Content Warning: The following article contains misogynistic language and discussions of pedophilia, cannibalism, homophobia, racism, and gun violence.
With 24 hilarious seasons of political commentary, crass humor, and unapologetic profanity, South Park continues to be one of the most successful animated TV shows of all time. It’s also one of the longest-running series ever made, having been on the air for over two decades.
Each season of South Park is an excellent comedic reflection of its time, with the best episodes often highlighting everything that makes the show so popular. Whether it’s Cartman’s cruel jokes or a brilliant parody of a social issue, the top-rated episodes on IMDb underscore various aspects that make the witty series so successful.
Season 1: “Cartman’s Mom Is A Dirty S**T” (8.7)
Cartman is on an impossible quest to find out who his father is in the final episode of season 1. He goes on a wild goose chase, asking various men around town if they’ve slept with his mother. He’s disappointed to find out that his mom has slept with most of the men, which makes it even more difficult for him to find his dad.
When he finally gets enough money to get a DNA test, the narrator steps in and ends the story on a frustrating but hilarious cliffhanger. It’s an episode that’s often considered one of the classics of the show, as it highlights Cartman’s abrasive personality and impatience.
Season 2: “Spookyfish” (8.5)
The boys are surprised to see Cartman’s new goatee when he shows up at the bus stop, but that becomes the least of their worries. Their usually cruel and harsh friend is acting uncharacteristically nice but goes back to his old obnoxious self the next day. This shocking change in him is the highlight of the fan-favorite episode, "Spookyfish."
Meanwhile, Stan receives a creepy fish that keeps staring at him. They figure out that it’s connected to the nice version of Cartman, who’s from an alternate universe. The funniest part of the episode is when Stan and Kyle agree that they want to keep the nice Cartman instead of their own, but the original Cartman tricks them into thinking he’s nice at the last second.
Season 3: “Chinpokomon” (8.7)
“Chinpokomon” is one of South Park’s must-see episodes thanks to its witty satirical take on Pokémon. All the kids in town have become superfans of the new Japanese animated series, obsessively collecting merchandise and showing them off at school.
The parents soon discover that the entire thing is designed to brainwash children into becoming Japanese soldiers. They manufacture other fads in an attempt to combat the popularity of the franchise but are only able to stop it by becoming fans themselves. It’s a brilliant take on fads and the ridiculous effects they can have on people.
Season 4: “Cartman Joins NAMBLA” (9.0)
When Cartman decides he’s too mature to hang out with the boys, he goes on a wild mission to find older men to make friends with. He unsurprisingly runs into different kinds of predators before settling on joining NAMBLA, or the North American Man/Boy Love Association.
He unwittingly puts all of the boys in town in danger by inviting them to a convention full of older predators that also results in Kenny’s death. It’s a controversial episode that underscores the absurdity of predatory behavior and Cartman’s unbelievable ego.
Season 5: “Scott Tenorman Must Die” (9.6)
The extent of Cartman’s capability to do evil things is showcased in the show’s highest-rated episode on IMDb. When Scott angers Cartman by humiliating him, the boys come up with the ultimate revenge plan.
Scott unwittingly joins a chili cooking contest, which was orchestrated by Cartman. Scott thinks he has the upper hand up until Cartman reveals the revolting story behind the dish he has been served. Scott is disgusted and terrified when he realizes he’s eating the ground-up corpses of his parents. To top it all off, his favorite band, Radiohead, arrives and ridicules him in front of everyone.
Season 6: “The Return Of The Fellowship Of The Ring To The Two Towers” (9.4)
It’s easy to see why South Park’s parody of Lord of the Rings has become iconic for fans of the show. It combines all the comical details viewers love about the animated series, from the ridiculous replacement of the ring with an adult movie to another absurd version of Kenny’s death.
Butters' transformation into Gollum in the background is hilarious. The best part of it all is the obliviousness of the boys who have no idea what the tape they’re holding contains. The only thing they know is that it’s their mission to return the evil “from whence it came” before it’s too late.
Season 7: “Casa Bonita” (9.2)
“Casa Bonita” is one of Cartman’s best storylines in South Park because it shows how far he’s willing to go for something as mundane as Kyle’s birthday party at a Mexican-themed restaurant. When no one chooses him as their plus one to the party, Cartman makes Butters disappear.
He convinces the gullible Butters that a nuclear bomb is about to destroy the world, so he has to hide in a bomb shelter. The birthday party is predictably delayed so the town can go searching for Butters, only for everyone to be both relieved and annoyed when they realize what Cartman has done.
Season 8: “Good Times With Weapons” (9.2)
There are a lot of unforgettable details about “Good Times With Weapons.” Not only did this episode showcase a whole new anime animation style, but it also prominently featured the iconic Professor Chaos.
The entire narrative revolves around the boys’ efforts in making sure they don’t get caught for recklessly using dangerous weapons like shuriken. It highlights how all of the kids’ parents don’t care about violence at all and are instead much more offended by Cartman’s “wardrobe malfunction” on stage. It’s a clear and brilliant reference to the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy, which only happened recently at the time this episode was shown.
Season 9: “The Death Of Eric Cartman” (9.2)
Viewers finally get to see a different side of Cartman when he mistakenly believes that he has died and become a ghost in “The Death of Eric Cartman.” The only person who seems to be able to hear him is Butters, so Cartman bullies him into helping him get to heaven.
Because Cartman thinks he has to atone for all of his sins, he starts doing uncharacteristically kind things like apologizing for his past mistakes. He has an outburst after he realizes people have just been ignoring him and goes right back to his cruel ways, reminding viewers through this episode that not even death could turn him into a good person.
Season 10: “Make Love, Not Warcraft” (9.5)
“Make Love, Not Warcraft” is a memorable and hilarious satire of nerd culture that follows the story of a mysterious griefer who keeps killing gamers on World of Warcraft. The boys have had enough of the high-level player’s murderous ways and decide to train for months in order to defeat the villain.
They experience rapid changes through the two whole months in front of their screens. They gain weight, grow long hair, and even develop acne as their characters become stronger. Even Blizzard notices their incredible progress in the game and gifts them with a powerful sword to use against the griefer.
Season 11: “Imaginationland” (9.0)
The first part of the “Imaginationland” trilogy in season 11 also happens to be the best, as it perfectly sets the tone for the wacky story to come. It starts out with Kyle losing a bet to Cartman when a leprechaun appears and warns the boys of a terrorist attack.
A wild adventure into a mystical world of imagination ensues, which turns out to be under attack from a terrorist group. Butters is taken hostage and the boys fly to Hollywood to get creative ideas from Michael Bay and M. Night Shyamalan, only to be disappointed by their boring pitches.
Season 12: “Major Boobage” (8.7)
Kenny’s funniest storylines on South Park are some of the most hilarious on the show, with “Major Boobage” being among the best ones. Kenny and the boys are curious about Mr. Mackey’s warning against using cat urine to get high, so they try it out themselves.
The episode’s animation transforms into an art style based on the 1981 adult sci-fi film Heavy Metal. Kenny has a wild ride on a vintage car driven by a mysterious woman who eventually takes him and his dad (who is also a user) to a fantasy kingdom. The town becomes chaotic when parents hear of this strange new drug, which prompts them to temporarily ban cats.
Season 13: “Fishsticks” (8.8)
If there’s anything fans remember from season 13, it’s the “fishsticks” joke about being “a gay fish.” Jimmy comes up with the setup and the punchline from the joke, which becomes a massive hit everywhere. It’s good enough that Cartman steals credit for it and then comedian Carlos Mencia does the same on national television.
Kanye West doesn’t get the joke and feels offended for not understanding it. He murders Mencia and hunts down Cartman and Jimmy, who inadvertently help him realize he has a big ego. It’s a witty episode that highlights Cartman’s pride and delusions.
Season 14: “Medicinal Fried Chicken” (8.8)
Cartman is fuming over the closure of all KFC stores, as they’re each replaced by medical marijuana dispensaries. He joins an underground fast food ring and climbs the ranks high enough to actually meet Colonel Sanders.
Meanwhile, Randy encourages all the men to induce testicular cancer, as he believes it makes them more attractive and qualifies them for a prescription for medical marijuana. Two problems are solved by the government when they remove all dispensaries and reopen KFCs, this time calling their food “Medicinal Fried Chicken.” The two storylines are funny from start to finish and also overlap to give audiences a satisfying ending.
Season 15: “You’re Getting Old” (8.6)
Things take a dark turn in “You’re Getting Old” after Stan celebrates his 10th birthday and realizes that everything looks and sounds “like s**t” to him. Even “tween wave,” which every kid in town loves (and Randy pretends to enjoy), just sounds terrible to Stan.
He’s alienated from his friends who find his pessimistic attitude annoying. The worst part is that his parents decide to separate, as Randy and Sharon confess that they have been unhappy together for years. There’s no resolution or return to the status quo in this episode, which is why it’s uncharacteristically poignant and relatable for a lot of viewers.
Season 16: “A Nightmare On FaceTime” (8.4)
“A Nightmare on FaceTime” is one of South Park’s most underrated episodes that’s perfect for Halloween. It tells the story of Randy’s terrible investment in a failing Blockbuster video store. The storyline turns into a parody of The Shining as Randy begins to hear voices instructing him to hurt his family.
Meanwhile, the boys' night out trick-or-treating is interrupted by the Redbox Killers. They try to stop them with their imaginary superpowers but are forced to work with the police to devise an elaborate plan to capture the killers. It’s a spooky fun time all throughout, except for Randy, who eventually understands the concept of streaming movies.
Season 17: “Black Friday” (9.0)
The satirical portrayal of the real-life “Black Friday” in the episode of the same name is both gut-busting and accurate. Not only does it poke fun at the wild marketing scheme, but it also highlights the division between Xbox and PlayStation fans.
Randy figures out too late that he has bitten off more than he can chew when their mall “Captain” is fatally stabbed by an angry shopper. He only signed up as a security guard to get first dibs, after all. The episode ends with a cliffhanger showing the boys gathering their forces as they get ready to storm the mall.
Season 18: “Grounded Vindaloop” (9.2)
The mind-bending episode “Grounded Vindaloop” is confusing for everyone involved, especially the innocent customer service representative, Steve. Each corny twist is a funny reference to movies like The Matrix and Total Recall, as the boys struggle to break out of virtual reality.
The spotlight goes from Butters to Cartman and, finally, to Stan, as they desperately try to figure out who among them is actually stuck in a fake world. One of the most shocking moments in the series is when Stan finally takes off the VR goggles, revealing a live-action setting with the boys played by actors who complain about the game’s poor graphics.
Season 19: “Sponsored Content” (8.9)
One of South Park’s best special episodes starts out with an accusation against the PC Principal, who has angered Jimmy with his “ableism.” Jimmy exposes the Principal’s flawed beliefs and skewed rules, all while learning of a future war.
The war is closer than he thinks, at least according to a group of men who explain how advertisements have become smart enough to anticipate people’s needs. Jimmy learns that he has the special ability to distinguish ads from actual news, which will come in handy when the battle against sponsored content begins.
Season 20: “Skank Hunt” (8.2)
South Park Elementary is in a state of chaos after an angry Internet troll starts bullying kids. The troll’s words are so heinous that they cause students like Heidi to delete their Twitter accounts, which sparks outrage among the parents and the boys.
Little do they know that the troll with the username “Skankhunt42” is actually Kyle’s dad, Gerald. The absurd comparison of his actual life to the news’ description of who he may be is both funny and disturbing. It’s a reminder to the students, parents, and viewers that anyone can be a troll.
Season 21: “Put It Down” (7.8)
Tweek is the most relatable he’s ever been in “Put It Down,” as he expresses his fears about the future of the environment and the government through a frantic song. He seems to be the only one panicking about President Garrison’s continuous offensive Tweets that are causing growing tensions with North Korea.
Other students calm him down while doing their best to ignore Cartman, who’s trying to get all the attention back by saying he will end his life. The episode, which is timely political commentary, ends in an uncharacteristically moving way when Craig realizes that he can calm Tweek down by reminding him he’s not alone.
Season 22: “Dead Kids” (8.1)
“Dead Kids” underscores the fact that South Park has storylines no other show could’ve done, as they don’t shy away from controversial topics like school shootings. In this episode, it’s implied that school shootings have become so common that teachers don’t even stop when there’s an active shooter.
Only Sharon seems to be concerned about the violent killings that happen every day, so she unsuccessfully tries to get the other parents to admit that there’s a problem. Instead of panicking with her, Randy blames her moodiness on her “menstrual cycle” and tries to throw a party to cheer her up.
Season 23: “Band In China” (8.7)
Randy finds himself on a plane with Disney characters as they all coincidentally have the same idea to exploit the booming economy of China. He’s roped into creating a biopic for a band but is sorely disappointed when the movie and the marijuana deal he works out with the Chinese government fall through.
With Mickey’s help, Randy realizes that while China wants to legalize “Tegridy Weed,” they’re held back by the Pooh issue. Randy does what he thinks is best and murders Pooh, which earns him the respect of the Chinese government and a major marijuana deal. It’s an episode that once again shows how the series is unapologetic and bold when it comes to political satire. The episode was so controversial, it caused South Park to actually get banned in China.
Season 24: “The Pandemic Special” (8.4)
“The Pandemic Special” is an episode that hits close to home for audiences who can likely relate to Stephen’s complaints about people improperly using masks as “chin diapers.” It’s a commentary on people’s bizarre and scary experiences as a result of COVID.
The episode follows Randy’s story as he realizes that he may have started the pandemic by having intercourse with a pangolin after a wild night in China. As he goes on a quest to cover up his actions, the entire school goes on lockdown, proving that Cartman may be right about the advantages of holding classes on Zoom. No one gets any answers in the end when President Garrison points a flamethrower to a scientist about to uncover the truth behind the virus to potentially manufacture a lifesaving vaccine.