After seven seasons, Rick and Morty remains a top-tier animated sitcom, celebrated for its unique mix of bold storytelling, wild humor, and deep emotional resonance, despite long gaps between seasons that often test fans' patience.
With Season 8 arriving this year after delays from the 2023 Writers Guild strike, the show has shifted to a yearly release. While awaiting new episodes, explore IGN's selection of the finest Rick and Morty episodes. Curious about where "Pickle Rick" and "Rixty Minutes" rank? Dive in to see.
The Top 15 Rick and Morty Episodes
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15. "The Ricklantis Mixup" (S3E7)
This Season 3 gem flips expectations brilliantly. Promoted as a trip to Atlantis, it shifts focus to the Citadel, exploring the lives of various Ricks and Mortys, many far from the adventurous elite. A stunning twist ties up a lingering plot thread, paving the way for a major Season 5 clash.
14. "Solaricks" (S6E1)
Season 6 may not be the show’s peak, but its opener shines. "Solaricks" follows the intense Season 5 finale, with Rick and Morty navigating a portal-less universe. A chaotic adventure unfolds as displaced characters return to their home dimensions, deepening the Rick-Rick Prime rivalry and leveraging the Beth/Space Beth dynamic, with a surprisingly fierce Jerry stealing the show.
13. “One Crew Over the Crewcoo’s Morty” (S4E3)
Heist films can overwhelm with complex plots, but Rick and Morty’s take is a delightful spiral of absurdity. This Season 4 episode features Rick’s Heist-o-Tron, a robot crafting the ultimate heist, clashing with Rand-o-Tron. The escalating madness, paired with the return of Mr. Poopybutthole and a meme-worthy line, makes this a standout.
12. "The Ricks Must Be Crazy" (S2E6)
How does Rick’s spaceship run? This episode unveils the microverse powering his battery, plunging Rick and Morty into a wild quest. As Rick battles Zeep Zanflorp (voiced by Stephen Colbert), the show ponders existence’s futility. Meanwhile, a side story with Summer and the ship’s protective AI delivers sharp humor.
11. “Rickmurai Jack” (S5E10)
The Season 5 finale answers the burning question: What drives Evil Morty? Kicking off with Rick’s crow obsession and anime-style battles, it shifts to Evil Morty’s Citadel plans. Rather than a multiverse showdown, the episode reveals his quest for freedom from Rick’s influence, proving Rick is his own worst foe.
10. "Meeseeks and Destroy" (S1E5)
This episode proves Beth and Jerry can steal the spotlight. Morty’s adventure choice falters, but Mr. Meeseeks, a helper bound to fulfill tasks, shines. Aiding Beth’s emotional growth is easy, but Jerry’s golf game proves a nightmare, delivering both humor and chaos.
9. “Mort Dinner Rick Andre” (S5E1)
“Riiiiiichard!!!”
Season 5’s quirky opener introduces Mr. Nimbus, a flamboyant Aquaman-esque rival to Rick. His antics don’t overstay, as the focus shifts to Morty’s clash with fast-time dimension beings and a silly Beth-Jerry subplot involving a potential threesome with the King of Atlantis.
8. “The Vat of Acid Episode” (S4E8)
This episode starts with a deceptive premise, only to pivot into a time-rewinding adventure. Morty’s push for control leads to a save point device, but its misuse spirals into chaos. Blending sharp sci-fi with biting humor and emotional depth, it’s a masterclass in the show’s style.
7. "Pickle Rick" (S3E3)
The meme-spawning episode sees Rick turn into a pickle to dodge therapy. His bizarre journey, battling rats and facing Jaguar, pushes absurdity to new heights. Even Rick admits he went too far, making this one of the show’s wildest rides.
6. "Rick Potion No. 9" (S1E6)
Early on, Rick and Morty hit its stride here. Morty’s love potion for Jessica backfires, leading to a Cronenberg-style disaster. The shocking choice to abandon their ruined dimension delivers the show’s signature mix of humor, sci-fi, and dark consequences.
5. "The Wedding Squanchers" (S2E10)
Starting as a joyful wedding for Birdperson and Tammy, this episode turns chaotic as the Galactic Federation targets Rick. With Earth occupied and the Smiths on an alien planet, Rick’s sacrifice delivers a gut-punch, marking a poignant season finale.
4. "Mortynight Run" (S2E2)
Morty’s clash with Rick over saving an alien named Fart (voiced by Jermaine Clement) drives this episode, packed with twists and a haunting musical number. From Morty’s traumatic arcade game to Jerry’s daycare of alternate Jerrys, it’s a gem of details and emotion.
3. "Rixty Minutes" (S1E8)
An episode about watching TV shouldn’t work, yet it’s a masterpiece. Rick’s interdimensional cable box unveils quirky characters like Ants in My Eyes Johnson. Beyond the laughs, it explores Beth and Jerry’s alternate lives and Morty’s revelation to Summer about their dark past.
2. "Auto Erotic Assimilation" (S2E3)
Rick’s reunion with Unity, a hive mind (voiced by Christina Hendricks), sparks a chaotic, indulgent romp. Their toxic dynamic unravels, leading to a heart-wrenching near-suicide moment for Rick, revealing the lonely man behind the bravado.
1. "Total Rickall" (S2E4)
"Total Rickall" embodies the show’s brilliance. An alien parasite manipulates memories, spawning quirky characters like Sleepy Gary. The Smiths face emotional turmoil as their memories unravel, with a devastating twist for Mr. Poopybutthole sealing its top spot.
Here’s our bold ranking of the top Rick and Morty episodes! Did your favorite make the list? Share your thoughts in the comments.
