The BEST episodes of Dennis the Menace (1986)

Every episode of Dennis the Menace (1986) ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dennis the Menace (1986)!

Based on Hank Ketcham's popular comic-strip, Dennis the Menace became a staple in countless households throughout the mid-'80s. With the help of his precocious pals and his shaggy dog Ruff, Dennis uses his curiosity and imagination to keep his pleasant Midwestern neighborhood in a constant state of confusion and chaos.

Last Updated: 3/12/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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It's a Ruff Life / Professor Myron Mentalapse / Dennis Race 2000
star
8.50
2 votes

#1 - It's a Ruff Life / Professor Myron Mentalapse / Dennis Race 2000

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 10/13/1986

A Visitor from Outer Space / Train That Boy / Genie Madness
star
8.50
2 votes

#2 - A Visitor from Outer Space / Train That Boy / Genie Madness

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/23/1986

An alien from another planet lands in Dennis room in a quest for peace and quiet... but Dennis wants to show him around! A mad romp ensues with Dennis taking the alien to Mr. Wilson's house. When Wilson calls the police he is thought to be a quack and carted away. Dennis and his family go on a trip on a train, however Dennis forgets his suitcase. Mr. Wilson, trying his best to make sure Dennis leaves, runs onto the train to give him the suitcase... but, he cannot get back off and is now stuck with Dennis on the train! While there, Dennis sees a man with a trenchcoat and a briefcase and figures him to be a spy. With Mr. Wilson unwillingly helping out, Dennis proves the man to be a spy. Dennis and Margaret both find a bottle from which a Genie emerges. They argue over who gets the wishes, but agree on one wish each. Margaret uses her wish to make her doll come to life, which gets her into jeopardy, and Dennis uses up his own wish to save her.

Chitty Chitty Moon Walk / Wet 'n Wild / Dennis at the Movies
star
7.00
1 votes

#3 - Chitty Chitty Moon Walk / Wet 'n Wild / Dennis at the Movies

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/7/1986

Crummy Mummy / Swiss Family Mitchell / Pie in the Eye
star
7.00
1 votes

#4 - Crummy Mummy / Swiss Family Mitchell / Pie in the Eye

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/16/1988

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Cheer Up / Ghostblusters / The Life You Save
star
6.60
5 votes

#5 - Cheer Up / Ghostblusters / The Life You Save

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/24/1986

Mr. Wilson slips on Dennis' skateboard and has to go to the hospital. Once there, Dennis arrives to cheer Wilson up... Wilson is in for the time of his life! The kids discover an abandoned old gothic house that Dennis decides would make a great club-house. The kids begin cleaning the place up until a pair of ghosts appear! The others want to leave the place, but Dennis who never once sees the ghosts chides them for being scaredy cats, and gets them to stay. Finally the "ghosts" are revealed as a couple of crooks who are using the old house to hide their ill-gotten gold, and using "scare tactics" to frighten the kids away. Dennis saves Margaret's life, and she won't let him forget it. Desperate to get Margaret out of his hair, he tries to arrange to have the girl save his life. All his efforts are futile...until an escaped grizzly bear happens on the scene.

So Long, Old Paint / Trembly Assembly / Private I
star
6.50
8 votes

#6 - So Long, Old Paint / Trembly Assembly / Private I

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1986

Mr. Wilson is painting his house and Dennis invites himself over to help out. Needless to say, Dennis' "helping" gets Mr. Wilson close to a nervous breakdown. Dennis accompanies Henry to an auto showroom, where Dennis harasses the poor salesman so, that Henry buys a new car almost to avoid a law-suit. He discovers that the purchase entitles him to watch the actual car being built on the assembly line, with the hapless salesman acting as their guide. Now Dennis turns his impulsiveness toward the robot assembly line, screwing it up completely, and their "new" car comes out looking like futuristic junk!. A Raymond Chandler-type takeoff in which Dennis pretends to be a hard-boiled private eye, in the Bogart tradition, tracking down his missing pooch, Ruff, by questioning his friends and neighbors.

Directors: Michael Maliani
Fishing for Trouble / Future Fortune / Time Bomb
star
6.50
2 votes

#7 - Fishing for Trouble / Future Fortune / Time Bomb

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/29/1986

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Spa Blahs / Whale of a Tale / Disaster on the Green
star
6.50
2 votes

#8 - Spa Blahs / Whale of a Tale / Disaster on the Green

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/30/1986

The Price of Stardom / Space Menace / The Magic Flute
star
6.33
3 votes

#9 - The Price of Stardom / Space Menace / The Magic Flute

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/2/1986

Here, Kitty! / Circus Berserkus / The Monster of Mudville Flats
star
6.33
3 votes

#10 - Here, Kitty! / Circus Berserkus / The Monster of Mudville Flats

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/1/1986

Shark Treatment / Jungle Bungle / Racetrack Menace
star
6.33
3 votes

#11 - Shark Treatment / Jungle Bungle / Racetrack Menace

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/26/1986

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All the President's Menace / The Love Rowboat / Wilson the Menace
star
6.33
3 votes

#12 - All the President's Menace / The Love Rowboat / Wilson the Menace

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/26/1986

Dennis Destroys Dallas / Black and Blue Hawaii / Oil's Well That Ends Well
star
6.00
1 votes

#13 - Dennis Destroys Dallas / Black and Blue Hawaii / Oil's Well That Ends Well

Season 1 - Episode 48 - Aired 11/26/1986

Pool Haul / Fool for Gold / Nothin' to Be Afraid of
star
6.00
1 votes

#14 - Pool Haul / Fool for Gold / Nothin' to Be Afraid of

Season 1 - Episode 64 - Aired 12/18/1986

Heroes Unwelcome / The Martians are Coming / Ancient Olympics
star
6.00
1 votes

#15 - Heroes Unwelcome / The Martians are Coming / Ancient Olympics

Season 1 - Episode 63 - Aired 12/17/1986

Dennis and the Deep / K-9 Kollege / Housepests
star
6.00
1 votes

#16 - Dennis and the Deep / K-9 Kollege / Housepests

Season 1 - Episode 51 - Aired 12/1/1986

Surf's Up / Yo Ho Ho / The Karate Kiddie
star
6.00
1 votes

#17 - Surf's Up / Yo Ho Ho / The Karate Kiddie

Season 1 - Episode 50 - Aired 11/28/1986

Door to Door Bore / Dennis in Venice / Young Sherlock Dennis
star
6.00
1 votes

#18 - Door to Door Bore / Dennis in Venice / Young Sherlock Dennis

Season 1 - Episode 49 - Aired 11/27/1986

High Steel / Bicycle Mania / Little Dogs Lost
star
6.00
1 votes

#19 - High Steel / Bicycle Mania / Little Dogs Lost

Season 1 - Episode 47 - Aired 11/25/1986

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Vampire Scare / Give Me Liberty or Give Me... Dennis! / Wilson for Mayor
star
6.00
1 votes

#20 - Vampire Scare / Give Me Liberty or Give Me... Dennis! / Wilson for Mayor

Season 1 - Episode 45 - Aired 11/21/1986

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Bowling for Dennis / Dennis Conquers the Navy / The Longest Half-Yard
star
6.00
1 votes

#21 - Bowling for Dennis / Dennis Conquers the Navy / The Longest Half-Yard

Season 1 - Episode 44 - Aired 11/20/1986

Million Dollar Menace / 3-D and Me / Barber Shop Disharmony
star
6.00
1 votes

#22 - Million Dollar Menace / 3-D and Me / Barber Shop Disharmony

Season 1 - Episode 43 - Aired 11/19/1986

Double Dennis / Timber Wolves / Help Not Wanted
star
6.00
1 votes

#23 - Double Dennis / Timber Wolves / Help Not Wanted

Season 1 - Episode 42 - Aired 11/18/1986

Give a Little Whistle / Charmed, I'm Sure / After Hours
star
6.00
1 votes

#24 - Give a Little Whistle / Charmed, I'm Sure / After Hours

Season 1 - Episode 40 - Aired 11/14/1986

The Great Pie Swap / Climb of the Century / Little Beauty Shop of Horrors
star
6.00
1 votes

#25 - The Great Pie Swap / Climb of the Century / Little Beauty Shop of Horrors

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/9/1988