The BEST episodes of The Big Bang Theory

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

A woman who moves into an apartment across the hall from two brilliant but socially awkward physicists shows them how little they know about life outside of the laboratory.

Last Updated: 12/29/2023Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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The Stockholm Syndrome
star
8.58
3202 votes

#1 - The Stockholm Syndrome

Season 12 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2019

Bernadette and Wolowitz leave their kids for the first time; Penny and Leonard try to keep a secret; Sheldon and Amy stick together; and Koothrappali makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Change Constant
star
8.38
3950 votes

#2 - The Change Constant

Season 12 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/16/2019

Sheldon and Amy await big news.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Opening Night Excitation
star
8.21
7321 votes

#3 - The Opening Night Excitation

Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/2015

As the guys prepare to go to the premiere of the new Star Wars movie, Sheldon plans a special event for Amy's birthday.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Bow Tie Asymmetry
star
8.20
4705 votes

#4 - The Bow Tie Asymmetry

Season 11 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/2018

When Amy’s parents and Sheldon’s family arrive for the wedding, everybody is focused on making sure all goes according to plan – everyone except the bride and groom.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Long Distance Dissonance
star
8.20
8796 votes

#5 - The Long Distance Dissonance

Season 10 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/11/2017

The gang is concerned when Sheldon’s former admirer, Dr. Ramona Nowitzki, resurfaces while Amy is away at Princeton.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis
star
8.16
12573 votes

#6 - The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/2008

Penny starts dating Leonard's handsome colleague; Leonard and his friends are tortured by Sheldon's obsession with gift-giving etiquette.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Thanksgiving Decoupling
star
8.16
9249 votes

#7 - The Thanksgiving Decoupling

Season 7 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/21/2013

An upset Sheldon protests when the entire gang drags him to Mrs. Wolowitz's house for Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Penny and Leonard must deal with a mistake from her past.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Good Guy Fluctuation
star
8.06
13103 votes

#8 - The Good Guy Fluctuation

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/2011

A cute comic book artist puts Leonard and Priya’s relationship to the test, while Sheldon tries to scare the guys for Halloween.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Roommate Transmogrification
star
8.05
13478 votes

#9 - The Roommate Transmogrification

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/19/2011

When Bernadette receives her PhD, Wolowitz feels emasculated. Raj and Leonard swap apartments and Penny does something she regrets.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Romance Resonance
star
8.04
9602 votes

#10 - The Romance Resonance

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/24/2013

Sheldon's latest scientific breakthrough makes him feel like a fraud – and threatens to haunt him forever. Meanwhile, Howard's romantic gesture to Bernadette causes Penny to step up her game with Leonard.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fish Guts Displacement
star
8.04
10614 votes

#11 - The Fish Guts Displacement

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2012

When Amy gets sick, Sheldon tries to nurse her back to health; Wolowitz and his father-in-law plan a fishing trip.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Egg Salad Equivalency
star
8.04
9718 votes

#12 - The Egg Salad Equivalency

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/3/2013

When Sheldon is accused of sexual harassment, he ends up getting Raj, Leonard and Wolowitz in trouble too.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Indecision Amalgamation
star
8.03
8099 votes

#13 - The Indecision Amalgamation

Season 7 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/3/2014

Raj struggles with guilt when he dates two women at once; Penny has a chance to play a part in a cheesy movie; Sheldon is torn between two gaming systems.

Directors: Anthony Rich
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Pants Alternative
star
8.02
12831 votes

#14 - The Pants Alternative

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/22/2010

Sheldon's friends come to his aid when his fear of public speaking stands between him and a coveted award.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Closure Alternative
star
8.01
9732 votes

#15 - The Closure Alternative

Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/25/2013

Amy tries to help Sheldon get over his compulsive need for closure when one of his favorite TV shows is canceled; Raj discovers a secret about Lucy.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Countdown Reflection
star
7.99
11421 votes

#16 - The Countdown Reflection

Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/2012

As Howard's mission to space approaches, Howard and Bernadette decide to get married before his launch, causing the gang to scurry into overdrive in an effort to stage the wedding.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Lunar Excitation
star
7.97
12934 votes

#17 - The Lunar Excitation

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/24/2010

While Penny worries that dating Leonard has ruined her for normal guys, Wolowitz and Koothrappali search for Sheldon's perfect match online.

Directors: Peter Chakos
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Bakersfield Expedition
star
7.96
9816 votes

#18 - The Bakersfield Expedition

Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/10/2013

As the guys don costumes and go on a road trip to a comic book convention, the ladies decide to stay home and try to interpret a comic book.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Locomotive Manipulation
star
7.96
8351 votes

#19 - The Locomotive Manipulation

Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/6/2014

On Valentine's Day, Sheldon and Amy go on a trip to wine country with Howard and Bernadette; Penny and Leonard rush Raj's dog to the vet.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Scavenger Vortex
star
7.96
9625 votes

#20 - The Scavenger Vortex

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/2013

When the entire gang competes in a cutthroat scavenger hunt designed by Raj that tests their science knowledge and street smarts, it brings out the best – and worst – in everyone.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The 43 Peculiarity
star
7.96
10812 votes

#21 - The 43 Peculiarity

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/15/2012

Raj and Howard try to to figure out why Sheldon disappears at 2:45 every afternoon; jealousy arises in Penny and Leonard's relationship.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Tangerine Factor
star
7.96
11847 votes

#22 - The Tangerine Factor

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/19/2008

Penny's break-up spurs Leonard to summon up the courage to ask her out, and each head to Sheldon for advice on their upcoming date.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Staircase Implementation
star
7.95
13742 votes

#23 - The Staircase Implementation

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/17/2010

Leonard tells Penny about how he met Sheldon for the first time...and what happened to the elevator.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Prestidigitation Approximation
star
7.95
12950 votes

#24 - The Prestidigitation Approximation

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/10/2011

Sheldon is baffled by Wolowitz's magic trick. Meanwhile, Leonard realizes dating Priya may make it impossible to continue being friends with Penny.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Herb Garden Germination
star
7.95
13052 votes

#25 - The Herb Garden Germination

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/7/2011

Sheldon and Amy decide to start several rumors about the others as a test. Meanwhile, Howard takes his relationship with Bernadette to an even higher level.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV