Top 10 Seinfeld Episodes Ranked by IMDb: A Must-Watch List

From 'The Contest' to 'The Puffy Shirt': The Top 10 Seinfeld Episodes

Seinfeld isn’t just a sitcom—it’s a cultural phenomenon that forever changed television. Known for being the "show about nothing," Seinfeld brilliantly captured the absurdities of everyday life, delivering iconic moments that are still quoted today. But with 9 seasons and over 170 episodes, which ones stand out as the best of the best? Thanks to IMDb ratings, we can now rank the top 10 episodes that had fans laughing, cringing, and quoting lines for years.

From George’s outrageous lies to Kramer’s slapstick antics and Elaine’s dancing disasters, these episodes represent peak Seinfeld hilarity. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the show, these top-rated episodes are absolute must-watches. Get ready to revisit moments like “No soup for you!” and George’s epic declaration, “I’m out!” as we dive into Seinfeld’s highest-rated gems that will make you fall in love with the series all over again.

1. The Contest (Season 4, Episode 11) - IMDb Rating: 9.5

This Emmy-winning episode is pure genius. "The Contest" takes a hilarious look at the group’s attempt to see who can hold out the longest from, let’s just say, a certain intimate activity. The brilliance of the episode lies in its subtlety—no explicit words, yet everyone knows exactly what’s going on. It’s classic Seinfeld awkward humor, with everyone’s patience hilariously cracking under pressure. George's legendary line, "I’m out!" followed by Kramer’s instant failure, is one of the show’s most quoted moments. Not only did this episode break comedic boundaries, but it also cemented Seinfeld as a series that could take on taboo topics and spin them into comedic gold. The premise, paired with Jerry’s cool observational humor, Elaine’s competitive streak, and George’s eternal self-doubt, makes this a true Seinfeld masterpiece that fans continue to rave about.

2. The Opposite (Season 5, Episode 22) - IMDb Rating: 9.5

In this classic, George decides to do the opposite of every instinct he’s ever had—and it works. George, the character known for his neurotic, self-sabotaging ways, finally wins at life. He lands a job with the Yankees, gets the girl, and moves out of his parents’ house—all by doing the exact opposite of what he’d normally do. The episode not only gives us a hilarious insight into George’s broken logic but also serves as a reminder that sometimes life can take a wild turn if you break away from the norm. Meanwhile, Elaine’s life takes a downward spiral, losing her job, apartment, and boyfriend—essentially becoming "George." Jerry realizes his life is in perfect balance, and Kramer’s bizarre idea to write a coffee table book about coffee tables becomes a hit. It’s peak Seinfeld absurdity and yet feels like a satisfying full-circle moment.

3. The Marine Biologist (Season 5, Episode 14) - IMDb Rating: 9.2

"The Marine Biologist" is one of George’s greatest episodes. After lying to a woman about being a marine biologist, George finds himself in an unbelievable situation when a whale is stranded on a beach and bystanders look to him to save it. His climactic retelling of pulling a golf ball out of the whale’s blowhole is comedy gold, made even funnier by Kramer’s earlier scene where he’s driving golf balls into the ocean. This episode shows off George’s talent for crafting lies that get him in way too deep and highlights Seinfeld’s unique ability to tie every character’s story together in an unexpected way. It’s one of those episodes that is both completely absurd and totally hilarious, with George’s final speech about the whale standing out as one of the most iconic moments in Seinfeld history.

4. The Soup Nazi (Season 7, Episode 6) - IMDb Rating: 9.2

“No soup for you!” became one of the most quoted lines in television history after this episode aired. In “The Soup Nazi,” a temperamental soup chef with an ironclad set of rules sends shockwaves through New York’s soup-loving community. The gang quickly learns that if you don’t follow his strict ordering procedure, you won’t be getting any of his famous soup. Elaine’s final showdown with the Soup Nazi, when she discovers his secret recipes, is both triumphant and hilarious. Meanwhile, George, as usual, screws up his chance at getting his beloved soup by demanding bread. The Soup Nazi’s over-the-top personality combined with Jerry and Elaine’s antics make this episode a fan favorite. It perfectly encapsulates Seinfeld’s knack for taking ordinary, everyday situations and turning them into hysterical, high-stakes battles.

5. The Boyfriend: Part 1 & 2 (Season 3, Episode 17 & 18) - IMDb Rating: 9.0

This two-part episode is packed with so much gold that it had to be counted as one. The highlight of “The Boyfriend” is Jerry’s friendship with Keith Hernandez, the famous baseball player. Their relationship is hilariously treated like a romantic one, with Jerry becoming anxious about whether Keith will call him back after their first "date." But the real star of this episode is George, who creates an elaborate lie about unemployment and accidentally digs himself into a deep hole. Add in Kramer and Newman’s subplot about their grudge against Hernandez, and you’ve got an unforgettable episode. The way these plots converge, with Hernandez’s alleged "spitting incident" becoming a spoof of the JFK assassination "magic bullet" theory, shows Seinfeld’s ability to mix the bizarre with the mundane flawlessly.

6. The Puffy Shirt (Season 5, Episode 2) - IMDb Rating: 8.9

Few fashion moments in TV history are as iconic as Jerry’s ridiculous puffy pirate shirt. In this episode, Jerry accidentally agrees to wear a puffy shirt on national TV after he misunderstands Kramer’s "low-talking" girlfriend. The sight of Jerry, usually the stylish and cool one, in an over-the-top pirate shirt is a comedic visual masterpiece. Meanwhile, George’s subplot—where he becomes a hand model after his "delicate hands" are discovered—is equally hilarious. Both plotlines explore the absurdities of accidental success and social miscommunication, all wrapped in classic Seinfeld awkwardness. “The Puffy Shirt” is one of those episodes that sticks in your mind, not just for the laughs but for how it perfectly captures the weird, unexpected predicaments the gang constantly finds themselves in.

7. The Bubble Boy (Season 4, Episode 7) - IMDb Rating: 8.8

In "The Bubble Boy," George and Susan visit a boy with an immune disorder who lives in a plastic bubble. What follows is one of the most awkward and hilarious encounters of the entire series. George, of course, manages to get into a heated argument with the bubble boy over a Trivial Pursuit question—leading to a physical altercation with someone who literally lives in a bubble. Meanwhile, Kramer burns down Susan’s family cabin, adding more chaos to the mix. This episode is quintessential Seinfeld for its oddball humor and the way it turns a simple road trip into a complete disaster. It’s the kind of cringe comedy that Seinfeld mastered, with George once again showing that he can’t help but ruin even the most delicate situations.

8. The Merv Griffin Show (Season 9, Episode 6) - IMDb Rating: 8.7

“The Merv Griffin Show” is one of Kramer’s wackiest episodes—and that’s saying something. After discovering the old set of The Merv Griffin Show in the trash, Kramer decides to transform his apartment into a talk show studio, complete with guests and monologues. He interviews his friends as if they’re on a talk show, which leads to some hilariously bizarre interactions. Meanwhile, Jerry’s creepy obsession with a woman’s vintage toy collection and George’s antics with a squirrel he accidentally runs over add more layers of ridiculousness. This episode is peak Seinfeld absurdity, with Kramer’s delusional behavior somehow making sense in the world of Seinfeld. It’s a fan-favorite for a reason—it’s weird, unpredictable, and packed with laughs.

9. The Little Kicks (Season 8, Episode 4) - IMDb Rating: 8.6

Elaine’s terrible dancing takes center stage in this episode, giving us one of the most unforgettable moments in Seinfeld history. After being caught doing her infamous “little kicks” at a work party, everyone starts talking about Elaine’s hilariously bad moves. Meanwhile, George tries to prove he’s a “bad boy” to impress a girl, leading to some cringeworthy but hilarious moments. The episode is a perfect example of how Seinfeld took the smallest, most insignificant details (like someone’s terrible dancing) and turned them into comedic gold. Elaine’s confidence in her dance moves, despite everyone else cringing, makes it even funnier. It’s one of those episodes where you can’t stop laughing because it’s so awkwardly relatable.

10. The Hamptons (Season 5, Episode 20) - IMDb Rating: 8.6

"The Hamptons" is iconic for introducing the world to the concept of “shrinkage.” When the gang heads to the Hamptons, everything goes wrong—George’s girlfriend goes topless in front of the group, but only Jerry’s girlfriend sees George naked after he’s been swimming in cold water. His humiliation over the "shrinkage" phenomenon is both relatable and hysterical, and it became a pop culture staple. This episode is full of awkward moments, from Kramer stealing lobsters to Elaine being told she’s “breathtaking.” Like many of the best Seinfeld episodes, "The Hamptons" takes ordinary moments and amplifies them into absurd, unforgettable comedy. George’s overreaction to his girlfriend's toplessness and Jerry’s ongoing relationship drama add layers of hilarity to an episode that’s both cringeworthy and side-splittingly funny.

These top 10 Seinfeld episodes represent the very best of the series, perfectly showcasing why this "show about nothing" became a timeless classic. From the awkward social interactions to George's never-ending stream of lies and Kramer’s chaotic brilliance, these episodes remind us why Seinfeld remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Whether it's the clever writing, the unforgettable one-liners, or the hilariously relatable moments, there’s a reason Seinfeld continues to be a cultural touchstone decades after it first aired.

So, the next time you’re in the mood for a nostalgia-filled binge or just want to laugh at George's misfortunes one more time, these episodes are your go-to. Relive the magic and absurdity of Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer at their absolute best, because in the world of Seinfeld, nothing has never been so funny.

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