The Simpsons: Every Treehouse of Horror From Seasons 21-30 Ranked

The annual Halloween specials of *The Simpsons*, known as Treehouse of Horror, had a bit of a slump in the 2000s. While many older episodes remain classics, some from this period aren’t fondly remembered. It’s definitely the hardest era to pick out the good Treehouse of Horror episodes from, but there are still a few real standouts worth watching.

Ranking the *Treehouse of Horror* specials from *The Simpsons* Seasons 21 to 30 is tricky – they don’t always measure up to earlier episodes. We’ve looked at how scary they are, how good the main ideas are, if they’re genuinely horror-themed, and whether all three stories in each special are strong. Here’s our ranking of these episodes, from worst to best.

10). Treehouse of Horror XXI

Recent ‘Treehouse of Horror’ episodes haven’t been very scary. While ‘Treehouse of Horror XXI’ begins strongly with ‘War and Pieces’ – a story where a magical board game becomes dangerously real and many characters die – it quickly loses steam. ‘Master and Cadaver,’ the first attempt at an erotic thriller, isn’t particularly engaging. And the episode’s parody of ‘Twilight,’ called ‘Tweenlight,’ is simply not funny, completely ruining any positive impression the episode might have made.

While this season features some fantastic guest stars like Hugh Laurie and David Radcliffe, it’s been a disappointing year for horror overall. The show isn’t particularly enjoyable to watch for most of the time, but it’s also not terrible enough to be truly memorable.

9). Treehouse of Horror XXII

The twenty-second Treehouse of Horror is often considered one of the weakest in recent years, and the segment “The Diving Bell and the Butterball” is a big reason why. The premise – Homer becoming paralyzed and only able to communicate through farts – feels pointless and ultimately leads to a bizarre scene where he’s essentially a fart-powered Spider-Man. While not funny or scary, it’s slightly better than some previous installments because it at least *tries* to evoke a reaction, rather than just being bland.

The episode is somewhat redeemed by “Dial D for Diddly,” where Homer cleverly manipulates Ned Flanders into a comical, albeit misguided, role as a serial killer – and it does have some genuinely funny moments near the end. However, it concludes with a weak parody of *Avatar* in “In the Na’vi,” which just isn’t funny or scary. Surprisingly, being truly bad actually makes it more memorable for fans, as has been the case with other episodes.

8). Treehouse of Horror XXIV

Treehouse of Horror XXIV starts strong with a great opening segment directed by Guillermo Del Toro. The first story, a playful parody of Dr. Seuss called “Oh, the Places You’ll D’oh!,” is particularly enjoyable and benefits from a surprisingly dark edge. The second segment, “Dead and Shoulders,” continues the energy with a premise similar to *Futurama*, imagining Bart’s head on Lisa’s body. The final story is effectively dark, violent, and entertaining.

The third part of the show switches to black and white, reimagining the classic 1930 film *Freaks* as “Freaks, No Geeks.” It continues the energetic pace with surprisingly violent, yet clever, depictions of familiar characters from Springfield, and ultimately delivers a rewarding ending. The segments feel connected—particularly through a recurring joke in the third part—which enhances the overall viewing experience.

7). Treehouse of Horror XXVI

Treehouse of Horror XXVI starts strong with a particularly clever opening segment, but doesn’t maintain that energy throughout. The first segment, “Wanted: Dead, Then Alive,” presents a scenario where Sideshow Bob finally succeeds in killing Bart, only to find himself bored and repeatedly reviving and killing Bart in increasingly over-the-top ways. This is followed by “Homerzilla,” which borrows heavily from the classic 1954 Godzilla film, but its use of stereotypical, faux-Japanese dialogue feels outdated and awkward by today’s standards.

While it doesn’t live up to the beloved “King Homer” episode, this installment is largely redeemed by “Telepaths of Glory.” Though not a horror story, the episode delivers some surprisingly fun and unique visuals thanks to its use of a found footage style, especially with Lisa and Milhouse gaining telepathic powers. It feels more creative and original than many other episodes from this period of the show.

6). Treehouse of Horror XXIX

Okay, so Treehouse of Horror XXXIX, being the last one from this run, is… interesting. It’s not perfect, but there are some really clever bits! I especially loved “Intrusion of the Pod-y Switchers” – the idea of plants taking over Earth turned out to be about *saving* us from our phone addictions, which was a fun twist! The whole takeover sequence was packed with jokes and even threw in some great references to older episodes. Then there’s “Multiplisa-ty,” which is a hilarious take on the movie *Split*, but with Lisa Simpson taking the lead!

This segment is enjoyable because Yeardley Smith gets to showcase different characters while playfully ‘tormenting’ Bart, Milhouse, and Nelson. Like the movie adaptations, it’s not very violent – except for one brief scene – but Milhouse’s misfortune provides a lot of the humor. However, the segment concludes with “Geriatric Park,” a rather uninspired take on *Jurassic Park*. While seeing the elderly characters transform into dinosaurs is momentarily funny, it’s essentially a one-joke premise. Overall, it feels a bit flat and lacks impact, especially compared to the best *Treehouse of Horror* episodes from the same period, particularly regarding how the storylines aren’t fully developed.

5). Treehouse of Horror XXV

I found Treehouse of Horror XXV to be a bit different. While it wasn’t particularly frightening compared to some past Halloween specials, it definitely stood out as more enjoyable. Two of the segments were especially fun, and ‘School Is Hell’ was surprisingly clever. It managed to get away with some really dark and disturbing visuals because the premise revolved around Bart succeeding in school. The writing was sharp too – there were a few one-liner jokes that really landed, like the deadpan delivery of the line, “Torture?”

The episode, “A Clockwork Yellow,” borrows heavily from *A Clockwork Orange*, but whether it works will depend on if you’re a fan of that film and Stanley Kubrick’s work. Many of the jokes rely on references to Kubrick, and if those don’t land, the ending won’t be very satisfying. Luckily, the segment is redeemed by a clever idea called “The Others.” While not particularly frightening, the concept of the Simpson family being haunted by their earlier, *Tracy Ullman Show* versions is a surprisingly effective and creative twist. It’s definitely playing to the fans, but it explores this idea in a more meaningful way than you might think.

4). Treehouse of Horror XXVII

The 600th episode of *The Simpsons*, “Treehouse of Horror XXVII,” is a really enjoyable installment. It starts with a fun couch gag where couches take over the world, and features a surprising amount of character death, even though it’s not particularly scary. The first segment, “Dry Hard,” draws inspiration from *The Hunger Games* and *Mad Max*, focusing more on action and kills – including a particularly humorous one involving Ralph. The second segment, “BFF R.I.P.,” ramps up the intensity, with Lisa’s imaginary friend violently killing her real friends, with Milhouse’s death being especially shocking.

The “MoeFinger” special pits Bart against Kingsman and features a remarkably high body count. While it differs from some horror-focused specials, it stands out due to its sheer volume of violent deaths. Many of these deaths are played for comedic effect, as is typical, but this special arguably has the most deaths of any from this period.

3). Treehouse of Horror XX

Treehouse of Horror XX was a strong start to a new period for the series. This special aired before Halloween for the first time in ten years and really leaned into horror themes. The first segment, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder or Press ‘#’ to Return to Main Menu,” was a black and white short inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, featuring Bart playing a prank on Miss Hoover. “Don’t Have a Cow, Mankind” was a surprisingly scary take on the movie *28 Days Later*, imagining Springfield overrun with people affected by mad cow disease. Finally, “There’s No Business Like Moe Business” was a full-blown Broadway musical where Moe secretly used Homer’s blood to improve his drinks.

This collection of three short stories is remarkably diverse and marked the beginning of a really strong period for *The Simpsons*. It’s a standout *Treehouse of Horror* episode because all three segments are equally entertaining and still enjoyable to watch today.

2). Treehouse of Horror XXIII

Thankfully, Treehouse of Horror XXIII delivers on the horror, though the first segment, “The Greatest Story Ever Holed,” leans more towards science fiction. It’s a playful take on a black hole appearing in town, with the family hilariously tossing garbage into it. The segment features some great visual gags, including particularly gruesome (and funny) deaths, like Sideshow Mel being ripped apart and a memorable demise for Ralph. “Un-normal Activity” utilizes found footage for some laughs—Homer’s line, “We have stairs?” is a highlight—and ultimately portrays Homer as even more problematic than the demons themselves.

While “Bart and Homer’s Excellent Adventure” isn’t a scary episode, it’s a lot of fun, especially seeing Bart interact with a young Homer. The episode really appeals to longtime viewers, and includes a funny running joke with multiple Homers trying to win Marge’s affection. The episode relies heavily on pleasing its existing fanbase, but the strong first two parts make it enjoyable overall.

1). Treehouse of Horror XXVIII

Treehouse of Horror XXVIII is easily the best of the recent Simpsons Halloween specials. It’s probably the one people talk about the most, largely due to its final segment, “MMM…Homer.” This segment has a truly bizarre concept – Homer becomes addicted to eating himself – and it’s visually disturbing. It’s unsettling to watch Homer so thoroughly enjoy this, and it’s genuinely creepy. The first two segments also contribute to the overall spooky atmosphere with their own quirky stories, building up to that memorable finale.

The segment ‘Coralisa’ hasn’t held up as well over time, largely due to a cameo by Neil Gaiman, though it still looks great with its computer-generated Coraline-inspired visuals. The opening segment, ‘The Exor-Sis,’ is the first take on ‘The Exorcist’ within the series. It features an incredible song sung by a possessed Homer, which brilliantly portrays the demonization of everything around him – it’s easily the best ‘Treehouse of Horror’ scene in years and makes this episode particularly worth rewatching.

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2025-10-20 03:42