In Jacked o’ Lantern, the Johnsons go all out for Halloween, dressing up as the Obama family for a night of trick-or-treating. Dre’s excitement takes a hit, though, when his childhood bully, June Bug, shows up, now swaggering around as 50 Cent. What follows is classic Black-ish: sharp, funny, and full of family chaos with a side of nostalgia. | © ABC
And Then There Was Shawn isn’t a Halloween episode, but it feels like one. The gang ends up trapped in school detention with a masked killer picking them off one by one, turning a teen sitcom into a full slasher parody. It’s funny, surprisingly eerie, and deeply personal for Shawn, a smart nod to the late ’90s horror craze wrapped in genuine emotion. | © ABC
In Superstore’s “Sal’s Dead,” the Cloud 9 crew leans into Halloween chaos in the most awkward way possible. A memorial for a coworker turns into a full-blown farce as costumes, misunderstandings, and terrible timing collide. It’s equal parts cringe and clever, showing how even a fake ghost story can get wildly out of hand. | © NBC
In The Vampire Diaries episode Haunted, the Halloween party in Mystic Falls quickly turns into a nightmare. Newly turned vampire Vicky can’t control her thirst for human blood, and her attempt to blend in ends in disaster. It’s one of the show’s first truly shocking moments, proof that even Halloween night isn’t safe in this town. | © Warner Bros. Television
WandaVision goes full sitcom nostalgia with a Malcolm in the Middle-style Halloween episode. Wanda and Vision wander Westview in retro versions of their comic book costumes, while Uncle Pietro crashes the party and stirs up chaos. It’s playful on the surface, but cracks in the illusion start to show, hinting at something much darker happening in this show. | © Marvel Studios
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is the blueprint for every Halloween special that came after it. Linus’s unwavering belief in the Great Pumpkin, Snoopy’s wild WWI daydreams, and Charlie Brown’s eternal bad luck all come together in one nostalgic masterpiece. It’s sweet, a little sad, and still the gold standard for cozy October viewing. | © CBS
At Greendale’s Halloween party, things go south fast after everyone eats the mystery meat. Suddenly, the dance floor turns into a zombie outbreak, and Troy has to step up when it really counts. It’s messy, ridiculous, and somehow still heartfelt – Community at its weird, wonderful best. | © Sony Pictures Television
The first Modern Family Halloween episode captures everything messy and funny about family traditions. Claire’s obsession with throwing the perfect spooky celebration pushes everyone to the edge, and naturally, nothing goes as planned. Between the awkward costumes and forced enthusiasm, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best memories come from the chaos. | © 20th Television
While The Simpsons is known for its wild Treehouse of Horror specials, Halloween of Horror stands out for being deeply human. After a scare at Krustyland leaves Lisa terrified, Homer helps her face her fears during a tense and heartfelt Halloween night. It’s a rare episode that trades monsters for emotion, showing that courage sometimes means simply keeping the lights on together. | © 20th Television
The One with the Halloween Party proves Friends could do spooky just as well as sentimental. The gang hosts a costume party full of chaotic moments – Phoebe bumping into her twin sister, Ursula, and her fiancé, played by Sean Penn, being one of them. With Monica as Catwoman and Phoebe as Supergirl, it’s pure early-2000s fun wrapped in peak Friends humor. | © Warner Bros. Television
HalloVeen isn’t just another Brooklyn Nine-Nine Halloween Heist – it’s the one that stole everyone’s hearts. The episode balances the usual chaos of elaborate tricks and betrayals with a surprise proposal that cements Jake and Amy’s love story. Between the laughs, the flash mob of Handmaid’s Tale cosplayers, and the perfect ending, it’s peak Nine-Nine magic. | © NBC
Meet N Greet captures everything fans love about Parks and Recreation’s Halloween chaos. Andy and April throw a last-minute party that’s equal parts awkward, spooky, and hilarious – Andy bouncing around with pure golden retriever joy while April grins and whispers, “Blood orphans.” It’s a perfect snapshot of their weird, wonderful love story that turned them into one of TV’s favorite couples. | © NBC
What could be scarier than a haunted office? Getting fired on Halloween. In this classic episode, Michael Scott scrambles to choose which employee to let go before the day ends, all while his staff parade around in ridiculous costumes, like Dwight, who channels a full-on Sith lord to make the moment even more absurd. | © NBC
Stranger Things captures the perfect Halloween vibe in Trick or Treat, Freak. The kids head out dressed as Ghostbusters, but Will’s fun night quickly shifts when he sees something haunting from the Upside Down. What starts as innocent trick-or-treating turns into a chilling glimpse of the darkness creeping back into Hawkins. | © Netflix
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was always made for Halloween, but the Season 2 episode Halloween takes it to another level. When the gang’s costumes turn out to be cursed, everyone becomes what they’re dressed as, leaving Buffy stuck as an 18th-century noblewoman instead of a Slayer. It’s chaotic, funny, and a little eerie, proving that even on the quietest night of the year, Sunnydale never really rests. | © 20th Television
Halloween and TV go together like candy and costumes. Over the years, some shows have turned the spooky season into unforgettable episodes: funny, creepy, or surprisingly heartfelt. Here are 15 of the best Halloween TV moments worth revisiting every October.
