It’s the (second) most wonderful time of the year: Halloween. As you’re getting ready to trick-or-treat or preparing to get spooked at a haunted house, you might want some Halloween cheer to set the mood. Here’s a list of 10 Halloween-themed specials ranging from eerie and comical to frightening and pants-wetting. May your Halloweens be as sweet as your candy. Happy scaring!
- “The Honking” – Futurama (2000)
It’s a spooky episode similar to the well-known human-turned-werewolf story, except instead of humans and werewolves, it’s alcohol-driven robots and cars.
- “Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y.” – Codename: Kids Next Door (2004)
For a more kid-friendly show, watch as two characters make a bet as to who can get the most candy. Not to spoil it, but one of them ends up getting a shipload of sugary sweets.
- “Scaredy Pants” – Spongebob Squarepants (1999)
Take notes on this one: do not dress up as the Flying Dutchman unless you want to seriously offend him.
- “And then there was Shawn” – Boy Meets World (1998)
Detention for Corey and the gang turns into a fright-fest. The whole scenario ends up being a dream … or should I say, a nightmare?
- “The Howling Man” – The Twilight Zone (1960)
Rod Serling narrates yet another strange tale that begs the question: Do you know what the devil looks like?
- “Tricks and Treats” – American Horror Story: Asylum (2012)
American Horror Story always does Halloween right. Equipped with an exorcism, a creepy former-Nazi doctor and a serial killer that loves to skin their victims, this episode is loads of fun.
- “Guide to: Halloween and Vampires, Ghosts, Werewolves & Zombies” – Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide (2004)
The title says it all with this simple middle schooler’s guide to Halloween: get the most candy and avoid bullies in lame costumes.
- “Peternormal Activity” – Family Guy (2015)
After seeing a bad horror movie, Peter and his friends decide to film their own in a (conveniently) local abandoned asylum. If you’ve ever seen Family Guy, you know to expect a good amount of foolishness.
- “Treehouse of Horror I – XXVII” – The Simpsons (1990)
This is actually a series of episodes that have occurred each Halloween since season 2 of the show. Some of them are actually pretty gripping, in classic Simpson-style of course.
- “King Ramses’ Curse” – Courage the Cowardly Dog (2000)
If the ghost of a long-dead Egyptian pharaoh curses your household because you and your skittish purple dog find an ancient relic, just “return the slab.” Trust me.