Halloween hits different when you add in Black sitcoms. They gave us laughs, costumes, and just enough spooky to keep us checking under the bed. These episodes weren’t just filler—they were cultural moments. So let’s rank the ones that still live rent-free in our heads, from corny scares to straight-up classics.

7. Moesha – “The Seance” (Season 2, Episode 7)

When Mo and her friends break out the candles and decide to hold a séance, things get a little too real. What starts as teen fun turns spooky quick, leaving the crew shook. It’s a ’90s time capsule of sleepovers, superstition, and the limits of playing with the spirit world.

6. The Parkers – “Scary Kim” (Season 3, Episode 7)

Kim lets her imagination run wild after watching a scary movie, and Nikki jumps right into the chaos with her usual antics. This one leans into slapstick humor while still giving us Halloween vibes, mother-daughter edition.

5. Living Single – “Trick or Trust” (Season 2, Episode 8)

The crew tries—and fails—to scare Max during Halloween. Instead, it’s Max who gets the last laugh, proving once again why she’s one of the sharpest characters on 90s TV. A funny take on fear and friendship, with costumes and shade in full effect.

4. Girlfriends – “Halloween” (Season 1, Episode 6)

Joan hosts a Halloween party, and like most Girlfriends storylines, the night isn’t just about costumes—it’s about truth-telling and drama. Between the shade, the messy reveals, and the playful chaos, the episode shows how even a holiday can turn into a moment of reckoning among friends.

3. Martin – “The Night He Came Home” (Season 1, Episode 10)

Martin convinces the crew to hold a séance on Halloween night to contact the dead. But when strange things start happening in the apartment, everyone panics. Between the jump scares, over-the-top reactions, and Martin’s antics, this one blends real spooky vibes with pure comedy.

2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – “Hex and the Single Guy” (Season 4, Episode 7)

Hilary drags the Banks family to a séance, and things go left when the psychic curses Will. The whole family spirals, and Will is forced to reckon with some hilarious “bad luck” fallout. It’s a perfect mix of silliness, superstition, and Banks family drama.

1. Family Matters – “Stevil” (Season 8, Episode 7)

Still one of the creepiest sitcom episodes of all time. Steve Urkel’s ventriloquist dummy, Stevil, comes to life and terrorizes the Winslows. No laugh track could soften how terrifying that puppet was—it scarred a generation. Easily the most iconic Black sitcom Halloween episode.

Whether it was a haunted house, a messy costume party, or a talking doll that still gives us nightmares, Black sitcoms made Halloween theirs. 

What did we miss? Which Black sitcom Halloween episode still makes you laugh—or scream—every October? Drop your faves in the comments. 

Cover photo: The Culture Got Spooky: Ranking Black Sitcom Halloween Moments/Photo credit: Martin 5×05 Boo’s in the House 1996