The 36 Best Halloween TV Episodes of All Time
Skip your Halloween to-do list and watch these shows instead.
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It’s that time of year again. My local grocery store is stocking up on candy, and there’s a brisk breeze in the air. Fall is upon us, folks, and Halloween is right around the corner. I won’t remind you of all there is to do—by now, I’m sure you’re toiling mightily on your scary-movie watchlist, your spooky decor, and your party playlist—but I will offer you a reprieve.
What if you put the Halloween to-do list aside for a moment and watch some TV instead? The streaming-verse is ripe with Halloween fare that’ll get you in the mood for the 31st without adding any stress to your day. Naturally, we’ve spent some time digging through the options and settled on 36 top Halloween episodes from a variety of shows.
Take a trip to Philadelphia and watch the teachers of Abbott Elementary battle a sugar rush. Then hop over to California to spend a Halloween with the Johnson family on Black-ish. If you’re feeling up to it, we can keep the vibes going and stop by Monica Geller’s infamous costume party on Friends.
There’s plenty to get you in the Halloween spirit, so without further ado, here are the best Halloween episodes on TV.
Abbott Elementary, “Candy Zombies”
The children of Abbott Elementary riot when one student steals a bag of candy from the library. As sugar courses through their veins, the kids race around the school and terrify their teachers. While the teachers try to corral the group, Janine stresses over a Halloween party invitation.
Black-ish, “Jacked o’ Lantern”
In “Jacked o’ Lantern,” the Johnsons dress up as the Obama family (Dre makes an excellent Barack, by the way) and prepare for a night of trick-or-treating through Los Angeles. There is, of course, one issue: Dre’s cousin June Bug, who used to bully him as a child, stops by dressed as the not-so-family-friendly 50 Cent.
Boy Meets World, “And Then There Was Shawn”
The students of John Adams High School are dealt a tricky hand when they’re locked in school during detention. Each kid is hunted down by a mysterious killer, and relationships are tested as the gang tries to make it out alive in this parody of slasher films.
Superstore, “Employee Theft”
The Cloud Nine employees’ Halloween is disrupted when Dina suspects their produce is being stolen. Instead of celebrating the holiday, she insists on conducting a full-blown investigation. Her first suspect? Garrett, of course.
The Mindy Project, “Halloween”
When Mindy’s crush, Josh, invites her to a Halloween party, she neglects her work to find the perfect outfit. But Mindy isn’t the only one taking an extended lunch break. While she’s trying on costumes, Danny and Jeremy leave work early to get their driver’s licenses.
The Goldbergs, “Who Are You Going to Telephone?”
Helicopter mom Beverly plans to spend Halloween with her kids. The only issue is that they’d all rather hang out with their friends. While Beverly copes with the end of their traditions, Barry forges a plan to spend Halloween with his crush.
Scream Queens, “Chanel-’o-ween”
In this 2015 series that deserved more than two seasons, “Chanel-’o-ween” was the first part of a two-episode Halloween special. It begins with a laugh-out-loud scene in which Emma Roberts’s character, Chanel, does the “nicest” things for her fans, which somehow only escalates. (Fun fact: The scene was rumored to be Ryan Murphy’s diss at Taylor Swift.)
Glee, “The Rocky Horror Glee Show”
In this must-watch Glee special, the glee club performs a mash-up of the musical The Rocky Horror Show and its 1975 film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, for Will Schuester only. With highlights like Mercedes playing Frank N. Furter and John Stamos performing “Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?,” you’re in for a treat.
Danny Phantom, “Fright Knight”
Danny. Phantom. That’s right, we’re throwing it all the way back to your childhood with this gem. Even though every episode of Danny Phantom has a dark Halloween vibe, this actual fright-fest special—which includes Danny trying to beat Dash at a haunted house—will get you right in the mood for spooky season.
The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special
After the success of SNL’s “Haunted Elevator” sketch, featuring Tom Hanks as David S. Pumpkins, NBC made an animated special in which Hanks returned as the “horrifying” figure. It’s been a classic costume ever since.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch, “A Halloween Story”
Buffy is on this list, so it’s only proper that Sabrina is here as well. While the series had seven Halloween episodes, we have to stick with the original. Sabrina duplicates herself when her calendar is double booked with a family gathering and a party with friends attended by her crush.
How I Met Your Mother, “The Slutty Pumpkin Returns”
Every year, the crew goes to a Halloween party where Ted looks for the long-lost “Slutty Pumpkin,” a woman he saw wearing a risqué pumpkin costume at the same gathering ten years earlier, and... surprise! It’s Katie Holmes.
Parks and Recreation, “Halloween Surprise”
Diane, Ron, and Andy all take their kids trick-or-treating, but after an argument between Diane and Ron, Ron spends most of the night alone. How do they make good on the mess? By trying again a week later.
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, “The Ghost of Suite 613”
Another throwback you watched either with your kids—or when you were a kid. For a show with a young audience, this episode is surprisingly creepy, now that we think of it...
Degrassi, “The Curse of Degrassi”
Yes, the Canadian show on which Drake and Nina Dobrev got their starts had a Halloween special. Chaos ensues with ghosts, pig’s blood, and horror cliches. A perfect rewatch.
Euphoria, “The Next Episode”
The stylish Euphoria cast come dressed all the way up here. Jules and Rue transform into Romeo and Juliet. Kat becomes a provocative nun. And Lexi takes the cake as Bob Ross.
My So-Called Life, “Halloween”
Angela (played by a young Claire Danes), Rickie, and Rayanne break into school on Halloween night when they learn of a student in the ’60s, Nicky Driscoll, who died. Soon the crew starts to see visions of the moments leading up to his death.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Arguably the greatest Halloween special in TV history, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” has been an annual classic since it first aired in 1966. Even after more than 50 years, Linus’s faith in the Great Pumpkin is still going strong.
Community, “Epidemiology”
The study group attends a college-wide costume party, where Pierce’s ingestion of some mystery meat sparks a zombie-like outbreak among the partygoers.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Halloween”
If you’re a Buffy fan, then you already know this one is a good time. Buffy and her vampire-fighting crew all pick out Halloween costumes that are the exact opposite of their personalities. But no one in this series can have a normal experience doing anything, including buying a Halloween costume. It turns out the costumes are cursed, and the friends spend the night as the actual characters they’re portraying. You didn’t sign up for U.S. military references, but by the end of this episode, you’ll get a lot of them.
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