Rick and Morty episodes spark endless debates over wild sci-fi concepts, sharp family dynamics, and meme-worthy chaos that define the show's legacy. Rankings hinge on cultural impact, storytelling ambition, and rewatch value rather than just laughs per minute. Vote now to shape the ultimate fan list.
What counts: Best episodes balance inventive plots, emotional stakes, and signature absurdity. IMDb figures are approximate viewer aggregates; runtimes rounded to nearest minute.
▲ Rising
Rick weaponizes a pickle transformation to dodge therapy, unleashing a rat-warrior rampage that crashes into family reconciliation. The 'I'm Pickle Rick!' declaration crystallized the show's absurd peak and cemented its cultural footprint.
Season: 3Year: 2,017IMDb Rating: 9/10Runtime: 23 min
added by IJR
▲ Rising
Rick reunites with his ex, Unity, in a planet-wide hive-mind romance that ends in tragic self-destruction. The cold open suicide attempt remains one of the show's rawest moments.
Season: 2Year: 2,015IMDb Rating: 8.4/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
▲ Rising
Rick's prison break spirals into a multiverse-spanning con that redefines his backstory and resets the show's stakes. The Szechuan sauce heist moment launched a real-world marketing frenzy.
Season: 3Year: 2,017IMDb Rating: 8.8/10Runtime: 23 min
added by IJR
▲ Rising
Rick's fake suicide machine traps Morty in an endless loop of consequences that forces genuine growth. The episode's looping structure turned a simple prank into a meditation on trust.
Season: 4Year: 2,020IMDb Rating: 8.6/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
▲ Rising
Rick erases Morty's memories in a rapid-fire anthology of deleted scenes that showcase the show's wildest ideas. The format let the writers flex without narrative constraints.
Season: 3Year: 2,017IMDb Rating: 8.2/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Rick's origin story collides with a samurai showdown that resolves long-running threads about his past and Evil Morty. The final battle delivered the emotional weight fans craved.
Season: 5Year: 2,021IMDb Rating: 8.5/10Runtime: 23 min
added by IJR
The family rides a story-train that weaponizes narrative tropes against them in a meta adventure. The train's escalating rules delivered inventive set pieces.
Season: 4Year: 2,020IMDb Rating: 7.9/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Parasitic aliens flood the house with fake memories, forcing the family to question every relationship. The 'I'm Mr. Poopybutthole' reveal delivered the season's sharpest twist.
Season: 2Year: 2,015IMDb Rating: 8.7/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Morty gains death-crystal powers and spirals into an obsessive future-chasing loop. The crystal's influence created one of the show's most tragic Morty arcs.
Season: 4Year: 2,019IMDb Rating: 8.1/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
▲ Rising
Rick and Morty land on a planet during its annual purge night, forcing survival choices. The episode's violent satire and moral gray areas stood out.
Season: 2Year: 2,015IMDb Rating: 7.9/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Morty summons helpful Meeseeks that spiral into existential despair and violence. The blue creatures' breakdown became a defining early gag.
Season: 1Year: 2,014IMDb Rating: 8.4/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
A time-crystal accident fractures reality into infinite timelines, testing Rick and Morty's bond under escalating chaos. The 'what is my purpose' riff became an instant fan favorite.
Season: 2Year: 2,015IMDb Rating: 8.3/10Runtime: 23 min
added by IJR
Rick meets evil versions of himself across dimensions in a council showdown. The introduction of multiple Ricks expanded the show's mythology.
Season: 1Year: 2,014IMDb Rating: 8.5/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Rick enhances the family dog into a hyper-intelligent genius that leads a pet uprising. The 'snuffles' arc and dream world invasion set the show's early tone.
Season: 1Year: 2,013IMDb Rating: 8.3/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
▼ Falling
Rick protects his secret toilet while Morty chases a romance that ends in alien betrayal. The episode balanced quiet character work with escalating absurdity.
Season: 4Year: 2,019IMDb Rating: 7.8/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Earth faces alien musical annihilation and Rick turns it into an intergalactic talent show. The 'Get Schwifty' song became a fan sing-along staple.
Season: 2Year: 2,015IMDb Rating: 7.7/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
▼ Falling
The family watches interdimensional cable in a rapid-fire sketch showcase. The 'two brothers' bit and pregnancy reveal delivered pure comedic chaos.
Season: 1Year: 2,014IMDb Rating: 8.1/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
▲ Rising
Morty fathers an alien son that grows at alarming speed. The episode leaned into fatherhood satire with escalating absurdity.
Season: 1Year: 2,014IMDb Rating: 7.5/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Birdperson's wedding unravels into a galactic Federation sting that forces Rick's surrender. The cliffhanger left viewers stunned and set up season three.
Season: 2Year: 2,015IMDb Rating: 8/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Rick drags Morty on a dangerous adventure that establishes the show's irreverent tone and family dysfunction. The opening sequence set expectations for every future episode.
Season: 1Year: 2,013IMDb Rating: 7.8/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Rick's car battery contains a microverse that rebels against him. The 'I'm a scientist' speech highlighted Rick's god-complex in miniature.
Season: 2Year: 2,015IMDb Rating: 8.2/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Beth's space adventure collides with Rick's plan to erase her memory. The mother-daughter dynamic delivered rare emotional grounding.
Season: 4Year: 2,020IMDb Rating: 7.5/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Beth confronts her childhood and a clone dilemma that questions her identity. The episode gave Beth rare depth amid the usual chaos.
Season: 3Year: 2,017IMDb Rating: 7.6/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
Rick's microverse returns with a dinner party that escalates into a full-blown dimension war. The callback to earlier episodes rewarded longtime fans.
Season: 5Year: 2,021IMDb Rating: 7.7/10Runtime: 23 min
added by IJR
▼ Falling
Rick opens a cursed shop while Summer works for the devil. The episode balanced two strong side stories with clever payoffs.
Season: 1Year: 2,014IMDb Rating: 7.9/10Runtime: 22 min
added by IJR
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Came for the argument, stayed for the comparison grid. The numbers settle half the fights here.
Pickle Rick (S3E3) at the top is the correct call and I'll die on this hill.
The criteria line matters here. Read it before you vote or you're arguing about a different list.
Somebody explain the Pickle Rick (S3E3) votes to me. Genuinely. I want to understand.
Wild that Pickle Rick (S3E3) is winning this. Scroll down — the real answer is further down the board.