Phineas and Ferb is a classic, and remains my go-to favorite TV show, especially when Halloween rolls around. Now, I’m not one for spookiness of Halloween. I hate horror or any scary movies. Yet there is something nostalgic and fun about Halloween in the Fall, and nothing captures that sense of nostalgia for me better than the Phineas and Ferb Halloween episodes.

Some of you might be thinking: “Are there really that many Phineas and Ferb Halloween episodes?” And to that, I have only one reply: “Yes, yes there are.” There are seven, to be exact, and in honor of the Halloween season, I’m going to rank them all.

(7) “The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein” – One of the earliest Halloween episodes, this fifteen-minute segment is a retelling of Frankenstein, framed as a story about Ferb and Doofenshmirtz’s respective ancestors. The way the Phineas-plot and Perry-plot overlap through the story set in the past is very clever and funny. For me, though, it doesn’t quite live up to the other Halloween episodes, but it nonetheless is a great episode.  

(6) “Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror” – This thirty-minute episode tells three mini-stories of mildly creepy events in Danville, focusing on Candace, Doofenshmirtz, and Phineas & friends respectively. It’s a family-friendly spoof off of the horror genre, with many weird elements, shocking twists, and a couple of dark humor moments. This episode always surprise me with how funny it is every time I watch it, and while I think it is a little underrated, its odder elements deviate from usual Phineas and Ferb enough that it just isn’t my personal favorite on this list.

(5) “That’s the Spirit” – Unlike many of the other Halloween episodes, this fifteen-minute segment is actually set on Halloween night, following the kids as they trick-or-treat and Doofenshmirtz as he discovers he accidentally turned himself into a werecow. (Yes, you read that right.) The trick-or-treaters end up in a ghost house, which is a fun plot, but the best part of this episode is definitely the Perry and Doofenshmirtz plot, is full of humor around how Doof even ended up as a werecow in the first place.

(4) “Night of the Living Pharmacists” – This forty-minute special is a great parody of the typical zombie takeover, bringing Doofenshmirtz and the Phineas & friends crew together in a tale that might not be quite canon (depending on how you interpret the end, I suppose). As a late-series special, the episode includes interactions that don’t always get highlighted or a lot of screen time, like more of Candace and Vanessa’s friendship. It’s also among the handful of episodes with a plot focused on Isabella’s feelings for Phineas, and I’m always here for more Isabella & Phineas relationship content. Also, anytime Doofenshmirtz interacts with Phineas & friends makes for great comedy. I don’t think this episode is one of my top picks among the forty-minute Phineas and Ferb specials, but for a Halloween episode, this is a great one.

(3) “The Curse of Candace” – Riffing off of the Twilight vampire vs. werewolf craze, this fifteen-minute episode is so clever. It focuses on Candace, who is convinced she turned into a vampire after an encounter with a promotional bat at a movie theater. The comedic timing is perfect throughout the episode, and the twist at the end is especially good. This is the episode I most enjoy starting my Halloween Phineas and Ferb marathon with.

(2) “Druselsteinoween” – The other Phineas and Ferb Halloween episode set on actual Halloween, I like this fifteen-minute episode probably more that it deserves. I’m one of the fans who actually liked the Vanessa & Monty relationship, which is a major part of this episode’s conflict and humor. Plus, the song of this episode, with romantic and spooky tones, is one of my favorites. This episode also gives us a Perry & Doofenshmirtz plot highlighting their friendship as they go on a treasure hunt together, which is a fun break from the norm. It’s a great episode from start to finish.

(1) “One Good Scare Ought to Do It!” – This thirty-minute episode was one of the first Phineas & Ferb episodes I ever watched, and it continues to be one of my favorites, not only of the Halloween episodes, but across the entire show. The jokes still makes me laugh, even though I can quote a good chunk of the episode by heart, and the songs are fantastic. This is my must-watch Phineas and Ferb episode of the Halloween season, an absolute classic.

Well, readers, I know what I’m going to do today: watch some Phineas and Ferb Halloween content!

What’s your favorite thing to watch when Halloween rolls around?