Welcome to 2026's 31 Days of Heistoween, a daily dose of spooky icons, spine-tingling oddities, and — most harrowing of all — memes. Check back every day from now through October 31 for each daily entry!
Halloween sitcom episodes are just special. Thanksgiving and Christmas have sitcom masterpieces too, but Halloween episodes have an edge to them. That's because the holiday, steeped in the macabre, replaces all the sincerity of those other two holidays with, well ... pure chaos. And these are situation comedies, after all. Halloween provides situations, and those can range from lightly spooky trick-or-treat stories to full-blown monster movie riffs that push the limits of what should be shown on network TV.
I've spent the last decade watching as many Halloween sitcom episodes as I can and meticulously tracking them, rating them, thinking about them, obsessing over them like some sort of mad pop culture scientist. This is the result of that madness: the 50 greatest Halloween sitcom episodes of all time. Chosen by me, of course.
As always, personal bias comes into play; I was not allowed to watch The Simpsons or Roseanne while growing up, so I don't have that lifelong affection for those that many do. And if you respond to this list on Bluesky telling me that I missed a certain episode of Roseanne or The Simpsons, I will know that you did not read this intro!
Plus, if you feel that strongly about any episode being overlooked or incorrectly ranked, you can vote in our own Halloween TV episode survey!
On with the list — !
50. The Office, "Halloween" (2005)
This one does what The Office does best: mix real life discomfort with slightly heightened silliness. "Halloween" introduces the looming threat of unemployment while everyone is in goofy costumes (except Jim, sigh). It's not spooky or creepy, but it is funny (and scarily relevant to, uh, now).
49. Sabrina the Teenage Witch, "Good Will Haunting" (1998)
A demented doll torments Sabrina and her friends by conjuring up classic movie monsters, all while Hilda and Zelda hang out with the cast of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. This premise is laser-targeted to a certain demographic, of which I am definitely a member.
48. Mork & Mindy, "A Morkville Horror" (1979)
Mork and Mindy already dealt with the supernatural in every episode, what with a titular character being an extraterrestrial. This one mixes the two together when Mork from Ork discovers that Mindy's childhood home is still occupied by beings from beyond the grave. Come on, it's young Robin Williams playing an alien possessed by ghosts!
47. Living Single, "Trick or Trust" (1994)
As much as we all love seeing series regulars get in costume and do the usual Halloween shenanigans (like the cast all trying to scare Maxine) it's even better when the spooky antics crash into real problems — like Khadijah (aka Little Bo Peep) questioning Scooter's (aka a pirate) fidelity. Plus, there's the fantastic line: "Because that's what you would be expecting me to expect you to be expecting of me!"
46. Square Pegs, "Halloween XII" (1982)
This being a teen sitcom filmed in 1982, in single-camera filmic style, at the height of the '80s teen slasher movie craze, this Square Pegs episode already has a lot of creepiness encoded in its aesthetic. Add a sleepover plot and a POV shot of a creeper peering at the girls through two eyeholes and this one's unsettling enough that maybe Sarah Jessica Parker should be in all those "final girl" conversations.
45. ALF, "Some Enchanted Evening" (1987)
Come on, Halloween is the one time of the year that ALF can come out of hiding and party like the cool dude he is. All he has to do is slap a zipper on his chest (see: above) and bam, he's hosting a limbo competition for Willie's boss!
44. The Jeffersons, "Now You See It, Now You Don't" (1979)
Weezie has a total Rear Window moment when, on the night of the Halloween party, she spies a giant rabbit killing a guy across the street. This suspected murder fills out this list's only official two-parter, which makes sense. It's not every week that a sitcom character witnesses a murder — especially when the killer wants to make your lead character Victim #2!
43. Step By Step, "Something Wild" (1994)
You gotta love a good ol' Halloween party thrown by a suburban family who apparently spent the month's grocery budget on pumpkin lights. And in 1994, the "big" guest stars were the two actors doing the broadest Beavis and Butt-head impressions. In 2019, in retrospect, the big guest star is 14-year-old Michelle Williams.
42. The Addams Family, "Halloween, Addams Style" (1965)
This episode is all over the place. It reuses a scene from the (superior) Season 1 Halloween episode and the plot keeps twisting, introducing new elements up until the very last minute, but — I do give this one credit for being one of the few episodes to center Lurch and Grandmama.
41. Superstore, "Sal's Dead" (2017)
Superstore goes full Egar Allen Poe when a corpse is found in the wall, just in time for Halloween! How this episode incorporates something that is legitimately disturbing — no other episode on this list features the rotted corpse of a former recurring character — while still being funny (Mateo's transformation into a Were-Sal) is itself witchcraft.
40. Bob's Burgers, "Nightmare On Ocean Avenue Street" (2018)
A Halloween whodunit thriller that follows the kids as they try to avoid a stealthy candy-snatcher. This one features some of the best Bob's Burgers costumes, including Gene's and — my personal favorite — Regular-Sized Rudy dressed as Paul Rudd from I Love You, Man.
39. Sabrina the Teenage Witch, "A River of Candy Corn Runs Through It" (1997)
Another fun and goofy Sabrina Halloween. This ep has a river of candy corn, giant demons, Quizmaster, and talking sofas... and the most far-fetched thing is high schoolers being able to identify post-Natalie Merchant 10,000 Maniacs.
38. Dinosaurs, "Little Boy Boo" (1992)
Ever wonder about the origin of trick-or-treat? This episode tells the real tale, and it includes Baby's instantly iconic music video. It was a simpler time, when America was in the grips of "not the mama" mania.
37. 3rd Rock from the Sun, "Scaredy Dick" (1997)
This one tackles the most terrifying aspect of life: getting a physical at the doctor's office. And it's another sitcom with Sonny and Cher costumes, which was a real trope of '80s-'90s shows.
36. The Andy Griffith Show, "The Haunted House" (1963)
I've already watched a lot of episodes about an old house that may be haunted, and of all of them, this one actually delivers the spooky goods. Solid haunted house gags, like a live-action Scooby-Doo episode.
35. Perfect Strangers, "Aliens" (1988)
This is essentially the same kind of Twilight Zone pastiche as The Dick Van Dyke Show's excellent "It May Look Like a Walnut," but this episode is so goofy that I can't help but do the dance of joy when I watch it.
34. Night Court, "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Stephen King, Stephen King" (1989)
A ghost haunts the courtroom seeking "JUST ICE" and there's a snarky psychic lady and plenty of jump-scare tricks. It's about time a show called night court put a ghost on trial!!
33. New Girl, "Halloween" (2012)
Schmidt wants Cece, Nick doesn't want his college crush, and Jess wants a guy who wants nothing. In New Girl, relationships are the true horror! Props to New Girl for giving Bob's Burgers a run for their money in the pun Halloween costume department (Bee Arthur, Reigning Cats and Dogs, etc.)
32. Bob's Burgers, "Tina and the Real Ghost" (2014)
This one gets into the scariest subject of all: tween romance! Jeff the ghost may be a real scoundrel, but he's the best boyfriend Tina ever had — even if he is just air (and later bugs) in a shoebox. There need to be more Halloween romcoms! This should be a whole TV movie genre! Follow this episode's lead!
31. Night Court, "Death Takes a Halloween" (1990)
Stephen Root's spooky bonafides go back decades before Widow's Bay. In this episode, a young Root plays Death. Yep, Death. Night Court always mixed drama and zaniness well, and that's Stephen Root's sweet spot. Plus, young Stephen Root was a total babe. I mean, that tux? Come on!
30. M*A*S*H, "Trick or Treatment" (1982)
A squad of rambunctious soldiers (including George Wendt and Andrew Dice Clay!) cause chaos on Halloween night. This one has everything: makeshift costumes, spooky stories, blood, carnage, genuinely horrific monologues, and even a guy that rises from the dead.
29. Bewitched, "Trick or Treat" (1965)
Endora turns Darrin into a werewolf while his boss is over on Halloween (Mr. Tate is always at their house on holidays). This is such a showcase for Dick York's great physical comedy skills as he wolfs out and eats a pillow
28. Family Matters, "Whose Kid Is It Anyway?" (1992)
Aside from the B-plot about Harriette's insomnia, this is the best of Family Matters' non-fantastical Halloween episodes. Building the episode around Eddie's ditching Little Richie while trick-or-treating turns this into a true ensemble episode. The adults get fun jokes Urkel gets (shockingly but believably) positioned as the angry voice of reason. Also, why more people don't dress up as Waldo Faldo dressing up as himself for Halloween, I don't know.
27. Boy Meets World, "The Witches of Pennbrook" (1997)
Candace Cameron's entire rebellious phase is captured in this one 20-minute episode wherein she places a seductive witch and Satan worshipper. Latter Boy Meets World is such a weekday afternoon cartoon, and it's not My Vibe. But throw Candace Cameron Bure in the mix as a Satan-worshipping witch? Halloween truly is when miracles happen.
26. Bob's Burgers, "Teen-A Witch" (2016)
Tina turns to the dark arts when her plans to win the school's costume contest are thwarted. This one features Billy Eichner and Betsy Sodaro as witches with the most mundane jobs imaginable. Tina's goth phase on Bob's Burgers > Mark's goth phase on Home Improvement.
25. Cheers, "Bar Wars V: The Final Judgement" (1991)
Of all the "everyone plays a grisly prank on one cast member" episodes, this one is maybe the most elaborate — Sam is tricked into thinking he killed Gary — and definitely the best. Ted Danson is a frantic delight in this, and it doesn't get much spookier than a Carla hologram.
24. Kate and Allie, "Halloween II" (1986)
This one delivers a few legit chills, with its escalating spooky prank war and a hitchhiking ghost of an ex-wife. Plus, it features the legendary Jane Curtin in a should-be-iconic lime green shirt. If you've never seen Kate and Allie, let this be your introduction.
23. Newhart, "Take Me To Your Loudon" (1987)
Drop the lore behind Orson Welles' War of the Worlds broadcast in a town full of lovable dum-dums, squeeze in some Twilight Zone zest, and serve it to Bob Newhart. You get this doozy of an episode wherein TV's greatest straight man tries to keep it cool in a room full of costumed idiots.
22. Dharma and Greg, "A Closet Full of Hell" (1998)
Dharma and Greg find a secret closet in their closet that's filled with old dolls and doll heads. The terror unspools like a classic haunted house tale, kinda Amityville or Poltergeist-y. It's real creepy.
21. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "Who Got Dee Pregnant?" (2010)
Leave it to this show to take the usual mistaken identity costume party shenanigans and heighten it to involved dumpster humping and possible incest.
20. Family Matters, "Dark and Stormy Night" (1994)
I love the ripple effect that Bram Stoker's Dracula had on horror episodes throughout the '90s. This episode is full-on vampire castle madness and you get to see Urkel and Carl sword fight. People give this holiday to Roseanne, The Simpsons, and Bob's Burgers, but Family Matters also knows how to do a Halloween episode.
19. Bewitched, "The Witches Are Out" (1964)
Right out the gate, Bewitched uses its first Halloween episode to tackle prejudice and harmful stereotypes. As clunky as the metaphor may seem in 2026, this one really nails the idea of witch as "other." Ahead of its time. It filters Halloween through the show's concept and comes up with something totally unique.
18. Cheers, "Fairy Tales Can Come True" (1984)
I know it's not exactly spooky and half of the episode takes place on November 1st but, whatever, it's a perfect episode. Like the aforementioned "Tina and the Real Ghost," this one deftly mixes romance with Halloween and the result is swoon-worthy. A truly standout episode for John Ratzenberger, who gets to play the romantic lead for once.
17. Frasier, "Room Full of Heroes" (2001)
Frasier throws his own kind of Halloween party, wherein attendees dress up as their personal heroes and then blah blah blah, I'm boring myself just writing about it. That's how the guests feel, too, and Frasier gets so hilariously petty about it — especially when Niles shows up dressed as their father. Then it takes a hard turn with one of the most wrenching father/son moments in the entire series. It's a nearly perfect episode that pivots from hilarious to heartbreaking so earnestly and surprisingly. Also, not surprising that Frasier is such a jerk about Wonder Woman.
16. Bewitched, "Twitch or Treat" (1966)
The sartorially bewitching Uncle Arthur makes a scene at Endora’s Halloween party. This one has everything: a gay warlock, a horny cat lady, a disappearing house, a witchy Willie Mays, a living fountain (you know that thing where you ensorcel your annoying relative into a water fixture to shut him up). So much is uncertain in life that it's actually comforting to know that Bewitched has such killer Halloween episodes.
15. Happy Days, "Haunted" (1974)
Quite possibly the definitive "spooky neighborhood house" episode. This '70s version of a '50s Halloween is totally charming and also legit creepy in places. Garry Marshall really exorcising his horror director demons in this one! Plus: Ron Howard wears a dazzling glitter skeleton costume.
14. The Simpsons, "Treehouse of Horror" (1990)
I'm admittedly a novice here. The first one is considered one of the best ones of these, right? This one gives us Kang and Kodos, a house with bleeding walls, and a good dose of Edgar Allan Poe (best paired with any number of Vincent Price movies). And I love any Halloween episode that begins with a character having to warn kids that things are about to get freaky. This is likely one reason I was not allowed to watch Simpsons as a kid.
13. That Girl, "Secret Ballot" (1968)
I've never seen a Halloween episode address that the holiday comes right before election day every four years. This one does, and it gets so real. Give That Girl its flowers for pushing progressive ideals!
12. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, "Hex and the Single Guy" (1993)
Fresh Prince wrings even more comedy gold out of Trevor's fatal bungee jumping accident (You read that right! This show was amazing!) by using it as a springboard into a full-on Twilight Zone riff. If you think Carlton as Macaulay Culkin is funny, just wait until you see everything this episode has in store.
11. Bob's Burgers, "Full Bars" (2012)
The show's first Halloween episode is a spooky romp sugar-charged by all that candy. The magic of the phrase "full bars" is so true, and it's weasled its way into my holiday vernacular. And while the kids' plot line is the star of the show, I respect for Teddy's commitment to a Halloween party theme.
10. The Addams Family, "Halloween With the Addams Family" (1964)
This is a creepy classic where the Addamses unknowingly spook a pair of gun-toting bank robbers (including Don Rickles!) that they mistake for trick-or-treaters. Also, Gomez is rarely hotter than when he’s carving a pumpkin.
9. Superstore, "Costume Competition" (2018)
The most of-the-moment Halloween episode, one with incisive points to make about problematic costumes — and it's also actually funny. From Marcus' appreciation of Jamaican culture to Glenn being stalked by shopping carts to Cheyenne thinking Sandra wears a literal coconut bra everyday, this one is a 21st century Halloween classic.
8. Roseanne, "BOO!" (1989)
Roseanne always came to play with Halloween, and they nailed it first time out. Roseanne and Dan demonstrate why they had one of the healthiest marriages on TV: the couple that plays intricate and gory Halloween pranks together stays together. This kicked off Roseanne's streak of spooky episodes, one of '90s television's greatest annual traditions.
7. Bewitched, "A Safe and Sane Halloween" (1967)
Toddler Tabatha innocently twitches some storybook monsters from the page to the real world. Chaos ensues: watch some gremlins and goblins torment a neighborhood, and turn a kid into a goat! This one is so wild. It manages to be deeply disturbing while still being a sitcom. My Halloween has only gotten spookier and scarier since I first watched this spine-tingling episode.
6. The Simpsons, "Treehouse of Horror IV" (1993)
"The Devil and Homer Simpson" and "Terror at 5 1/2 Feet" are solid entries in the "Treehouse of Horror" canon, but it's the riff on Bram Stoker's Dracula that really makes this installment king. The sight of Mr. Burns with that iconic, batshit double-bun hairstyle is enough to send a shiver down your spine and a giggle out of your throat.
5. NewsRadio, "Halloween" (1996)
Few episodes have as much fun with Halloween costume antics as this one, where the "cool kids" of WNYX begrudgingly take part in the annual costume contest. This is a perfect NewsRadio episode with the best ensemble in the biz knocking out some zany, whip-smart costumed comedy. "Maestro, if you please — 'Rumpshaker,' or some reasonable facsimile!"
4. Home Improvement, "Haunting of Taylor House" (1992)
Every '90s family sitcom banged out a Halloween episode or two during its run (except for Full House, oddly!). None of them touch Home Improvement's initial Halloween outing, which so perfectly captures the vibes of an early '90s suburban Halloween. I can smell the cheap face paint, hear the clinking of candy in a McDonald's pail, feel the chill air. This one gives us everything you'd want: a haunted basement, pre-teen angst (with Rider Strong as Brad's nemesis), and Patricia Richardson in full carrot drag absolutely beefing with a little terror.
3. Bob's Burgers, "The Hauntening" (2015)
The best of Bob's Halloween episodes, thanks to some lame scares (spaghetti intestines), genuine scares (babydoll with stick eyes), and lots of scary good laughs (Gene complimenting Bob's parenting while faced with death). What makes "The Hauntening" the best of a truly stellar bunch, though, is its pulsating heart: all of the terror comes from a place of love as the Belcher family bends over backwards to fulfill Louise's dream of being scared senseless.
2. Family Matters, "Stevil" (1996)
Steve Urkel has a twin ventriloquist dummy and, in an elaborate, episode-length dream sequence, that dummy comes to life and murders the entire Winslow family. That's it. That's the episode. It's still the most absolutely disturbing, legitimately upsetting, terrifyingly entertaining sitcom Halloween episode. This aired on TGIF, mind you! Never forget: Stevil is coming to choke your throat and kill your family.
1. Community, "Epidemiology" (2010)
The whole idea of a Halloween sitcom episode peaks right here, with Community cramming a fully-realized zombie movie into a tight 20 minutes. Like with the Community's best genre riffs, this one feels completely faithful to all of the tropes (the way every one of the study group gets taken down), while just being so singular and bizarre (the episode being soundtracked by a shuffled playlist of ABBA and the dean's voice notes). What's wild is that the episode, as dense as it is, feels as well-paced and efficient as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre — and it has sequences and shots that are genuinely chilling. If you haven't seen "Epidemiology" and, after watching it, realize that it's the best of the bunch, I will look at you and say, [Dean Pelton voice] "I know, riiight?"
Come knock on our door tomorrow for even more 31 Days of Heistoween treats.
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