Just signed up for Disney+? Start with ‘The Simpsons’
Just signed up for Disney+? Start with ‘The Simpsons’
It’s a comfort watch, a comedy classic, and still funny decades later.
If you just signed up for Disney+ and are wondering where to start for a truly great comedy, go with “The Simpsons.” I genuinely grew up on this show, and it’s still funny decades later. That alone is kind of remarkable. After 37 (!!!) seasons and counting, it’s basically a cultural institution now. Here’s why it’s the place to start if you’re looking for a laugh on Disney+.
Top comedy TV show to stream first when you sign up for Disney+
Why ‘The Simpsons’ is the must-watch comedy on Disney+
The biggest reason this should be your first Disney+ comedy is that it’s just a good show. The writing has been some of the best on TV for decades, and it never pulls its punches when it skewers politics, media, corporations, parenting, pop culture, or anything else is goes after. Nothing is off-limits. But underneath all of that, it’s still a show about a family that genuinely loves each other. That emotional core never disappears, even when everything else goes off the rails, and it’s the reason new seasons are still getting made. You always know where the show’s heart is.
Plus, “The Simpsons” is a legacy in and of itself. It’s the longest-running scripted series in television history, and it helped define what modern TV comedy even looks like. Every animated sitcom that came after it borrowed something, whether it’s the tone, the structure, or the idea that a cartoon could be smart, mean, warm, and ridiculous all at once.
I once heard someone describe “The Simpsons” as a warm donut fresh out of the oven (I can see Homer drooling), and that description feels dead-on. It’s comforting, tasty, familiar, and it never lets you down. Even when the humor gets edgy, the show itself is good-hearted. Homer is a walking disaster, but his love for his family is always real, even when he expresses it in the worst possible way. That emotional baseline makes it a show you can come back to endlessly.
Springfield is the other big draw here. It’s one of the great TV towns, full stop. Every corner is packed with characters who feel instantly recognizable, even when they’re wildly exaggerated. Mr. Burns, Moe, Ned Flanders, Krusty, Barney, and Principal Skinner. The show can build an entire episode around almost anyone and still make it work. Over time, Springfield becomes its own universe, full of running jokes and traditions that reward longtime viewers without ever shutting out someone new. You can jump in anywhere and still feel oriented.
Now, you can’t run for 37 seasons without playing with form, and “The Simpsons” has always been fearless about experimenting. Documentary-style episodes, vignettes, genre parodies, musical numbers, and complete nonsense, sometimes all in the same season. Even the couch gag is a creative playground. That willingness to try something weird or unexpected keeps the show feeling alive this far into its run.
And if you’re wondering where to start, it’s a good question. People love to debate the so-called golden age, and sure, those seasons are special. But honestly, I’d jump in wherever you feel drawn to. Don’t be scared to start with recent eps because they still deliver. The jokes are dense, with visual gags hiding in signs, background details, and blink-and-you-miss-it moments. And if you want to go all the way back and see how this show feels in its first few seasons (hint: very different), do it. There’s no wrong way to watch this show because no matter where you jump in, it delivers.
How you watch it doesn’t matter either. You can jump in anywhere, watch one episode or 10, half-watch while doing something else, or sit down and really pay attention. It works no matter how you watch it, which is exactly why it should be the first comedy you hit play on when you sign up for Disney+.
The Simpsons
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
“The Simpsons” was ranked the best sitcom of all time by Rolling Stone in 2021.
If you’ve never seen it, “The Simpsons Movie” pulled together some of the series’ best writers for a wild ride.
What is ‘The Simpsons’ about?
“The Simpsons” is an animated sitcom about a working-class family living in the very not-normal town of Springfield. Homer and Marge are raising three kids: Bart causes problems, Lisa overthinks everything, and Maggie quietly observes and occasionally saves the day. Around them is a town that acts as a satirical mirror of American life, touching everything from politics and pop culture to money, technology, and social trends.
Most episodes are self-contained, which makes the show incredibly easy to jump into. Characters don’t age, stories reset, and you can watch in any order without feeling lost. Longtime viewers are rewarded with callbacks and running jokes, but new viewers are never punished for not knowing the history. At its core, it’s a family sitcom wrapped in sharp satire, which is why it’s lasted this long.
Other must-stream comedy shows on Disney+
If you want more great Disney+ comedies after this, start with “Futurama,” Matt Groening’s sci-fi comedy that somehow balances big ideas, dumb jokes, and emotional punches better than it has any right to. Then queue up “Family Guy,” which goes full chaos mode with cutaway gags and relentless pop culture satire. And don’t miss “Bob’s Burgers,” a warmer, weirder family comedy that leans into heart, musical bits, and deeply lovable oddballs. Together, they make Disney+ quietly great for animated comedy.
Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”