The BEST episodes of Seinfeld

Every episode of Seinfeld ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Seinfeld!

The "show about nothing" is a sitcom landmark, with comic Jerry and his three sardonic friends finding laughs in both the mundane and the ridiculous.

Last Updated: 2/17/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
Share:
The Contest
star
8.51
2077 votes

#1 - The Contest

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/18/1992

George's mother throws her back out when she falls down after catching him doing "you know." When George says he'll never do it again, Jerry challenges him to a contest of self-denial, when he accepts, Elaine and Kramer want in on the action, or rather the lack of it.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Writer: Larry David
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Soup Nazi
star
8.41
1809 votes

#2 - The Soup Nazi

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/1995

While on their way to the "soup place" Elaine finds an antique armoire she wants. George makes a mistake while trying to get his soup from the "Soup Nazi." Elaine isn't allowed to move her armoire into her building, so Kramer offers to watch it for her, out on the street. George and Elaine discuss how annoyed they are by Jerry's sweet-talking with his current girlfriend, especially their calling each other "Schmoopie." Elaine makes an ordering error in front of the "Soup Nazi," gets on his bad side and is banned for a year. In broad daylight and in Kramer's presence, two "tough" guys come along and take Elaine's armoire. Kramer relates the story of the armoire to the "Soup Nazi," who says he has an armoire in the basement that Kramer can have. Jerry's girlfriend makes a faux pas in the "soup place" and Jerry disavows any knowledge of her. George confronts Jerry and reminds him about their pact. George and Susan see Jerry and his girlfriend at the diner and they begin to compete against each other. Susan appreciates that George is finally showing his feelings in public. Kramer gives Elaine the armoire and tells her where he got it. Elaine goes to thank the "Soup Nazi" but gets even further on his bad side. Jerry discovers the armoire contains the "Soup Nazi"'s recipes and Elaine takes them for her final confrontation with the "Soup Nazi."

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Opposite
star
8.33
1743 votes

#3 - The Opposite

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/19/1994

George comes to the realization that he should try to do the opposite of everything, so he does, his luck changes and everything begins to go his way including getting a girlfriend, a job with the Yankees and moving out of his parents' house. Things begin to be unlucky for Elaine after she buys a box of "Jujyfruits." Kramer appears on Regis & Kathie Lee to promote his coffee table book. Rachel wants to break up with Jerry and he readily agrees, because his luck has been "even Steven." Elaine's eating of "Jujyfruits" causes Pendant Publishing to go under, and later she realizes that she and George have traded places.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Outing
star
8.28
1582 votes

#4 - The Outing

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/11/1993

No thanks to Elaine, Jerry must work hard to prove he is straight when a college reporter mistakenly reports that he and George are gay, "not that there is anything wrong with that." Things really get out of hand when the article is picked up by the New York Post.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Cheever Letters
star
8.09
1633 votes

#5 - The Cheever Letters

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/28/1992

Jerry and George begin to work on the pilot for the series they pitched to NBC. Jerry says the wrong thing while "messing" around with one of Elaine's co-workers. George & Susan tell her father about the cabin fire, he becomes distraught and letters saved from the fire soon explain why. Kramer goes to the Cuban Embassy in search of cigars and makes a deal.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Hamptons
star
8.07
1475 votes

#6 - The Hamptons

Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/12/1994

Everyone makes a trip to the Hamptons to "see the baby" and enjoy the weekend. George's girlfriend goes topless and everyone sees her chest before he does. "The baby" is the most hideous thing they've ever seen. Elaine is confused when a handsome doctor refers to her as "breathtaking" - the same term he later uses to describe the baby. Kramer finds a filled lobster trap. Jerry's girlfriend sees George naked, after he's just gotten out of the pool, so something isn't as it should be.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Boyfriend (2)
star
8.06
1034 votes

#7 - The Boyfriend (2)

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/12/1992

George tries two more approaches with the unemployment officer. Kramer gets Jerry to accompany him to see a former neighbors' new baby, "you got to see the baby." Though he's gone out with Keith once, does that mean he must help him move. Elaine and Keith are hitting it off until he pulls out a cigarette. George wants to sleep with a really tall woman. Keith supports the "second spitter theory." Jerry and Elaine both breakup with Keith and George might get his wish.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Bizarro Jerry
star
8.05
1546 votes

#8 - The Bizarro Jerry

Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/1996

Kramer uses a bathroom in an office building and just begins working there. He is "TCB." Elaine sets Jerry up with a friend who is very beautiful, but she has "man hands." George uses a picture of her and passes her off as his dead finance Susan; that gets him into the "Forbidden City" where high priced models hang out. Elaine meets Kevin and some of his friends; they are the exact opposite of Jerry, George and Kramer. With Kramer working, George inside the walls and Elaine hanging out with Kevin, Jerry begins to feel alone.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Writer: David Mandel
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Tape
star
8.04
2037 votes

#9 - The Tape

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/1991

George is excited about a new potential baldness cure that was discovered in China. While listening to a tape of his previous nights show, Jerry hears the voice of a mysterious woman who talks dirty into his tape recorder and everyone becomes excited by the voice. Elaine shines in an entirely new light for George when he is let in on her secret, she's the voice. He is later driven crazy when she plays around with him while goofing around in front of Kramer's new video recorder. George tries the bald cure. Kramer searches for the jacket.

Directors: David Steinberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Marine Biologist
star
8.02
1505 votes

#10 - The Marine Biologist

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/10/1994

Jerry meets an old college classmate who asked about George, whom Jerry says is now a "marine biologist." An infuriated Russian writer tosses an electronic organizer belonging to Elaine out of a limousine that hits a passerby on the head. Kramer struggles with his golf swing and sand. While walking along the beach, George is called on to use his marine biology skills to save a whale.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Puffy Shirt
star
8.02
1744 votes

#11 - The Puffy Shirt

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/23/1993

George is forced to move in with his parents. He gets a job as a hand model and becomes obsessed with keeping his hands safe. Kramer's girlfriend, who designs clothes and talks with a real low voice, asks Jerry a question that he politely answers yes to. He agrees to wear one of her new puffy pirate shirts on a Today Show appearance he is making.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Writer: Larry David
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Switch
star
8.02
1473 votes

#12 - The Switch

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/5/1995

Elaine lets a potential employer borrow Mr. Pitt's tennis racket, but the injury suffered may ruin her chances, especially when she must get his racket back. Jerry's girlfriend never laughs, but he meets her roommate who does, so Jerry decides he would like to make "the switch." George's model girlfriend may be bulimic. He needs proof, so he meets Kramer's mother, who's a bathroom matron. While there he finds out Kramer's first name, Cosmo. Kramer decides it is time to be himself and begins to use his first name. George has the perfect plan for "the switch," a menage a trois.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Barber
star
8.00
1680 votes

#13 - The Barber

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/11/1993

George is uncertain about whether his job interview was successful or not, so he decides to go into the office and act like an employee while the boss is on vacation. Jerry is reluctant to dump his old barber even when he is given a real bad haircut. Kramer arranges to get him a clandestine haircut at the apartment of his barber. Newman is charged by Jerry's barber to get a sample of Jerry's hair when he suspects foul play.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Writer: Andy Robin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Yada Yada
star
7.99
1413 votes

#14 - The Yada Yada

Season 8 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/24/1997

George's girlfriend is big on using the phrase "yada yada"; Jerry says at least she is succinct. Jerry's dentist just became Jewish and he is already making jokes that make Jerry uncomfortable. Kramer and Mickey double date but they can't decide which of the women is right for them. Elaine is a character reference for a couple who is trying to adopt; a story she tells during the interview destroys all hope of adoption. George drops by Jerry's dental appointment. Mickey and Kramer continue to fight over who gets Karen or Julie. George determines that his girlfriend might be leaving out some significant details with her overuse of the phrase "yada yada." He gets her to fill in the details and discovers more than he wants to know. Jerry confesses to a priest about what he thinks about Tim's conversion. George drops by Jerry's confession. Kramer decides on the right woman and Mickey also decides to make his a commitment. Tim hears about Jerry's dental joke. After hearing Jerry's complaints about Tim, Kramer accuses Jerry of being an "anti-dentite." Elaine lobbies on behalf of Beth and Arnie and makes a sacrifice to try getting them a child. Meanwhile, Beth comes to Jerry for help when her marriage is falling apart. It does and she accompanies Jerry to Mickey's wedding where she reveals an unknown side of her personality.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Jimmy
star
7.98
1428 votes

#15 - The Jimmy

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/16/1995

The guys play a game of basketball with "the Jimmy," a man who talks about himself in the third person. Jimmy sells odd shaped training shoes and George is an interested investor. Fresh from the gym, he attends a Yankees meeting about thefts, during which he sweats profusely. Jerry goes to the dental office and discovers they now carry Penthouse in the waiting room. Elaine gets tickets to a benefit for the AMCA (Able Mentally Challenged Adults) featuring Mel Torme, the "Velvet Fog." Elaine tries to meet a handsome guy at the gym, but instead talks with "the Jimmy," who makes the date for himself. On a follow-up visit to the dental office, Jerry feels the dentist and his hygienist may have lived out a fantasy during his time in the chair, the type of thing you might read in Penthouse. Kramer has a visit to the dentist complete with Novocain, later while wearing a pair of Jimmy's shoes, winds up getting a him a seat at the main table of the benefit.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Invitations
star
7.98
1218 votes

#16 - The Invitations

Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/1996

As the big day grows nearer, George and Susan order their invitations. Susan lets him choose the cheap ones. George tries to think of a way out. Elaine suggests smoking and Kramer suggests a pre-nuptial agreement. Jerry, thinking of a single future with Kramer, nearly gets hit by a car but is saved by his female equivalent, Jeannie. Jerry thinks he is in love with Jeannie. Kramer tries to cash in on a bank's offer of a $100 if one of their tellers doesn't say hello. Is "Hey," hello? George tries the suggestions and strikes out. Susan begins preparing the invitations. Jerry makes a decision. Susan passes out while licking envelopes. Jerry proposes marriage; later he has second thoughts. George finds Susan and the gang meets him over at the hospital, where George gets the news, he's out. Free at last, George makes another attempt at Marisa Tomei.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Writer: Larry David
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Race
star
7.98
1511 votes

#17 - The Race

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/15/1994

Through his current girlfriend, Lois, Jerry meets an old rival, who suspects that he cheated in a high school race and he wants a rematch with Jerry to prove he was faster. Elaine is put on a "blacklist" for Chinese food delivery and finds out her boyfriend is a Communist. George responds to a personal ad in a Communist newspaper while at work, when Steinbrenner hears about it, he wants to see George in his office. Through his friend Mickey, Kramer becomes a department store Santa, who later spouts out Communist propaganda.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Pothole
star
7.97
1290 votes

#18 - The Pothole

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/20/1997

Elaine wants to have some Chinese food delivered, but lives just outside the delivery zone. In order to fool the delivery man, she pretends that the janitor closet in the building across the street is her apartment. The trouble is the landlady mistakes her for the janitor. Kramer joins the "adopt a highway" program, but his methods are a little unorthodox. Jerry's new girlfriend uses a toothbrush that had fallen into the toilet, which causes him more trouble than he could have imagined. George loses his keys, and by the time he finds them, they're buried at the bottom of recently filled pothole.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Parking Garage
star
7.97
2105 votes

#19 - The Parking Garage

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1991

Everyone separates to try to find the car in a huge parking garage. Jerry needs to use the bathroom so he finds a place to go and gets busted. Elaine tries to get help from people passing by. George joins Jerry in getting busted. Kramer is wearing "the jacket," and forgets where he put down the air conditioner he was carrying and causes George to be really late for his parent's 47th anniversary.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Writer: Larry David
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Bubble Boy
star
7.96
1680 votes

#20 - The Bubble Boy

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/7/1992

Jerry's girlfriend, Naomi has a laugh that sounds like "Elmer Fudd sitting on a juicer," and when she hears George's message to Jerry, she breaks up with him. So instead, Jerry asks Elaine to accompany him on a trip to a cabin in the mountain with George and Susan. Kramer isn't invited. Jerry agrees to a side trip to visit a sick fan, a "Bubble Boy." George gets into a fight with the "Bubble Boy" over the correct answer to a Trivial Pursuit question. Kramer and Naomi also make the trip to the cabin and get the fire started.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Limo
star
7.95
1595 votes

#21 - The Limo

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/26/1992

On a whim, Jerry and George take a limo from a passenger that Jerry knows never made it on the plane. While taking the limo they call Elaine & Kramer to join them for an event at Madison Square Garden, but it isn't the type of event they were hoping for.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Boyfriend (1)
star
7.94
1573 votes

#22 - The Boyfriend (1)

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/12/1992

Jerry meets Keith Hernandez and wants to make a good impression. Meanwhile, George is out of time on his unemployment and he works harder than ever on his scheme to get a 13 week extension. He tells the unemployment office he was really close on Vandelay Industries, a company that makes latex products and whose main office is Jerry's apartment. Kramer and Newman hate Hernandez back to a time when they were allegedly spit on by him; however, Jerry supports the "second-spitter theory." Keith asks Jerry about Elaine's status. Keith makes a date with her and breaks a date with Jerry.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Alternate Side
star
7.94
1780 votes

#23 - The Alternate Side

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/4/1991

Jerry's car is stolen and the criminal picks up his car phone. George decides to take a fill-in job moving cars from one side of the street to the other; this turns into a disaster for local traffic flow. Kramer gets a chance to do a line in a Woody Allen film; "these pretzels are making me thirsty." Elaine gets tired of her 66-year-old boyfriend and when she is about to break up with him, he has a stroke.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Chicken Roaster
star
7.94
1541 votes

#24 - The Chicken Roaster

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/1996

George reveals a strategy to guarantee a second date with women - leaving an object behind at their place. However, this strategy gets Elaine into trouble, when George leaves behind a sable hat she shouldn't have charged to the Peterman expense account. Meanwhile, the red neon sign of a new Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant beams directly into Kramer's apartment. Jerry and Kramer then switch apartments, and end up switching personalities as well.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Implant
star
7.93
1404 votes

#25 - The Implant

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/25/1993

Jerry dumps his girlfriend after Elaine says her figure is the result of implants. Kramer claims to have seen Salman Rushdie at the health club. By accident Elaine later discovers the breasts are real. George accompanies his current girlfriend to Detroit for her aunt's wake. While there he tries to get a copy of her death certificate so he can get a 50% discount on the airfare.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV