Top 10 Best Halloween Special Episodes

Nothing like some spooktacular specials to get you ready for the season. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Halloween TV Episodes.

For this list, we’re paying tribute to the terrifyingly entertaining specials we look forward to every year. Viewers beware; you’re in for a scare.

#10: “Halloween”
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

Turns out the vampires and demons are staying in for Halloween this year, so it’s sure to be a quiet night for Buffy, right? Well, no: the members of the Scooby Gang have inadvertently bought their costumes at an evil wizard’s shop, and on Halloween night his curse turns them all into their costumes. That means Buffy – the normally badass vampire slayer – is now a helpless 18th-century noblewoman. When vampire baddie Spike catches wind of this, he and his buddies come out to play and hopefully slay the slayer. Not only is this a thrilling “Buffy” episode with creative twists and even some sexual tension; it also reveals a new and mysterious side to Buffy’s mentor, Giles.

#9: “Full Bars”
“Bob’s Burgers” (2011-)

It’s not truly Halloween unless a party goes horribly wrong. The kids are going trick-or-treating unsupervised this year, so when Bob and Linda get invited to Teddy’s party, they have no excuse not to go – even though Bob doesn’t really want to. The party, of course, makes Bob uncomfortable and he wants to leave… but it quickly turns into the strangest murder-mystery when Teddy’s pet guinea pig is found dead. Meanwhile, the kids manage to score full-sized candy bars from a rich island community… but find themselves being hunted by teenagers with pee-balloons. Overall, it’s quite the Halloween for all: strange, awkward, and just the type of special you’d expect from a show packed with character-driven comedy gold.

#8: “Halloween”
“Modern Family” (2009-)

We all have that one family member that’s crazy-obsessed with the holidays; for the Dunphys, it’s Claire. She is hell-bent on bringing Halloween scares to the household with her haunted house routine; unfortunately, she’s the only one in the spirit of things. Everyone else has something else on their minds: Phil’s worried Claire’s lost interest in him, Jay and Manny accidentally hurt Gloria’s feelings, and Mitchell’s day at work… could’ve gone better. Unfortunately, this all puts a damper on Claire’s holiday excitement and sucks the fun out of her haunted house. Though the night goes less-than-superbly, at least Phil learns he’s stuck with Claire – what more could you ask for? Besides, nothing’s as bad as Cam’s childhood experience.

#7: “BOO!”
“Roseanne” (1988-97)

“Roseanne” loved them some holiday shows, and Halloween was no exception. Each season they tried to up the scare-factor, but they started out strong with this episode. Though they’re your average working-class family, the Conners go all out for Halloween, turning the house into a haunted tunnel, dressing up in terrifying costumes, and scaring each other left and right. During it all, Roseanne and Dan have some fun trying to see which of the two is spookier – guess who wins. This episode is pure fun because of how real it is: no terrifying ghouls or monstrous creatures, just a family having some spooky fun and enjoying the holiday – including a sweet moment where Roseanne helps Becky get into the spirit.

#6: “Halloween”
“The Office” (2005-13)

What’s scarier than having to celebrate Halloween at the office? How about being forced to fire someone before the office party? Unfortunately, Michael’s gotta terminate someone by the end of the month… and can’t decide who. Jim and Pam try to make it easier by posting the obnoxiously nerdy Dwight’s résumé online in an effort to get him a new job… but Dwight’s loyalty is once again an annoying obstacle. In a way, the idea of office downsizing makes for a perfect Halloween special; being let go is scary, but having to let one of your friends go is even more terrifying. Okay, so the office party ends on a sour note, but maybe the costume contest will go more smoothly?

#5: “Scaredy Pants”
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)

Halloween has come to Bikini Bottom, and like every year, SpongeBob is scared out of his square pants to the point where everyone dubs him “Scaredy Pants.” This year, however, Patrick decides to help SpongeBob scare others with an amateur costume of the legendary Flying Dutchman ghost. SpongeBob’s costume is a scream at the Krusty Krab Halloween party… until Patrick goofs it up. Once again, our little square dude is the laughingstock… until the REAL Flying Dutchman shows up looking none too happy. In the end, luckily, SpongeBob scares the Dutchman away… along with pretty much everybody else in Bikini Bottom.

#4: “Epidemiology”
“Community” (2009-15)

How can you celebrate All Hallows’ Eve without a zombie outbreak? A Halloween party’s in full swing at Greendale Community College, but things immediately go south when a bunch of the partygoers are poisoned by bad army surplus taco meat and become rampaging zombies. With everyone locked in, the Study Group is picked off one-by-one until it’s up to Troy to save the day… which ends the way you’d expect. Not only is this one of the funniest Halloween specials ever, “Epidemiology” is also one of the funniest “Community” episodes ever, as it parodies and openly mocks all the classic zombie and horror movie tropes we’re accustomed to. Sadly, no one on campus will remember this terrifyingly humorous evening.

#3: “Slutty Pumpkin”
“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)

In a hysterical modern interpretation of the classic Charlie Brown Halloween story, that certain holiday has arrived once again, and everybody’s getting ready for their Halloween parties – but Ted’s got his own plans: he intends to meet his supposed dream girl, the Slutty Pumpkin. Of course, Barney wants to drag him to a fancy Victoria’s Secret yacht party, but he won’t budge… so the Barnacle spends the night with his friend while repeatedly switching costumes. Meanwhile, Robin thinks she may’ve found the right guy… but her holiday humbug attitude sends him the wrong messages. Love’s not on Ted OR Robin’s side tonight, but who knows? Maybe someday, Ted’s slutty pumpkin will come.

#2: “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (1966)
“Peanuts” franchise (1965-)

The Peanuts gang has celebrated almost every major holiday at least once, so naturally Halloween gets a turn. The naïve Linus has a special Halloween tradition: each year, he waits in a pumpkin patch to catch a glimpse of his holiday icon, the Great Pumpkin. Thing is, Linus has never seen the Great Pumpkin and no one else believes this holiday mascot exists at all – totally not an allegory about struggling with religious beliefs, right??? Anyway, while Linus is shivering away in the pumpkin patch, the rest of the gang enjoys some trick-or-treating… except, of course, for Charlie Brown. Sadly, Linus waits in vain yet again, but that doesn’t stop him from sharing his beliefs… though everyone wishes he would.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few creepy honorable mentions:
- “Tricks and Treats”
“Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000)

- “Halloween on Spooner Street”
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)

- “Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Boo Haw Haw”
“Ed, Edd n Eddy” (1999-2009)

#1: “Treehouse of Horror V”
“The Simpsons” (1989-)

Since season two, “The Simpsons” has made it an annual tradition to scare us silly with their beloved “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween specials. Each episode includes three standalone segments that place the family in a creepy, bizarre, but always hilarious scenario – often parodying famous scenes in horror. “Treehouse of Horror V” features perhaps the best example of scary “Simpsons” satire in segment one, with “The Shinning” acting as a brilliant take on Stanley Kubrick’s retelling of Stephen King’s “The Shining.” Follow that with a segment where Homer travels back in time and messes everything up – repeatedly – and another where Springfield elementary teachers start eating the students, and you’ve got just one example of the yearly Halloween treat given to us by “The Simpsons.

Do you agree with our list? What creepy episode of your favorite show do you look forward to every year? For more spine-chilling Top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com. Oh, and Happy Halloween!