35 Best Halloween TV Specials Of All Time Ranked

Another one that falls into the realm of the obscure, but worth hunting down, minor classics is "Cry Baby Lane," a made-for-television film that Nickelodeon premiered in October of 2000.

The film is about two brothers, Andrew and Carl, who enjoy listening to ghost stories from the local undertaker (Frank Langella). One such tale concerns a local farmer whose wife gave birth to Siamese twins — one being good, the other evil. Following their subsequent deaths, posthumous separation and burials in different locations, they exist solely as a disturbing, dubious legend. 

But as luck would have it, due to a botched séance by Carl and his friends, the evil twin's spirit is unleashed on the town. The film is a darker affair than what would typically be expected from Nickelodeon during this periods, live action or otherwise. In fact, it feels like it could be this dark subject matter that had the movie vanishing from the public consciousness — and most forms of distribution — almost immediately after its release. But in 2011 the network announced they would re-air it, insisting that "Cry" wasn't so much "banned" per se as the network simply forgot about it.

Despite its low budget aesthetic, the film is a legitimately creepy watch, helped in large part by the incomparable Frank Langella. It's a major departure from the normal made-for-television fare of the early 2000s, which is precisely why it's worth a watch.

The Season 2 Halloween special of "Black-ish," titled "Jacked o' Lantern," sees the Johnson family duke it out with their cousins on Halloween. Along with their yearly tradition of dressing up together as a family, the Johnson family also has the unfortunate tradition of getting beaten by their "hood cousins" and having their candy and costumes stolen. This year is different though — not only because the Johnson kids are going to stand up for themselves — but also because Dre's (Anthony Anderson) cousin June Bug (Michael Strahan), who used to beat him up as a kid, comes over unexpectedly. 

It's absolutely hilarious to see the Johnson family dress as the Obamas for Halloween, with Jack (Miles Brown) even dressing as the Obama family dog Bo, while the fights between the Johnson family and their cousins will leave you in stitches. Strahan joining the bunch is a total treat and there's actually a great storyline between him and Dre that connects well with what's happening with the kids. Beyond that, the antics surrounding Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross) having trouble with trick-or-treaters, Ruby (Jenifer Lewis) giving out tiny bibles instead of candy, and Dre trying to prove his manhood will leave you laughing. "Jacked o' Lanterns" doesn't have frights, but it's got plenty of hilarious fights. 

The MCU delivered its first holiday special in the form of "Werewolf by Night," adding another horror-themed character to its ongoing canon and unleashing a beastly horror story that's equal parts classic and refreshing. The special follows Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal), a monster hunter who is thrust into a dangerous game while attending the funeral of a legendary hunter. He ends up unleashing the beast within when he sees that they're hunting a lost friend of his.

The style of "Werewolf by Night" is a perfect ode to classic Universal monster movies and it finally feels like the MCU is stepping into some of Marvel's more horror-themed stories here. With its incredible depiction of Man-Thing alongside the titular werewolf, some of Marvel's most underrated horror icons get their debut in a horror special filled with plenty of surprisingly grisly kills, good scares, and stunning horror action. With other Marvel horror characters like Blade and, hopefully, Ghost Rider making on-screen debuts soon, "Werewolf by Night" is a pivotal moment for the MCU and a great watch for Halloween.

Back in 2013, Disney and Pixar delivered a fun Halloween special titled "Toy Story of Terror!" that sees some fan-favorite characters in a horrifying situation. Set after the events of "Toy Story 3," Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys find themselves in a creepy motel after Bonnie and her parents stop there during a road trip and end up searching for Mr. Potato Head as a deeper conspiracy unfolds. Overall, "Toy Story of Terror!" features a great story fitting for the "Toy Story" world that showcases an interesting human antagonist and some cool new toy characters. 

Mr. Pricklepants' horror movie-style narration is absolutely hilarious and it's really fun to see this group of beloved characters in a horror-themed story. There are even some great moments of Jessie getting over a big fear of hers and the toys working together to escape a disastrous situation. No "Toy Story" fan should miss out on "Toy Story of Terror!" as it makes for a great Halloween watch for the whole family.

There's no way Nickelodeon fans could forget the amazing "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius" Halloween special "Nightmare in Retroville," which turned its titular boy genius into a monster maker for a very special night of frights. After opting against going trick-or-treating, Jimmy decides to turn Sheen and Carl into actual monsters so they can have the scariest costumes, but he ends up creating a nightmare that sees more monsters start to roam Retroville. The monster designs of fan-favorite characters are amazing and there are some really fun moments that make this a delightfully nostalgic Halloween adventure.

The slow build-up of more monsters being created throughout the episode leads to a great moment in which they all come together, and Hugh as Frankenstein's monster is a big highlight. What's great is that the characters' personalities don't go away when they turn into monsters, so Carl becoming a vampire and Sheen becoming a werewolf has a hilarious sense of normality. Plus, the ending that sees Jimmy turn himself into something more monstrous is perfect. "Nightmare in Retroville" is pure Halloween fun for all the family.

What's better than a horror anthology on Halloween? The "Recess" Halloween special delivers just that with "The Terrifying Tales of Recess," offering viewers three fun and scary tales with the "Recess" crew. Narrated by a scary-looking kid named Butch, the episode delves into three tales that deal with cursed corn chips, a vengeful bicycle, and zombie versions of Miss Finster rising from the ground. "Recess" was always an incredibly engaging show, but this Halloween episode is definitely among the best.

What's great about this animated anthology is that it contains nods to classic tropes and films from the genre, including "Night of the Living Dead" and "Christine." The best part is that it's still very funny, with all the normal hilarity and fun that "Recess" is known for. It's a perfectly fitting episode for the Halloween season, placing some fan-favorite characters in horror-themed stories that are entertaining for all ages. If you're looking to get into the Halloween spirit and you want something nostalgic, then "The Terrifying Tales of Recess" is definitely worth checking out.

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch," the quirky '90s sitcom about a burgeoning young magic-wielder, actually had several great Halloween episodes. But the best was "Good Will Haunting," which arrived as the sixth episode of Season 3.

It's All Hallows' Eve in the Spellman household and Sabrina's aunts, Hilda and Zelda, have an unfortunate commitment to uphold. After coming up with excuses for 500 years, the duo have to finally attend their Great Aunt Beulah's party. Sabrina gets to avoid such a fate, as she already has a double date commitment with Valerie, Harvey, and Justin. However, trouble begins when Aunt Beulah sends Sabrina a talking doll by the name of Molly Dolly. Molly begins tormenting her friends, and soon Sabrina is looking for a way to return her Aunt's unfortunate gift.

"Good Will Haunting" is chock-full of the show's signature humor and quirky supernatural sensibility. The standout performance in this episode might be voice veteran Tara Strong, however, as she brings her bubbly charm to the mischievous Molly Dolly. All in all, it's the kind of cheesy, memorable romp that only "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" could provide.

You thought "Ed, Edd n Eddy" wouldn't have a spot on this list? Don't mock the son of a shepherd! 

"Boo Haw Haw" is set on Halloween night, as the ever-boisterous Eddy devises a plan to make it the best night ever. He presents Double D and Ed with a map from his enigmatic older brother, depicting a town called Spook-e-ville. Their All Hallows' Eve, however, is hindered by Ed — who, having viewed too many horror movies, is a bit frazzled. So frazzled that he sees the rest of the Cul-De-Sac kids as an army of movie monsters!

"Boo Haw Haw" is regarded by series creator Danny Antonucci as his personal favorite episode. It definitely stands out among the series' most visually impressive installments, packed to the brim with various horror homages. From the trio's personality-appropriate costumes to the monstrous forms of the other kids, it's all a feast for the eyes. The jokes in this special are impeccable, with all the Eds getting a chance for a great line. "Ed, Edd n Eddy" already has the distinction of being Cartoon Network's longest running cartoon, airing for a solid decade. It's only fitting it would also have one of Cartoon Network's best Halloween specials.

"That 70's Show" features plenty of great nods to its titular era. The Halloween episode in Season 3, "Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die," contains some awesome Halloween twists on the show's style and is an ode to one of the greats of the horror genre. This episode sees the gang deal with some spooky situations, including Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) fighting off a determined paperboy and Eric (Topher Grace) dealing with some scary vertigo. It's chock full of references and comedic homages to the films of Alfred Hitchcock.

Films like "Vertigo," "Psycho," "Rear Window," and "The Birds" are referenced throughout the episode and are given some hilarious spins that allow "That 70's Show" to become a fun horror-comedy for an episode. Plus, Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) dressing up as Frank-n-Furter from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is just iconic. It would be tough to believe that something like "That 70's Show" could pull off a truly hilarious love letter to Hitchcock, but boy does it, and it makes for an ultra nostalgic Halloween watch.

Sector V from Cartoon Network's "Codename: Kids Next Door" went on many missions that saw them face foes old and new over the years, but "Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y" (the first story from Season 3, Episode 11) was a particularly memorable one. This tale sees them taking on a candy hunting pirate on Halloween. Numbuh 4 is the Scrooge of Halloween for the group, as he finds dressing up and begging for candy to be kind of dumb. Suddenly, he finds himself in a bet with the rest of the group to see who can score more candy before the night ends. Unfortunately for Numbuh 4, he gets sucked into a fight with the mischievous Captain Stickybeard and his band of candy pirates.

"Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y." is the perfect kind of Halloween special for those looking for something a little less scary and more of a fun trick-or-treating adventure. The opening with the group scaring Numbuh 4 with their horrifying costumes is a ton of fun, and the tale eventually turns into a candy-filled epic when Stickybeard enters the picture. It's always a blast to see Sector V face off against an old nemesis, and Numbuh 4 trying to take over the Stickybeard's ship is fantastic. The ending is both hilarious and satisfying, capping off a great Halloween adventure.

"Arnold's Halloween" is quite possibly one of the funniest episodes from the original run of "Hey Arnold."

In the episode, it's Halloween time in Eren City, and everyone in the boarding house is getting ready for the spooky festivities. However, despite their enthusiasm, Arnold and Gerald aren't allowed to participate in the planning for the annual party. They decide to have some fun of their own by tricking the residents with a faux alien invasion radio broadcast. However, this coincides with Helga and the other kids being mistaken for legitimate alien invaders, due to their costumes. Amplifying the paranoia is alien investigator Douglas Cain, who through his coverage of the boys' broadcast panics the entire city.

The episode is, of course, loosely based on the incident surrounding Orson Welles' infamous 1938 radio production of "War of the Worlds." This episode takes the idea of the public believing the simulated events, then beefs up the cartoonish absurdity. From the broadcast itself to Helga's father leading an alien resistance force, the episode is filled with funny moments. The charm of "Hey Arnold" always came from its grounded nature, but this episode goes a bit wild, and it works.

If ever there was a Halloween special that everyone and their mother knows, it would definitely be this one. "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" has been a staple of the Halloween season since its original airing in 1966. Alongside "A Charlie Brown Christmas," it's regarded as one of the most memorable Peanuts animated specials.  

This yearly event has the Peanuts Gang getting into the spirit of the season, but the ever-eccentric Linus has his own plans. Instead of trick-or-treating and apple bobbing with the gang, he's making plans to stay up to see the Great Pumpkin. It's said that the Great Pumpkin will rise from the pumpkin patch and bring toys to the children of the world.

It may be as crude and simple as a Halloween special can get, but that's ultimately where the charm comes from. The animation is simplistic, the voice acting is undeniably stiff, but it all works towards creating a cozy atmosphere. This is what you want in the background when you are handing out candy to the last few trick-or-treaters.

Leave it to the always irreverent, shocking "South Park" to hit us with a great Halloween special in Season One.

It is Halloween in South Park and, ever the common occurrence, Kenny McCormick has died in an inexplicable fashion. Kenny is crushed by a space station, which causes his remains to be moved to the morgue. After a bottle of Worcestershire sauce makes its way into the embalming fluid, Kenny is reanimated and escapes. In his wake, he spreads the zombie plague throughout the town which coincides with Stan, Kyle and Cartman's trick-or-treating.

While not as politically charged as the more recent seasons, this early outing delivered many memorable moments. From Cartman's on-brand Adolf Hitler costume to the boys getting candy from KKK members, it was a gloriously offensive treat. Not to be forgotten is a brief "Thriller" parody, performed by the zombified Chef (the late, great Issac Hayes). 

"Pink Eye" was also one of the first "South Park" episodes to incorporate horror elements for comedic and satirical effect. The show would follow this with increasingly-crazier Halloween specials like "Hell on Earth" and "A Nightmare on FaceTime," but it is this crude little special from a crude little show that would become the most memorable.

No list of nostalgic Halloween specials would be complete without an appearance from the "Friends" episode "The One With The Halloween Party," a worthy addition to any Halloween TV binge. The episode sees the group deal with different antics and issues throughout the night while attending Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) Halloween party. This special has no shortage of funny moments that range from Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) fighting with some kids while giving out candy to Chandler and Ross (David Schwimmer) arguing about who could win in a fight while wearing two horribly embarrassing costumes.

Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) easily has the most memorable storyline here, though not just because it sees her feuding with her sister Ursula (also Kudrow), but also because it brings along Sean Penn for a cameo as Ursula's fiancée Eric. He shows up for the party dressed as the solar system. There's some seriously funny costumes in this episode — including Chandler as a bitter pink bunny rabbit and Ross as a big doody, aka Spudnik — and some good conflicts that are a blast to watch. In the ever-growing list of Halloween specials, "The One with the Halloween Party" still remains a total treat.

"The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy" is one of those shows you need to see in order to believe. The series focused on the buffoonish Billy and the cynical Mandy — along with the indentured Grim Reaper — going on various adventures. Over the course of several seasons, the series tackled everything from sickening demons to evil clowns to rubber hose animation. But one of the most memorable episodes was "Jacked Up Halloween," the series' first Halloween special.

The episode has the trio taking to the streets of Endsville for All Hallows' Eve, with Billy taking Grim's scythe for his costume. He eventually runs into the fabled Jack O'Lantern, a pumpkin-headed prankster with a vendetta against Grim. Jack tricks Billy out of the scythe, and unleashes a pumpkin army on Endsville in preparation to decapitate Grim. 

Now, it's up to the ever-cynical Mandy to save Endsville and Grim from Jack on a crazy Halloween night. The highlight of the special is Wayne Knight as Jack, bringing his impeccable comedic timing to the part. Also, the episode is just dripping in Halloween atmosphere from the opening sequence to the design of the pumpkin army. Definitely an '00s classic worth dusting off for the upcoming Halloween season.

What's better than seeing the hilarious cast of "Community" stuck in the series' central community college on Halloween night as a zombie outbreak occurs? Well, that's exactly what fans get in the standout Season 2 Halloween special, "Epidemiology." While attending the annual Greendale Halloween Party, the study group finds themselves in a fight for survival when the Dean's (Jim Rash) food ends up turning those that eat it into zombie-like creatures with violent tendencies. Beyond that, the costumes in this episode are iconic, with Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed's (Danny Pudi) "Aliens" costumes being clear standouts. 

"Epidemiology" is a purely fun and funny Halloween zombie outbreak that sees the beloved cast of characters of "Community" in a horror film-inspired nightmare. Even for the strong comedy, there's an incredibly fun tone that never gets lost and it all makes for a great spin on zombie movies. The episode's ending is especially hilarious, built around a wild reset that turns everything back to normal. Finally, who can resist a fun cameo from George Takei providing some closing narration? "Epidemiology" is a "Community" episode like no other and a great Halloween special full of zombie horror goods. 

"Boy Meets World" was a pivotal coming-of-age show throughout the '90s that offered plenty of memorable characters, moments, and a one of a kind Halloween special in "And Then There Was Shawn." As the central group of characters deal with the breakup of Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel), they find themselves locked in the high school with a skull-masked killer looking to pick them off one by one. "And Then There Was Shawn" is a super fun Halloween special that acts as an ode to slashers. It contains some awesome nods and references, including Shawn (Rider Strong) acting as a Randy Meeks-like horror know-it-all and Jennifer Love Hewitt making a fun cameo.

Eric (Will Friedle) even spouts some fun "South Park" lines that continue to get big laughs, and there are some surprisingly fun kills that make for good Halloween thrills. It might all lead to Shawn simply waking up from a dream he's having in detention, but like any great episode of "Boy Meets World," Shawn learns a valuable lesson (in this instance, he comes to better understand his feelings regarding Cory and Topanga's separation). It's always good when a Halloween special has great horror references and fun moments that come with some solid scares, but "Boy Meets World" went the extra mile with this Halloween special, and it's what makes this one of the best "Boy Meets World" episodes ever.

It would be impossible to pick just one annual "Treehouse of Horror" from "The Simpsons." You could make a solid case for just about any of the 31 specials being the best one — and since they typically contain three segments, it's almost the segments you remember more than the episodes as a whole.

The initial "Treehouse of Horror" (which began in Season 2) was the show's first foray into an anthology format. They have often contained some of the series' most memorable gags, ranging from the verbal to the visual. One fan favorite would have to be "The Shinning" from the Season 6 "Treehouse of Horror V" special. While the Simpsons are serving as winter caretakers for Mr. Burns, the old miser cuts off the cable TV and beer. This causes Homer, much like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining," to go crazy and menace his family with an axe. 

Off the top of the head, that is just one vignette out of roughly 90 that stands out, but there are many other great ones to choose from. No fan of "The Simpsons" will ever say no to a "Treehouse of Horror" marathon on All Hallows' Eve.