10 Best SNL Halloween Sketches, Ranked

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As demonstrated during its 50th anniversary special, Saturday Night Live has launched the careers of many stars, created memorable recurring characters, and even inspired entire movie series. While some of SNL‘s most popular sketches are still well-known today, others have been forgotten over time.

Halloween has long been a source of great ideas for Saturday Night Live, and these standout sketches from over the years demonstrate why. The holiday’s combination of spooky and humorous vibes perfectly suits the show’s style of sharp comedy and unpredictable energy.

As a huge movie and comedy fan, I always love revisiting classic SNL sketches around Halloween. They really remind me of the show’s golden years – those sketches are packed with the characters, impressions, and iconic dance moves that made SNL so legendary. It’s a great way to relive some truly funny moments!

10. Matt Foley: A Scary Story on Halloween (1993)

Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, Melanie Hutsell, Host Christian Slater, & David Spade

Matt Foley is the most iconic character Chris Farley ever played—known for being loud, chaotic, and relying on over-the-top physical humor. In the 1993 sketch “Matt Foley: A Scary Story on Halloween,” he tries to scare two teenage pranksters (played by Christian Slater and David Spade) after one of their Halloween tricks, while Phil Hartman portrays their annoyed dad.

The sketch uses a classic Chris Farley setup: his enthusiastic but clumsy attempts to inspire others quickly turn into a chaotic mess, filled with exaggerated movements, loud yelling, and physical comedy. While not directly about Halloween, Chris Farley’s energetic performance makes it a memorable sketch for the season.

Chris Farley threw himself completely into the character of Matt Foley, both with his body and his emotions, which is why the role became so popular on Saturday Night Live. Though Farley’s incredible talent was tragically cut short, moments like these ensure his comedy lives on.

9. The Clinton’s Halloween Party (2007)

Featuring Fred Armisen, Will Forte, Bill Hader, SNL Alum Darrell Hammond, Special Guest Barak Obama, Amy Poehler, Simon Rich, Jason Sudeikis

The 2007 “The Clintons’ Halloween Party” sketch is a highlight of Saturday Night Live‘s Halloween episodes. It cleverly combines funny costumes and a party atmosphere with pointed jokes about politics, using Bill and Hillary Clinton (who were campaigning for president at the time) as the hosts to deliver timely and playful commentary.

Darrell Hammond’s portrayal of Bill Clinton – always charismatic but with a hint of mischievousness – works brilliantly alongside Amy Poehler’s Hillary, who perfectly captures the polished and carefully controlled image she presented during the 2008 presidential campaign. The funniest moment comes when Barack Obama, playing himself, jokes that he doesn’t need a costume because he’s staying true to who he is, even on Halloween.

The sketch is a smart blend of humor and grand visuals, perfectly showcasing Saturday Night Live‘s knack for making politics funny and turning it into a cultural moment. It skillfully combines the current cast’s talents with Darrell Hammond’s well-known Clinton impression, and even includes a fun surprise appearance by Barack Obama, all set against a Halloween backdrop.

8. Horror Choreographer (2024)

Featuring Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Host Michael Keaton

The 2024 “Horror Choreographer” sketch is a classic example of what makes Saturday Night Live so funny – it combines ridiculous situations with references to popular culture. Andrew Dismukes plays a movie director attempting to film a typical slasher film, but Michael Keaton, as Beau the “stunt movement coordinator,” has some unusual ideas about how Michael Myers should move.

The basic idea is pretty silly, but the actors sell it with their dedication – especially Mikey Day from Saturday Night Live. His dancing is described as playfully energetic and flirty, reminiscent of a Jojo Siwa dancer. We’ll be mentioning Day’s dance skills again later on.

Keaton also shows off his comedic timing, playfully pushing Dismukes’ serious character to his breaking point. The sketch brilliantly takes a traditional Halloween figure and presents it with a wacky, comedic twist – a perfect example of how SNL often reimagines horror clichés with joyful silliness.

7. NPR’s Delicious Dish: Gordon Hoover’s Halloween Scary Town (2000)

Host & SNL Alum Dana Carvey, Ana Gasteyer, & Molly Shannon

Photo: NBC via MovieStillsDB

Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon’s recurring sketch as NPR hosts is a standout, often overlooked, part of Saturday Night Live. Their humor relies on clever wordplay and is a charming tribute to public radio. It’s so realistic – almost like listening to a real NPR show – with a soothing, calming quality that’s a nice change of pace from the show’s more energetic, physical comedy, like the Matt Foley character.

The 2000 Halloween sketch, with Dana Carvey playing Gordon Hoover, cleverly incorporated a seasonal theme, including a funny bit about “horror d’oeuvres.” The sketch builds gradually, with Hoover’s character changing from timid to assertive. Its combination of subtle humor, ridiculous ideas, and great acting makes it a particularly strong example of the group’s comedy, though it’s often overshadowed by the more famous “Schweddy Balls.”

6. Graveyard Song (2014)

Pete Davidson, Host Jim Carrey, Taran Killam, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Monihan, Jay Pharoah, Keenan Thompson, Sasheer Zamata

Okay, so as a huge fan of those old Saturday Night Live Halloween specials, “The Graveyard Song” from 2014 really stands out. It’s just a perfect mix of weird, funny, and surprisingly well-produced. Basically, it’s about this poor couple who stumble into a graveyard and discover everything – the tombstones, the ghosts, you name it – is alive and breaks into song. It’s totally absurd, but in the best way.

Things quickly become chaotic when two ghosts, Bob and Phil (played by Taran Killam and Jim Carrey), take over the song, much to the annoyance of the other ghosts. This unexpected and strange turn in the story makes the comedy surprisingly funny and keeps you guessing.

The sketch is funny, but it also shows how well SNL is made. The detailed sets, costumes, and makeup really create a convincingly creepy atmosphere, and the perfectly timed music adds to the humor. It’s a great combination of visual gags, sound effects, and funny situations – the kind of creative sketch that makes SNL Halloween episodes so memorable.

5. Martha Stewart On Halloween (1997)

Ana Gasteyer

Photo: NBC via MovieStillsDB

As a big fan of old SNL sketches, I always loved Ana Gasteyer’s take on Martha Stewart. It wasn’t just the voice she did – it was how she moved and the little expressions she used that made it instantly recognizable and hilarious. She played Martha as this really proper, almost obsessively neat homemaking expert, really leaning into that calm and perfect image the real Martha Stewart had built.

Stewart provides silly advice on how to take Halloween pranks like toilet-papering or egging to the next level – even suggesting flaming poop! The humor comes from the contrast between her proper presentation and the outrageous ideas. Saturday Night Live is skilled at turning celebrities into funny, current characters, and using holidays like Halloween helps keep their sketches unexpected and relevant.

4. A Girl’s Halloween (2016)

Featuring Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, & Cecily Strong

The 2016 “A Girl’s Halloween” sketch came at a time when female writers and performers were really thriving on Saturday Night Live. It cleverly captured what many young women experience on a night out – starting with good intentions, but quickly becoming wild and unpredictable, and Halloween just makes it even more chaotic and fun. That’s why the sketch still feels so relatable.

Aidy Bryant’s character starts the night carefully putting on makeup, but things quickly spiral out of control – she ends up crashing through a pizza shop window, like a hilarious, over-the-top version of the Kool-Aid Man bursting through a wall. It’s a funny and surprisingly relatable sketch, showcasing the talents of three of the best cast members from SNL’s 2010s lineup.

3. Spooky Song (2019)

Beck Bennett, Aidy Bryant, Host Chance The Rapper, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardener, Kyle Mooney, Keenan Thompson

The “Spooky Song” sketch from Saturday Night Live‘s 2019 Halloween show is wonderfully strange and meticulously crafted, demonstrating the show’s knack for combining goofy ideas with impressive visuals. The comedy is boosted by every detail, from the skeleton at the piano to the animated clouds narrating the song, and even the mysterious owl watching everything unfold.

The costumes, sets, and makeup are all incredibly detailed, bringing this strange world to life. The show cleverly mixes silly humor with these impressive visual elements.

Chance the Rapper, hosting the show, played a ghost who comically avoided talking about how he died, taking the already silly storyline to a complete stop. This Halloween sketch was visually impressive and incredibly funny, showcasing the best of SNL’s creative spirit during the holiday season.

2. Vincent Price’s Halloween Special II (2010)

Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Host Jon Hamm, & Kristen Wiig

The 2010 “Vincent Price’s Halloween Special II” is a classic Saturday Night Live Halloween sketch. It’s a brilliant mix of dark comedy, famous people from the past, and a stage show feel. Because the sketch features celebrities who are no longer alive, the writers can really play up their personalities without holding back – a great example is Kristen Wiig’s portrayal of Judy Garland casually taking pills.

The sketch is a black-and-white drawing of a Halloween party thrown by Vincent Price. The guest list is wonderfully strange, featuring people like Liberace, JFK, and Judy Garland dressed up in costume – a funny mix of historical figures! The humor is smart and playful, similar to the style of the Harvard Lampoon and often seen in Saturday Night Live‘s writing, and it’s made even better by two of SNL‘s most talented cast members from the 2000s.

The sketch looks fantastic, with detailed sets, props, and careful attention to hair and makeup, creating a strangely energetic and polished feel. It really shows how Saturday Night Live combines a sense of the past, playful mockery, and holiday cheer to make a sketch you won’t forget.

1. Haunted Elevator (2016)

Beck Bennett, Mikey Day, Host Tom Hanks, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Moynihan, & Keenan Thompson

The “Haunted Elevator” sketch, featuring David S. Pumpkins, quickly became a beloved classic on Saturday Night Live. Its strange and silly idea took off, becoming incredibly popular – Halloween costumes sold out, and it even led to a short animated film. Tom Hanks’ unique way of speaking, combined with the bizarre dancing by Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan, made David S. Pumpkins a true pop-culture hit.

As a huge fan of comedy, I always thought that sketch was brilliant because it was just so wonderfully strange. On paper, absolutely none of it should have worked, but somehow it all clicked and became instantly iconic. Apparently, Tom Hanks even thought Chris Hemsworth would be a better choice for the role! Thankfully, SNL stuck with their original vision, because honestly, nobody else could have pulled off that wonderfully chaotic energy of David S. Pumpkins like the actor they cast.

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2025-10-27 15:03