After six seasons, Rick and Morty is now regarded as one of the best animated sitcoms of all time. It's hard to top the series' winning blend of high-concept storytelling, absurd humor and emotionally raw characterization, even if fans are often left waiting for months - or even years - between new installments.
Fortunately, the wait between new seasons isn't as long as it used to be, with Rick and Morty pivoting to an annual release schedule. Case in point, Season 7 kicks off on October 15, and it introduces new voice actors for the titular duo.
To celebrate the new season, let's take a look at our updated countdown of the best Rick and Morty episodes. Where do "Pickle Rick" and "Rixty Minutes" fall? Read on to find out.
Note: this article was originally published in July 2018 and was updated in October 2023 to include episodes from Season 6.
15. "The Ricklantis Mixup (S3E7)
This Season 3 episode is a case of defying expectations in the best way, Billed as an episode about Rick and Morty journeying to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, "The Ricklantis Mixup" wound up almost entirely ignoring the two in favor of a story set at the Citadel. Here we saw the plights of numerous other Rick and Mortys, not all of whom get to live a glamorous life of adventure and hedonism. The surprise ending paid off on a previous loose end in a terrific way, setting the stage for a major showdown in Season 5.
14. "Solaricks" (S6E1)
As a whole, Season 6 isn't Rick and Morty's strongest outing, but it does boast one of the show's best premiere episodes. "Solaricks" picks up after the dramatic Season 5 finale, as Rick and Morty struggle to survive in a universe without portals. That dovetails into a hilarious misadventure wherein everyone who's been displaced by a portal is whisked back to their home dimension. "Solaricks" also provides a lot more context to the rivalry between Rick and his greatest nemesis, Rick Prime, while also making great use of the Beth/Space Beth dichotomy. Plus, who knew Jerry could be such a badass?
13. “One Crew Over the Crewcoo’s Morty” (S4E3)
Heist movies are fun, but sometimes the convoluted plots and nonstop barrage of twists and fakeouts can be a little much. Unless you’re talking about Rick and Morty spoofing heist movies, in which case, the more the merrier. This Season 4 gem boasts a hilariously labyrinthine plot that only grows more preposterous over the course of 20 minutes.
This episode introduces Rick’s creation Heist-o-Tron, a robot programmed to calculate the perfect heist, and his nemesis, Rand-o-Tron. Few episodes are so successful in taking a ridiculous premise and continually building upon it. “One Crew Over the Crewcoo’s Morty” also has the benefit of bringing back fan-favorite character Mr. Poopybutthole, as well as giving the Internet its most meme-worthy line since “I’m Pickle Rick!!!!”
12. "The Ricks Must Be Crazy" (S2E6)
Ever wonder how Rick powers his beat-up but amazingly versatile spaceship? This episode answered that question as it dragged Rick and Morty on a mind-bending quest through the microverse that fuels Rick's battery. As Rick feuded with his microscopic rival Zeep Zanflorp (Stephen Colbert), the series mused on the futility of existence and the incredible sacrifices that make Rick's dimension-hopping lifestyle possible. And while all of that was unfolding, this episode gave us a hilarious subplot where Rick's ship worked to protect Summer at all costs.
11. “Rickmurai Jack” (S5E10)
If “Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort” gave fans the answers they craved regarding the fate of Birdperson, then the Season 5 finale is where the series finally resolved that all-important question - “What is Evil Morty really up to?”.
“Rickmurai Jack” opens with an amusing preamble where Rick’s crow obsession reaches its inevitable climax, complete with a Vampire Hunter D-style makeover and plenty of anime fight scenes. From there, Evil Morty steps back into the spotlight and reveals his true plans for the Citadel. What follows isn’t a high-stakes battle for the fate of the multiverse. That would be too predictable. Instead, viewers come to learn “Evil” Morty is motivated by nothing more or less than to reach a place truly free from Rick’s malign influence. Who needs a supervillain mastermind when Rick repeatedly proves to be his own worst enemy?
10. "Meeseeks and Destroy" (S1E5)
This was the first episode that proved supporting characters like Beth and Jerry could outshine Rick and Morty themselves, given the right circumstances. While Morty's ill-fated attempt to pick an adventure is memorable (and traumatizing) enough on its own, the real highlight of this episode is Mr. Meeseeks, a do-gooder whose brief existence is devoted to helping others achieve their goals. Helping Beth find emotional fulfillment proves far easier than helping Jerry take a few strokes off his golf game. Nice going, Jerry!
9. “Mort Dinner Rick Andre” (S5E1)
“Riiiiiichard!!!”
While not all fans were thrilled with the weirder direction of Season 5, most would agree the season started off strong with the debut of Rick’s previously unmentioned nemesis, Mr. Nimbus. Easily among the show’s most hilarious one-off supporting characters, Mr. Nimbus has everything we could hope for in a lusty, preening Aquaman/Namor parody.
To its credit, though, this episode doesn’t wear out Mr. Nimbus’ welcome. That feud (and Rick’s misguided counterattack) mostly plays out in the background, with the emphasis instead on Morty’s unwitting brush with beings from another dimension where time moves much more quickly. Throw in a goofy subplot about Beth and Jerry contemplating a threesome with the King of Atlantis, and you have all the makings of a terrific season premiere.
8. “The Vat of Acid Episode” (S4E8)
Based on the title and the opening scene, this episode leads you to believe it’s headed in one direction before veering wildly (and hilariously) off course. Morty’s frustration over not being able to take charge of his and Rick’s adventures winds up leading to the creation of a save point button. Morty gains the power to rewind time and undo his mistakes. Of course, it isn’t long before that power goes terribly wrong.
“The Vat of Acid Episode” is a true showcase for Rick and Morty’s ability to blend high-concept sci-fi fare with scathing humor and emotionally wrenching plot twists. If Morty thought his ill-fated game of Roy: A Life Well Lived was traumatic, he truly learned what heartbreak is in this episode.
7. "Pickle Rick" (S3E3)
Here's the episode that launched a thousand memes. Rick embarked on his strangest journey to date when he transformed himself into a sentient pickle in order to weasel out of attending family therapy. A few dozen slain rats and one showdown with a killer named Jaguar later, even Rick was forced to admit that maybe he had gone a little overboard. The series doesn't get more wacky or over-the-top than this.
6. "Rick Potion No. 9" (S1E6)
Like all new shows, Rick and Morty went through some growing pains in its early episodes. However, the series truly found its voice in "Rick Potion No. 9," achieving that trademark balance of high-concept sci-fi, absurd humor and brutal nihilism the show has become known for. Morty's efforts to make Jessica fall in love with him go horribly awry, resulting in a shocking ending where Rick and Morty are forced to abandon their own Cronenberg-infested dimension forever. Even many seasons later, the characters are still feeling the effects of that unexpectedly dramatic turn of events.
5. "The Wedding Squanchers" (S2E10)
Many of the best Rick and Morty episodes take a few sharp turns before the end, and "The Wedding Squanchers" is no exception. What starts as a seemingly lighthearted celebration of Birdperson and Tammy rapidly devolves into all-out chaos as the Galactic Federation sets its sights on Rick. With Earth under occupation and the Smith family struggling to adjust to life on their remote new alien home, Rick has no choice but to sacrifice himself in what is easily one of the most emotionally charged moments of the whole series. Quite a way to wrap up the season.
4. "Mortynight Run" (S2E2)
In "Mortynight Run," Rick and Morty butt heads when Morty insists on protecting a rogue alien named Fart (guest star Jermaine Clement). Naturally, there are a few major twists and turns and emotional meltdowns along the way. But in many ways, it's the little details that set this one apart, from Clements' amazing David Bowie-inspired musical number to Morty's horrific experience with the arcade game Roy: A Life Well Lived. This episode also boasts what is possibly the best Jerry subplot ever, as Jerry meets dozens of his alter egos at a Jerry-only daycare.
3. "Rixty Minutes" (S1E8)
Only Rick and Morty could do an entire episode about the main characters watching TV and wind up with one of its best episodes ever. Here the Smiths are introduced to the wonders of Rick's interdimensional cable box, opening up an entire multiverse of bad television. This episode delivers a nonstop stream of bizarre clips, introducing instant fan-favorite characters like Ants in My Eyes Johnson, Two Brothers and Gazorpazorpfield. But this episode also shows a surprising amount of depth, with Jerry and Beth struggling with the glimpses of their alternate lives and Morty consoling Summer by revealing the tragic events of "Rick Potion No. 9."
2. "Auto Erotic Assimilation" (S2E3)
This episode boasts one of the cleverer Rick and Morty storylines to date, as Rick is reunited with his ex-lover Unity (guest star Christina Hendricks), a hive mind possessing the population of an entire world. As Rick and Unity's billions of hosts descend into a hedonistic orgy of excess, it quickly becomes apparent why the two were such a bad match in the first place. The tragic ending of this episode is a soul-crushing experience, as a lovelorn Rick literally comes within inches of suicide. It's another powerful reminder that beneath all the catchphrases and big ideas is a very lonely and unstable man.
1. "Total Rickall" (S2E4)
"Total Rickall" truly captures everything that makes Rick and Morty great. Its premise is ridiculously clever, with the Smith household invaded by an alien parasite that takes root in the hosts' memories. It features a terrific slate of one-off side characters, from Hamurai to Sleepy Gary to Photography Raptor. And it quickly veers from amusement to crushing emotional drama as the Smiths feel the full impact of their memories being torn to shreds. But compared to Mr. Poopybutthole, they got off light.
Which Rick and Morty season is your favorite? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know if we missed your favorite episodes in the comments below.
Note: This story was updated in October 2023, with the latest information about Rick and Morty.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
