Halloween is the perfect time to curl up with a bowl of popcorn and mini candy bars while enjoying a scary movie. If you want something funnier, however, there are Halloween-themed episodes for tons of TV shows, including some of the best sitcoms. These are often counted among the most memorable episodes of these shows and have fantastic re-watch value. They never get old no matter how many times you watch them.
The five best Hulu TV show episodes to stream this Halloween include many you can watch with the whole family. One of them is a new special you probably haven’t seen yet.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, best shows on Hulu, best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+.
Family Guy
Season 23, Peter, Peter Pumpkin Cheater Halloween Special
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Family Guy, and to celebrate, Hulu has launched a special exclusive episode for Halloween. The new Halloween special sees Peter and his friends compete in Quahog’s annual Pumpkin Contest. But to win, he will have to defeat the reigning champion, voiced in a guest role by Hit Man star Glen Powell.
Having launched in mid-October as the first episode of the latest 23rd season of the show, this Halloween special will be followed up by a Christmas special as well. The episode of Family Guy combines light spooky fun with typical hilarity and, of course, Stewie doing something diabolical as usual.
Stream Family Guy on Hulu.
Fresh Off the Boat
Season 4, It’s a Plastic Pumpkin, Louis Huang
Fresh Off the Boat was one of the funniest sitcoms on television, and one of few depicting an Asian American family. Like other sitcoms, it delivered a Halloween-themed episode each year through its six-season run. In this one, Louis (Randall Park) is excited about Halloween and dressing up as Seinfeld (in the puffy shirt, of course), hoping the family will join him by playing other characters from the iconic series. But he’s upset when his youngest son Evan (Ian Chen) doesn’t share his enthusiasm.
In parallel storylines, eldest Huang son Eddie (Hudson Yang) plans to crash a Halloween party of a popular student while Jessica (Constance Wu) and Emery (Forrest Wheeler) hear strange voices coming from grandma’s (Lucille Soong) room and see her get taken away by a group of people in costume to their horror. Filled with guest stars, including George Takei, the episode offers a nice balance of Halloween fun and parental relatability. Any parent of older kids remembers that devastating feeling when their kids, especially the youngest, are no longer interested in Halloween.
Stream Fresh Off the Boat on Hulu.
Modern Family
Season 2, Halloween
Modern Family‘s Halloween episodes were anticipated every season, especially since the Dunphy family took the event so seriously. They went all out every year to create an incredible haunted house and exterior scene for the kids in the neighborhood. After learning their neighbor is getting divorced, Phil (Ty Burrell) starts to worry that Claire (Julie Bowen) is focusing all her energy on the haunted house as a distraction to avoid her lack of love for him. His attempts to be spontaneous and get her attention are thwarted, and it results in the haunted house becoming a disaster. Meanwhile, the recurring joke of the family poking fun at Gloria’s (Sofía Vergara) accent is kicked up a notch when, annoyed by Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Manny (Rico Rodriguez) seemingly mocking her, she starts to talk differently.
The funniest storyline in the episode, however, involves Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), who is excited to learn that his new law firm welcomes costumes. He dresses as Spider-Man only to realize that the staff and partners believe those who come dressed up are “tools and douches.” He covers up the bodysuit with a tailored suit in hopes of changing out of it later. But a series of back-to-back meetings leaves him sweating in the secret suit while various circumstances have him unintentionally in superhero poses. Ferguson earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the episode, and the episode itself earned several other nominations as well. It gets funnier every time.
Stream Modern Family on Hulu.
Black-ish
Season 3, The Purge
The Johnsons in Black-ish always went all out when it came to costumes, usually dressing up in elaborate matching family costumes. In this episode, they emerge from their garage in a cloud of smoke as The Incredibles. The underlying theme of the episode is the father-son relationship. As Dre (Anthony Anderson) has always exerted power over his son Junior (Marcus Scribner). Junior is now getting older and stronger, and it doesn’t sit well with his overly competitive dad. So, Dre tries to prank and humiliate his son with the help of the hapless Charlie (Deon Cole).
The real fun comes when Ruby (Jenifer Lewis) and Janine (Nicole Sullivan) concoct a plan for a “mischief night,” which Ruby thinks should be an annual Purge of debauchery. This means everything from indulging in as much candy as possible to traveling through the neighborhood with paintball guns. As is typical of Black-ish, the episode also tackles the topic of racist microaggressions and the unique experience of Black families during events like Halloween, especially in a predominantly white neighborhood.
Stream Black-ish on Hulu.
Friends
Season 8, The One With the Halloween Party
Yes, this is that iconic episode of Friends when Ross (David Schwimmer) shows up to a Halloween party dressed as Spud-nik, which is supposed to be a potato satellite but looks more like feces. The episode follows Monica’s (Courtney Cox) last-minute Halloween party that annoys everyone when they learn they have to come in costume. While Ross’ costume is ridiculously awful, the one that takes the cake is Joey (Matt Leblanc), who comes dressed as Chandler (the late Matthew Perry) and proceeds to imitate him as well.
This episode also sees Sean Penn as a guest star playing Phoebe’s (Lisa Kudrow) twin sister Ursula’s fiancé Eric. Plus, there’s a never-ending arm-wrestle competition between Ross the Spud-nik and Chandler dressed as an oversized pink bunny, ironically trying to prove who is stronger. If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud Halloween episode, this one won’t disappoint.
Stream Friends on Hulu.
