The fourth season’s Christmas special, “A Tale of Two Santas,” was the last one aired on Fox during the show’s original run. It’s a humorous take on the holiday story: after a dangerous robot Santa starts attacking people every year, Bender decides to become Santa himself, hoping to restore the joy of Christmas. This leads to some funny scenes where Bender gets attacked instead of Santa, and almost meets his end before the real Santa saves him.

The episode really takes a turn when Santa reveals he’s been secretly angry with Bender and gets his revenge for impersonating him. Honestly, it’s packed with hilarious moments – I mean, Zoidberg dressed as Jesus was a highlight! Plus, this is the episode where we first meet Kwanzaa Bot, and it’s amazing to hear the late Coolio voicing the character. There’s just so much going on, it makes you want to watch it again and again.

2). I Know What You Did Next Xmas

The Season 11 special, “I Know What You Did Next Xmas,” is currently the only holiday episode released as part of the show’s return on Hulu. After a long break between its run on Comedy Central and now Hulu, it was a great way to bring the show back, and many fans may have even missed it. It’s a really funny episode that combines time travel, a buddy dynamic, and the holiday season.

This episode finally teams Bender and Zoidberg up consistently, and the pairing is surprisingly effective – you’ll wonder why it doesn’t happen more often! They embark on a time travel mission to capture a malfunctioning Robot Santa, leading to the kind of hilariously bizarre situation only Futurama could create. It’s a really enjoyable episode that deserves a spot in your annual re-watch list.

1). Xmas Story

When discussing the best Futurama Christmas episodes, you can’t forget the one that started it all: Season 2’s “Xmas Story.” This episode offered a unique take on the holiday, revealing a future where a robotic Santa Claus has decided everyone (except Zoidberg) is naughty and should be destroyed. As a result, people hide in their homes to avoid being killed, and Fry, coming from the past, tries to revive the traditional Christmas spirit.

I always think of this Futurama episode as their take on a classic Christmas special. It really feels that way because Fry is determined to bring the joy of the holidays to his new friends and family. It’s heartwarming to see everyone come together for safety, and it captures that cozy holiday spirit perfectly. Plus, it’s the first time we meet Robot Santa, voiced by John Goodman – a role he sadly didn’t get to play again. Everything about this episode just feels magical and really fits the season.

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2025-12-16 01:12