The BEST episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Every episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!

A wealthy family living in Bel-Air, California, receives a dubious gift from their poorer relations in Philadelphia when Will Smith arrives as The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. Will shatters the sophisticated serenity of Bel-Air with his streetwise common sense, much to the dismay of his upper-crust uncle, Philip Banks, Aunt Vivian and three conceited cousins, Carlton, Hilary and Ashley - and butler Geoffrey. As the Banks family opens their home - and their checkbook - to their needy relative, Will adapts easily to their indulgent lifestyle. Yet, he reminds everyone that the simplest pleasures of family life can't be bought at any price.

Last Updated: 1/11/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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I, Done (2)
star
8.24
337 votes

#1 - I, Done (2)

Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/20/1996

The Banks move out. The Jeffersons are about to move in. And Will turns out the lights.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Writer: Jeff Pollack
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse
star
7.93
519 votes

#2 - Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/9/1994

Life without Father. Will's deadbeat dad shows up full of bright, shiny father-and-son plans.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Watch Now:Apple TV
Banks Shot
star
7.90
636 votes

#3 - Banks Shot

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/25/1991

Will crawls to Philip for help after sneaking out on the town and getting hustled by sleazy pool sharks.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon
Mistaken Identity
star
7.85
1082 votes

#4 - Mistaken Identity

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/15/1990

Jailed, Will and Carlton stage a media stunt.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon
The Lucky Charm
star
7.82
740 votes

#5 - The Lucky Charm

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/7/1991

Philip may lose a superstitious client whom he advises not to make decisions based on Will's spontaneous remarks.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon
Six Degrees of Graduation
star
7.80
498 votes

#6 - Six Degrees of Graduation

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/1993

Vy anticipates Will's graduation with enthusiasm, but there may be discord when she learns Will is failing music. To pass his music class, Will must sing at the graduation ceremony -- with a class of eight-year-olds.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
72 Hours
star
7.74
670 votes

#7 - 72 Hours

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/11/1991

Will challenges Carlton to spend time in a tough neighborhood, trying to survive by masquerading as a financial consultant.

Directors: Rae Kraus
Writer: Rob Edwards
Watch Now:Amazon
The Baby Comes Out
star
7.73
527 votes

#8 - The Baby Comes Out

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/22/1993

Vivian's baby is a week late, but family members and her visiting sisters are nowhere to be found when it's time to rush to the hospital.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fresh Prince Project
star
7.70
1629 votes

#9 - The Fresh Prince Project

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1990

Aunt Vivian tries to mediate between her husband Philip and the newly arrived Will.

Directors: Debbie Allen
Watch Now:Amazon
Just Infatuation
star
7.69
671 votes

#10 - Just Infatuation

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/29/1991

R&B singer Tevin Campbell plays teen idol Little T, who surprises Ashley on her birthday with a special song and an invitation for a date.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon
Bang the Drum, Ashley
star
7.66
1306 votes

#11 - Bang the Drum, Ashley

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/17/1990

Will persuades Ashley to pawn her violin for a drum set.

Directors: Debbie Allen
Watch Now:Amazon
The Ethnic Tip
star
7.63
747 votes

#12 - The Ethnic Tip

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/14/1991

Will proposes a black history class be instituted at Bel-Air Academy, and gets a surprise when Aunt Viv arrives to teach it.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon
Winner Takes Off
star
7.63
603 votes

#13 - Winner Takes Off

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/4/1993

Will and Carlton convince Geoffrey that he has won a multimillion dollar lottery.

Directors: Werner Walian
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cased Up
star
7.62
656 votes

#14 - Cased Up

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/11/1991

A pompous lawyer who's dating Hilary is no fan of Will's after he's sideswiped by Will's roadster.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Amazon
Knowledge is Power
star
7.62
831 votes

#15 - Knowledge is Power

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/26/1990

College is, like, soooo hard! Will discovers that Hilary has dropped out of UCLA.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Writer: Cheryl Gard
Watch Now:Amazon
Nice Lady
star
7.61
677 votes

#16 - Nice Lady

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/11/1991

Fresh Prince Will is on his best behavior for visiting royalty -- the seemingly demure Lady Penelope, who Will hopes to persuade to let herself have a good time at a party.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Writer: Sandy Frank
Watch Now:Amazon
Father of the Year
star
7.61
497 votes

#17 - Father of the Year

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/4/1993

Daddy yo! Cooing cooeds flock around "single dad" Will when they think his baby cousin is his son.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Viva Lost Wages
star
7.59
440 votes

#18 - Viva Lost Wages

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/1995

Birthday boy Carlton just can't stop winning at the Vegas tables...until he starts losing. Big.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Writer: Robert Bruce
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Not With My Pig, You Don't
star
7.59
1092 votes

#19 - Not With My Pig, You Don't

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/1/1990

Will tries to smooth things between Philip and his very rural parents when they visit to see him receive an award.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon
It Had to Be You
star
7.59
681 votes

#20 - It Had to Be You

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/4/1991

Will has girl problems after a date with Jazz's domineering sister, who's ready to pick out a china pattern before the night is over.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Writer: Cheryl Gard
Watch Now:Amazon
PSAT Pstory
star
7.59
676 votes

#21 - PSAT Pstory

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/30/1991

Will is a picture of confidence, while Carlton is a frazzled bundle of nerves preparing for college aptitude tests.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Amazon
The Mother of All Battles
star
7.57
673 votes

#22 - The Mother of All Battles

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/16/1991

Will and Carlton arrive as reinforcements when a bully challenges Ashley to a rumble, but there's real trouble when Philip and Vivian intervene.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Writer: Bryan Winter
Watch Now:Amazon
Granny Gets Busy
star
7.57
673 votes

#23 - Granny Gets Busy

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/7/1991

Mortified over spying his mother kiss the handyman, Philip can't bear to think of her having a new man in her life.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Writer: Cheryl Gard
Watch Now:Amazon
Will Goes a-Courtin'
star
7.56
504 votes

#24 - Will Goes a-Courtin'

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/18/1993

Fight the power. Will and Carlton head to court to battle their evil landlord - Judge Philip Banks.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Watch Now:Apple TV
Love at First Fight
star
7.56
609 votes

#25 - Love at First Fight

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/18/1991

Jasmine Guy plays a scholarship student whose introduction to Will opens up a different world of fun and games -- and romance -- to divert her from her studies.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon