9 Greatest Simpsons Treehouse Of Horror Stories
Here are the nine best Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror Episodes!
The Simpsons has been on your television screens for 34 years ever since it premiered in December 1989. This equates to 750 episodes. With Matt Groening’s creation already receiving a season 35 and 36 renewal (and another 51 episodes), its episode count will balloon to 801. It will end up being the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated series, and the longest-running American scripted primetime series.
Over its 34 seasons, The Simpsons have produced countless memorable episodes as it follows the hilarious exploits of donut-loving Homer Simpson, his troublemaking 10-year-old son Bart, and the rest of the Simpson family – Marge, Lisa, Maggie, and Grampa Simpson.
One of the staples fans have come to love and look forward to is the yearly Halloween episode, Treehouse of Horror. These fun takes on horror stories first ran in 1990 (Season 2, since Season 1 began in December) and have been rolling out ever since.
Always creative, and always fun, we have chosen 9 of the greatest horror stories The Simpsons has produced.
9 Greatest Treehouse of Horror Stories
9. Nightmare Cafeteria (Treehouse of Horror V)
The Nightmare Cafeteria story came during the Treehouse of Horror V episode and is based on the 1973 Charlton Heston film, Soylent Green. In The Simpsons version, Principal Skinner is having a problem with overcrowding at Springfield Elementary’s detention hall.
At the same time, Lunchlady Doris is being chastised for the poor cafeteria food. Together, they come up with a common solution – eating every child that is given detention.
8. Dial ‘Z’ for Zombies (Treehouse of Horror III)
Dial ‘Z’ for Zombies is based on Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Living Dead, and Stephen King’sPet Sematary. In this one, Bart is tasked to write a book report for class. While in the Springfield Elementary Library, he discovers a book on black magic.
That evening, Bart attempts to resurrect Snowball I, the family’s dead cat. Instead, he accidentally brings back corpses from the nearby cemetery. Here come the zombies!
7. The Monkey’s Paw (Treehouse of Horror II)
In this animated horror short, The Simpsons’ Lisa has a nightmare where Homer buys a monkey’s paw that is cursed. The paw grants the user four wishes and in typical Simpsons fashion, they waste each and every one. It begins with Maggie wishing for a new pacifier. Bart then does Bart by wishing for the family to be rich and famous. Lisa requests for world peace, and finally, Homer wishes for a turkey sandwich.
6. Clown Without Pity (Treehouse of Horror III)
“Clown Without Pity” is based on the horror film, Child’s Play and sees Homer purchasing a Krusty the Clown doll as a last-minute birthday gift for Bart. The doll, though, comes to life and tries to kill Homer. Homer is able to avoid death, finally capturing the cursed doll, and throwing it down a bottomless pit.
Unfortunately, the bottomless pit isn’t so bottomless and the doll escapes to continue to terrorize Homer. It isn’t until a simple flip of a button from evil to good on the back of the doll that Homer gets some relief.
5. Bart Simpson’s Dracula (Treehouse of Horror IV)
In Bart Simpson’s Dracula, the Simpsons are invited over for a midnight feast at Mr. Burns’ castle in Pennsylvania. What they don’t realize is that they are to be the feast. When Bart and Lisa discover a secret passage in the castle, they follow it to discover that Mr. Burns is a vampire.
Homer eventually drives a stake through Mr. Burns’ heart, hoping to restore Bart to his normal self. But when Lisa wakes up the next day, she finds that the whole family is vampires with Marge as the leader.
4. The Devil and Homer Simpson (Treehouse of Horror IV)
In a shocking turn of events, Ned Flanders is the devil. In an event not too shocking, Homer chooses to sell his soul to Ned for a donut. But after Marge and Lisa plead with Ned not to send him to hell for eternity, Ned decides to put Homer on trial for his soul. Marge makes a strong case, saving Homer’s soul, but the devil is in the details. Homer’s love for donuts comes back to bite him.
3. Fly vs. Fly (Treehouse of Horror VIII)
Fly vs Fly is based on the 1986 gross-out David Cronenberg horror film, The Fly. After Homer purchases a matter transporter from Professor Fink, Bart gets the wise idea to enter it with a fly, thinking it will turn him into a mutant superhero.
Instead, the transporter only switches heads, putting Bart’s onto the fly. Bart tries to get help from Lisa, but the fly chases her around the kitchen. Bart attempts to intervene but is eaten by the fly. Bart will never learn.
2. Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace (Treehouse of Horror VI)
In the sixth episode of The Treehouse of Horror, Groundskeeper Willie turns into Freddy Krueger, using a rake as his weapon. Willie then begins to haunt the dreams of all the children at Springfield Elementary.
After a few students become victims of Willie, Bart decides to fall asleep so he could go after Willie in his dreams. It is a battle to the finish between Bart and the ever-changing Willie.
1. The Shinning (Treehouse of Horror V)
In Treehouse of Horror V, the Simpsons presented what many considered to be their best spoof ever with The Shinning. Based on Stephen King’s novel and Stanley Kubrick’s film, this tale follows the Simpsons as caretakers of Mr. Burns’ haunted lodge.
Here, because of the lack of no beer or cable TV, Homer becomes a homicidal maniac, going after his family. Bart then has to use his “Shinning” power to summon Groundskeeper Willie to save them. If you’ve seen Kubrick’s film, then you know the ending of this one.
