Pull the blinds, grab the fun-size candy and claim your spot on the couch. TV families have been throwing Halloween parties, botching costumes and scaring each other silly for decades, and some of their best episodes ever happen on October 31. Here are 13 Halloween episodes from the families we love, from Springfield to Arlen to Orlando. Every one is linked to its episode page here on American Family Fans, so you can plan your marathon in one place.
The Simpsons S06E06: Treehouse of Horror V
There are more than 35 Treehouse of Horror specials, and plenty of fans still put the fifth one at the top. With no beer and no cable TV, Homer goes full "Shining" at a mountain lodge. A broken toaster turns him into a time traveler who keeps wrecking the present. And Principal Skinner solves the school's budget problems by putting detention kids on the cafeteria menu. Treehouse of Horror V episode page.
Bob's Burgers S03E02: Full Bars
The Belchers' first Halloween episode is still the gold standard. Tina, Gene and Louise ditch their usual route and head to Kingshead Island, the rich neighborhood that hands out full-size candy bars. Meanwhile Bob and Linda are stuck at Teddy's "Black and Orange" party. It's sweet, a little dark and very quotable. Full Bars episode page.
Modern Family S02E06: Halloween
Claire Dunphy lives for Halloween, and she has a part planned for everyone in her spooky house. None of it goes to plan. Cam has a childhood Halloween trauma he can't shake, Mitchell has had a terrible day at work, and Gloria gets prickly after Jay and Manny tease her about her accent. Modern Family Halloween episode page.
Roseanne S02E07: BOO!
Before every sitcom had a Halloween episode, the Conners made it a family sport. In "BOO!" the whole family spends the night trying to scare each other out of their wits,. It kicked off a run of Halloween episodes that lasted the whole series. BOO! episode page.
The Middle S02E06: Halloween
The Hecks started their own long Halloween tradition here. Frankie is thrilled to be invited to a grown-up neighborhood party, if she can just get Mike into a costume. Sue finds out Reverend TimTom is back in town and running a church Halloween event, Axl's haunted-house party plans go sideways, and Brick picks a costume nobody can quite figure out. The Middle Halloween episode page.
Home Improvement S02E06: The Haunting of Taylor House
Tim and Jill throw a Halloween party, and Brad finds out the hard way that his girlfriend brought a date. Over on Tool Time, Tim carves a jack-o'-lantern with explosives, because of course he does. It's peak '90s Taylor chaos. The Haunting of Taylor House episode page.
Family Guy S09E04: Halloween on Spooner Street
Peter and Joe team up for a run of painful, humiliating pranks on family, friends and neighbors. Brian shows Stewie the ropes of trick-or-treating, which goes about as well as you'd expect, and Meg heads to her first high school Halloween party with big hopes. Halloween on Spooner Street episode page.
King of the Hill S02E04: Hilloween
Hank Hill defends Halloween in the most Hank way possible. A prank he and Bobby pull gets mistaken for the work of a cult, and suddenly the whole town is arguing about the holiday. It's a Halloween episode about loving Halloween, and it holds up beautifully. Hilloween episode page.
Everybody Hates Chris S01E06: Everybody Hates Halloween
Chris wants to impress a girl, so he heads to a grown-up party where she'll be. With some pushing from his friend, he goes dressed as Prince. Yes, that Prince. It's one of the funniest early episodes of the show. Everybody Hates Halloween episode page.
black-ish S02E06: Jacked O' Lantern
Dre loves Halloween, and now that the Johnsons live in a "good candy neighborhood," kids come from all over to trick-or-treat, including Dre's rowdy nieces and nephews. He thinks his own kids could use some toughening up. Then his cousin June Bug, who tormented him as a kid, shows up. Jacked O' Lantern episode page.
The Goldbergs S01E06: Who Are You Going to Telephone?
Beverly Goldberg is a Halloween mom, and she is crushed when none of her kids want to spend the night with her. Adam wants to hang out with some eighth graders, Barry and Erica head to a senior's party, and Beverly takes matters into her own hands with the girl Barry likes. Smothering has never been so festive. Who Are You Going to Telephone? episode page.
Fresh Off the Boat S02E05: Miracle on Dead Street
It's the Huangs' first Halloween in the suburbs, and Louis is determined to turn their "dead" street into a trick-or-treat destination. Eddie, Emery, Evan and even Grandma Huang go all out on costumes, while Jessica has her own mission: guarding her investment property from teenage pranksters. Miracle on Dead Street episode page.
Malcolm in the Middle S07E04: Halloween
Hal finds out the family's house was once the site of a murder-suicide, and he does not take it calmly. Meanwhile Reese and Dewey egg an old man and then end up running for their lives from him and his walker. It's a fitting final-season Halloween for TV's most chaotic family. Malcolm in the Middle Halloween episode page.
Your turn
That's our Fan Desk lineup for Halloween 2026. Pick three, dim the lights and see whose family wins the night. Did we skip your favorite? Roseanne alone has a Halloween episode in almost every season, and Bob's Burgers, The Middle and Modern Family each have a whole run of them. Tell us which TV family does Halloween best, and keep an eye on the Fan Desk for more family TV every day.