If you're planning on revisiting one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time but don't have time to sit through all 30 seasons of The Simpsons, then this list will definitely help you out. With exactly 30 years past since the show first aired, there are heaps of episodes that will have you crying with laughter, even if you're not a die-hard Simpsons fan. To us hardcore fans, each of the 667 episodes is incredibly funny and amusing in their own ways. However, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) ranks exactly these fifteen as the best. Enjoy!
Homer The Smithers (S7E17) - 8.9
We begin with IMDb’s fifteenth-best episode of The Simpsons: “Homer The Smithers.” This late Season Seven episode sees Smithers take an enforced vacation after failing Mr. Burns. Determined to prove how invaluable he is to his mentor, he selects a replacement who is sure to be terrible at his job.
You guessed it, Homer was hired. This episode stands out because it portrays the tyrannical Burns in an entirely different light. For a brief period, he learns to care for himself, until he’s injured in a memorable brawl between Homer and Smithers and becomes entirely reliant on the latter again.
Homer Badman (S6E9) – 9
To further reinforce the fact that it’s Homer and his absurd antics that are the driving force of the show, here’s another episode that centers around him.
In “Homer Badman,” Homer finds himself in yet another implausible situation: he’s stolen a rare candy from a candy convention and lost it in his car. It becomes affixed to the pants of the young woman who had been babysitting the Simpsons children while their parents were at the convention. In peeling it away, he is accused of harassment and must fight to clear his name. Interviews Homer gives about the situation are edited to try and prove his guilt; another example of the show cleverly commenting on real-world issues.
Homer The Great (S6E12) – 9
This excellent episode sees Homer discover the old, fascinating secret society known as the Stonecutters. Wanting some of the perks they enjoy for himself, he visits their headquarters, only to discover that he is actually the organization’s mythical Chosen One.
Naturally, he soon drives his once-loyal Stonecutters away, and they create the “Ancient Mystic Society of No Homers” to keep him at bay. It’s typical Homer-led Simpsons action at its best, featuring one of the most memorable songs in the show’s history in “We Do.”
King Size Homer (S7E7) - 9
As all fans know, Homer Simpson is just about the laziest man in sitcom history. Granted, we’d all rather daydream about the land of chocolate at work than actually… work, but the lengths the man will go to in order to avoid his Nuclear Safety Inspector duties are well documented.
His work ethic hit a new, hilarious low in “King Size Homer,” which saw him eat his way to weighing 300lbs in order to qualify to work (goof off) from home. This episode famously added one of Homer’s greatest ever outfits to his wardrobe: his muumuu.
Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two (S7E1) - 9.0
"Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two" gives closure to the final episode of season six that ended on a cliffhanger in which a mysterious shooter tries to kill Mr. Burns. Therefore, "Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two" revolves around the search for Burns' assailant, leaving many citizens of Springfield suspects of the investigation (especially Homer).
In an unexpected turn of events, Burns manages to pin down the identity of the person who tried to kill him. Curious as to the motive? We have one word for you: lollipop. Without risking spoiling the fun with too many details, "Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two" will undoubtedly surprise you.
Homer the Heretic (S4E3) - 9.0
Apparently, if you skip one Sunday Mass, you can become a heretic. This is what happened to Homer in the third episode of season four. You see, after he decided to spend one Sunday in bed instead of attending the Mass, Homer soon realized how fun it is to have the house all to himself.
However, Marge, disappointed by her husband, one night turns to God who then visits Homer in his sleep. In their conversation, Homer was allowed to "worship in his own way," which lasts until he eventually sets the entire house on fire one Sunday. Needless to say, he never missed Mass again.
Last Exit to Springfield (S4E17) - 9,1
Over the last three decades, we've learned to expect the unexpected from Homer, so it comes as no surprise when, in "Last Exit to Springfield," he becomes the leader of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant's trade union. This time, the troubles start when Mr. Burns revokes the dental plan of all his workers, which turns out to be especially unfortunate for Homer who has to afford his daughter Lisa's new braces.
Long story short, the strike that the power plant's employees start results in Mr. Burns and Smithers turning off the power for the entire town, forcing Homer to resign as union president. Oh, and Lisa eventually gets her braces after all.
Marge vs. The Monorail (S4E12) - 9.1
As the sensible, practical foil to Homer’s impulsive, unpredictable nature, Marge and her husband often fail to see eye to eye. This almost cost them dearly.
In “Marge vs. The Monorail,” Springfield’s most dastardly villain, Mr. Burns, is fined millions of dollars for illegally dumping nuclear waste. When deciding how to spend the money, Marge simply wants Springfield’s shoddy roads to be repaired, while the rest of the townsfolk are charmed by newcomer Lyle Langley into having a Monorail built. Homer is chosen as the driver and, predictably, disaster strikes when Langley is revealed to be a crook. This one’s a wild ride, featuring a guest appearance from Leonard Nimoy for… some reason or other.
The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson (S9E1) - 9,1
In this one, the Simpsons family travels to New York in order to retrieve their car after Homer's friend Barney Gumble forgets to return it. Upon arrival, the family splits up to search for the car, with Homer being the one finding it posted with a bunch of parking tickets and disabled with a parking boot.
While the rest of the Simpsons are having a wonderful time in the city, Homer desperately tries to rid his car of the parking boot, completely wrecking it in the process. If you love watching Homer furious and frustrated, this is the ideal episode for you.
The Springfield Files (S8E10) - 9,1
The story begins with Homer and an alien in the woods near Springfield. "Don't be afraid," the alien said, but Homer ran away and no one in his family believed him. Well, except Bart, who captured that weird thing on tape.
Although there is a massive plot twist to this story that we won't reveal, we should mention that the episode is inspired by the iconic TV show The X-Files. Apart from that, the episode also features a celebrity cameo by Leonard Nimoy.
Treehouse of Horror V (S6E6) - 9,1
Halloween specials are episodes that we especially look forward to with each new season of The Simpsons. Out of all the amazing Treehouse of Horror episodes aired so far, this one in season six was arguably the best. Rated at 9.1 by IMDb, it features three amazingly creepy skits. The first is called "The Shinning," an obvious parody of Stanley Kubric's iconic masterpiece, featuring a crazed Homer trying to murder his entire family.
Following that is "Time and Punishment," showcasing Homer accidentally building a time machine and then traveling back and forth in time, witnessing the horrible consequences his actions in the past have on the present. Finally, "Nightmare Cafeteria" sees the students of Springfield High terrified of being murdered and ending up on the school cafeteria's lunch menu. The episode is definitely a must-watch!
Cape Feare (S5E2) - 9,1
"Cape Feare" is another one of those Sideshow Bob episodes where the eerie character tries to murder Bart Simpson. This time, the story begins with death threats sent to Bart by Sideshow Bob, written in blood. Because of this, the Simpsons family is soon forced to change their last name and move to Terror Lake where they reside in a houseboat, hoping Bart's nemesis never finds them. Ss with all other Sideshow Bob episodes, the creepy character manages to track down Bart. Inspired by the movies Psycho and Cape Fear, this episode is sure to keep you on your toes.
Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part One (S6E25) - 9,2
We've already mentioned how entertaining the sequel to this episode is, but according to IMDb, this final episode of season six is even better. If there's anyone in the town of Springfield who has enemies, then it has to be the rich and evil Mr. Burns. The episode ends on an exciting cliffhanger that left many Simpsons fans impatient for the first episode of season seven where, as you already know, the main suspect of the criminal investigation will be—you guessed it—Homer Simpson himself.
You Only Move Twice (S8E2) - 9,3
If the title of this episode sounds familiar to you, you've probably heard of the James Bond movie it parodies You Only Live Twice. You see, after Homer gets the job of his dreams at Globex Corporation (to make things short: he basically has to do nothing), he is forced to move with his family to Cypress Creek, the place where Marge, Bart, and Lisa can't seem to fit in.
However, it soon turns out that Homer's new boss, Hank Scorpio, is actually a massive supervillain with a doomsday device. Of course, the story also features a super-secret agent named Mr. Bont, but the weird situations that Homer finds himself in and the decisions he faces in this episode are something we wouldn't want to spoil for you. You'll have to watch the episode to find out.
Homer´s Enemy (S8E23) - 9,3
...or, in other words, Frank Grimes. This episode centers around the sad life story of Homer's hardworking colleague who seems to envy Homer for his "ideal" life and family. Grimes' bad luck will lead him into a series of unfortunate situations, with even his plan of hurting Homer eventually backfiring. In any case, the episode provides a perfect blend of humor and serious social critique which no true Simpsons fan can afford to miss. Oh, and did we mention that Bart buys an entire factory for a dollar?