10 ‘Tom and Jerry’ Best Episodes, Ranked by IMDb

Cartoon giants like Disney and Pixar might be doing their best to bring all sorts of animated stories to the big screens as frequently as possible, but nothing can still beat the timeless classics like Hanna-Barbera’s Tom and Jerry.

The TV show has gone through many stages ever since it was launched back in 1940, eventually spawning numerous short movies and remakes that keep their viewership high decades later.

In case you, like many others, constantly get lost in myriads of Tom and Jerry’s episodes, here’s the definite top-10 you should check out right now.

10. ‘Old Rockin’ Chair Tom’ (1948)

• 7.9/10 on IMDb

The episode witnesses Tom suddenly being pronounced too old for his job and later substituted by a younger cat named Lighting.

However, the latter quickly proves himself to be ineffective when Jerry gets the entire control in the house. The Housekeeper starts questioning her decision to let Tom go.

9. ‘The Truce Hurts’ (1948)

• 7.9/10 on IMDb

In this episode, Tom, Jerry and Spike the bulldog decide to call a truce and live together in harmony without pursuing each other on a daily basis.

While at first they in fact play games together and share their food, the truce is soon ended when their instincts start dominating.

8. ‘Trap Happy’ (1946)

• 7.9/10 on IMDb

The episode follows Tom as he becomes sick and tired of all the failed attempts to catch Jerry, later hiring Butch the cat, a professional mouse catcher.

However, things get an unexpected turn when Jerry outsmarts both cats and puts them against each other.

7. ‘The Night Before Christmas’ (1941)

• 7.9/10 on IMDb

Set on Christmas Eve, the episode sees Tom and Jerry getting into yet another chase around the decorated house, causing chaos ahead of a big celebration.

However, there’s a sudden change that results in the characters’ brief moment of peace during holidays.

6. ‘Cue Ball Cat’ (1950)

• 7.9/10 on IMDb

In this episode, Tom finds out that he actually has a passion for a game of billiards, eventually starting to practice more.

He then has to leave the game behind for a while as Jerry interferes and brings in some chaos around the pool table.

5. ‘Mouse Trouble’ (1944)

• 7.9/10 on IMDb

This episode witnesses Tom getting himself a guide on how to trap a mouse and starting to apply all those new methods in an attempt to finally catch Jerry; it soon backfires when the latter responds with cunning tricks to Tom’s every move.

4. ‘The Hollywood Bowl’ (1950)

• 7.9/10 on IMDb

In this episode, Tom becomes the conductor of an orchestra and participates in a concert that he can’t fail.

However, Jerry disrupts the event in the most hilarious ways, with Tom being forced to try and stop his rival’s sabotage.

3. ‘Solid Serenade’ (1946)

• 8.1/10 on IMDb

This episode sees Tom falling in love with a female cat who he prepares a serenade for; the whole scene gets interrupted right in the midst by Jerry and Spike, resulting in everyone becoming a part of a huge conflict.

2. ‘Heavenly Puss’ (1949)

• 8.1/10 on IMDb

In this episode, Tom dies after an accident with a piano and gets to the afterlife only to learn that he must receive Jerry’s forgiveness to avoid damnation.

The only way for Tom to return to Earth is in the shape of a ghost, which makes Jerry come up with some even more evil tricks for his rival.

1. ‘The Cat Concerto’ (1947)

• 8.2/10 on IMDb

This episode sees Tom proceeding with his music career as he becomes a concert pianist performing a difficult piece; however, he soon realises that Jerry has been hiding inside the piano all along, trying to sabotage the concert.