"Saturday Night Live" is the benchmark of sketch TV. For more than half a century, the show has paired a celebrity host with a rotating cast of comedians and a musical guest, becoming an inescapable part of America's cultural conversation along the way. It has brought humor to countless elections, poked fun at pop culture trends, and created some of the most indelible TV moments of all time.
Viewers have the show to thank for classic movies like "The Blues Brothers," "Coneheads," and "Wayne's World," all of which were based on "SNL" sketches. Comedy icons including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Adam Sandler, and Amy Poehler jump-started their careers there as writers and actors.
"SNL" has also been known to make or break political careers. Gerald Ford's allies even concede that Chevy Chase's famous impersonation of the president may have influenced his narrow loss in the 1976 election.
The show's impressions have shaped how Americans perceive candidates and elected officials, and the show has been subject to major controversies along the way. The 2024-2025 season marked its 50th anniversary with star-studded documentaries and celebrations, including the February 2025 "SNL50: The Anniversary Special." The 52nd season premiered on Sept. 26, 2026, with host Jalen Brunson, musical guest KATSEYE, and two new cast members: Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter.
To celebrate more than 50 years of entertainment, Stacker compiled the top 25 episodes as rated by IMDb users, as of Nov. 3, 2026. Only episodes with 100 or more votes were counted, and in the case of ties, the episode with the most votes was ranked higher. Any remaining ties were then ranked in alphabetical order. The result spans every era of the show's history.
#25. Peyton Manning/Carrie Underwood (2007)
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
"SNL" hosts from the world of sports are a rarity, but Peyton Manning delivered a serviceable performance in an episode that may have brought a few new eyes to the aging series. His fake "United Way" PSA, in which he berates kids and pelts them with footballs, became an instant classic. At another point in the episode, Manning plays an actor in the film "300" who keeps failing to drop a boulder on a fellow actor, much to his director's frustration.
#24. Kristen Stewart/Alessia Cara (2017)
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
Melissa McCarthy's Sean Spicer arrives on the scene in all of his glory, becoming a recurring political sketch. The same episode also featured Alec Baldwin's President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, while host Kristen Stewart made headlines for an accidental expletive during her monologue.
#23. Tom Hanks/Lady Gaga (2016)
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
What could have been a standard Halloween episode became legendary thanks to one perfect sketch. In his ninth turn hosting, Tom Hanks starred as David S. Pumpkins, sparking an internet obsession.
#22. Maya Rudolph/Sleigh Bells (2012)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
Maya Rudolph returned to her old stomping ground to remind everyone what the show was missing without her, and in the process, she starred in "Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Laughs," a sketch that displayed her talents to the absolute fullest. The monologue Rudolph opened with her first time hosting "SNL" highlighted her stage presence with a performance of "Do Ya Wanna Funk?"
#21. Larry David/The 1975 (2016)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
It seems baffling that Larry David didn't make his guest host debut until 2016, but the comic did not disappoint. His take on Bernie Sanders is particularly memorable, with Paste Magazine reviewer Chris White writing that David "elevated the act beyond impersonation…into something of a whimsical caricature."
#20. Bill Hader/Arcade Fire (2018)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
Bill Hader returned for his second time hosting, and he brought along a friend: Fred Armisen. Together, these two alums added a bit of old-school fun to the latest season, with Hader performing multiple impressions in a "Jurassic Park" audition sketch, including the likes of Alan Alda, Al Pacino, and Clint Eastwood.
#19. Bill Hader/Hozier (2014)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
Bill Hader brought back a number of his classic characters for this hosting gig, and, yes, that includes the infamous Stefon. He also offers a new impression of a heartbroken Cat in the Hat in a sitcom-style sketch with Cecily Strong as Linda, his lost love.
#18. Donald Glover/Childish Gambino (2018)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
Not only did Donald Glover blow fans away as a host, he also debuted his new single "This Is America." The powerful anthem with messages about gun violence, consumerism, and Black America proved to be one of the most prominent songs of the year.
#17. Justin Timberlake/Ciara (2009)
- IMDb user rating: 8.2
Justin Timberlake is a perennial favorite on "SNL," and for good reason: the former boy band heartthrob displays his comedic skills once again when he teams up with Kristen Wiig for a "Target Lady" sketch. Timberlake also performed "Love Sex Magic" with musical guest Ciara.
#16. John Mulaney/Thomas Rhett (2019)
- IMDb user rating: 8.2
Former show writer John Mulaney's return meant a heavyweight cameo lineup, as Ben Stiller plays Michael Cohen in the cold open, and Bill Hader hosts the game show "What's that Name?" (in which Mulaney and Cecily Strong let down their closest friends). Later, Mulaney, Strong, Pete Davidson, and Kate McKinnon are lawyers on the legal edition of "Shark Tank," where celebrities make their case to find help.
#15. Jimmy Fallon/Michael Bublé (2011)
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
Jimmy Fallon's first time hosting "SNL" since his departure as a cast member brought back some major nostalgia as well as guest stars. The list of surprise appearances included Chris Kattan, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Jude Law.
#14. Richard Pryor/Gil Scott-Heron (1975)
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
Richard Pryor appeared on "SNL" only once, but his appearance left a lasting impression. Alongside Chevy Chase, he participated in a sketch called "Word Association," in which the two men traded racial slurs that would never make their way onto TV today; the skit remains one of the most shocking and daring stunts the show has ever pulled.
#13. Adam Sandler/Shawn Mendes (2019)
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
Former regular Adam Sandler kicked off the show with a song titled, "I Was Fired," in response to his daughter wondering why he left the show if it was the "time of his life." Later, he plays Joe Romano of "Romano Tours," a quirky guide whose family has for generations provided tours of Italy to people from all over the world... "but mostly Long Island and Jersey."
#12. Dave Chappelle/A Tribe Called Quest (2016)
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
Dave Chappelle made his "SNL" debut in 2016. In the same episode, the famed rap group A Tribe Called Quest debuted their new song "We the People."
#11. Christopher Walken/Christina Aguilera (2000)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
In 2000, the "SNL" cast included Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, and Tracy Morgan, and joining those heavy hitters for the week was Christopher Walken. He took on a number of classic characters, but perhaps none quite as well-done as Fidel Castro. This is also the episode where Walken has "gotta have more cowbell" from the band.
#10. Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga (2011)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, and Andy Samberg teamed up to perform a new Lonely Island song "3-way," in which Patricia Clarkson and Susan Sarandon also appeared. The bawdy number further solidified Timberlake's status as an "SNL" golden boy.
#9. Justin Timberlake (2013)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
With more than 1,000 episodes over the course of more than 50 years on television, fewer than 50 stars have pulled double duty as host and musical guest on "Saturday Night Live." Of those performers, very few have been as popular or capable of handling the task as Justin Timberlake. This 2013 episode marked his fifth time hosting, officially landing him in the Five-Timers Club. Paul Simon, who pulled double duty all the way back in the show's second episode, makes a cameo.
#8. Jim Carrey/Soundgarden (1996)
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
In this 1996 episode, "SNL" saw another major cast turnover: this marked the final episode for David Spade, David Koechner, and Nancy Walls. Host Jim Carrey plays an unusual spaceman in his monologue, and later an overprotective lifeguard watching out for Will Ferrell's character, who is in an indoor whirlpool bath.
#7. Pedro Pascal/Coldplay (2023)
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
For such a recent episode to have made it so high on this list so quickly, something magical must have occurred, such as Pedro Pascal making his first appearance as host of "SNL." Pascal has a reputation that precedes him of being beloved by pretty much everybody due to a combination of his talents, his charm, and his philanthropy. On top of all that he does, he also joins a small list of Latino actors to be featured as hosts of "SNL."
#6. Justin Timberlake (2006)
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
Why is this episode so revered? Because it was part of the show's revitalization that made it relevant in pop culture again, and it's all thanks to the Lonely Island song "D*ck in a Box."
#5. Jimmy Fallon/Justin Timberlake (2013)
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
Landing in the top five is Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake's bromance-fueled episode. These two have a friendship that translates beautifully to the screen, as they reveal in their pitch-perfect "The Barry Gibb Talk Show" sketch.
#4. Ryan Gosling/Chris Stapleton (2024)
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
Viewers of this April 2024 episode were in for a more musical evening than usual, as host Ryan Gosling kicked off the show by performing a version of Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" in his opening monologue. Meanwhile, musical guest Chris Stapleton appeared in a sketch called "Get That Boy Back," a parody of country music videos before playing his Grammy Award-winning hit "White Horse."
#3. Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers (1978)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8
In this episode, the iconic duo of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi made their debut as "The Blues Brothers." The pop culture impact of the act truly can't be overstated, and this is where it all began, making it an instant "SNL" classic.
#2. Eddie Murphy/Lizzo (2019)
- IMDb user rating: 8.8
Just missing the top spot is the year-end 2019 episode hosted by the legendary Eddie Murphy, whose return brought out the likes of Larry David as Bernie Sanders, Rachel Dratch as Amy Klobuchar, and Fred Armisen as Michael Bloomberg (and that was just the cold open). In "Cut for Time: A Holiday Gig," bandmates Murphy, Kenan Thompson, and Kyle Mooney cannot stop arguing and interrupting their own show. The cherry on top: Lizzo performing "Truth Hurts" live from Studio 8H.
#1. Betty White/Jay-Z (2010)
- IMDb user rating: 8.9
An internet campaign landed the incredible Betty White a gig hosting "SNL," and she made the most of every minute. More than that, the episode became an ode to the show's indelible female cast members, past and present, as they one by one joined White in celebrating her milestone.
Additional writing by Cu Fleshman and Jaimie Etkin.
