Main Series Release OrderRecommended
0 / 19 watchedThe original 15-season run followed by the Evolution revival. New viewers can start here and add the spinoffs later.
Original series (CBS)
- 1 Criminal Minds Season 1 22 episodes. Premiered September 22, 2005.
- 2 Criminal Minds Season 2 23 episodes.
- 3 Criminal Minds Season 3 20 episodes.
- 4 Criminal Minds Season 4 26 episodes.
- 5 Criminal Minds Season 5 23 episodes. Episode 18, The Fight, aired April 7, 2010 as the Suspect Behavior backdoor pilot.
- 6 Criminal Minds Season 6 24 episodes.
- 7 Criminal Minds Season 7 24 episodes.
- 8 Criminal Minds Season 8 24 episodes.
- 9 Criminal Minds Season 9 24 episodes.
- 10 Criminal Minds Season 10 23 episodes. Episode 19, Beyond Borders, aired April 8, 2015 as the spinoff's backdoor pilot.
- 11 Criminal Minds Season 11 22 episodes.
- 12 Criminal Minds Season 12 22 episodes.
- 13 Criminal Minds Season 13 22 episodes.
- 14 Criminal Minds Season 14 15 episodes.
- 15 Criminal Minds Season 15 10 episodes. Original finale aired February 19, 2020.
Evolution (Paramount+)
- 16 Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 16 10 episodes. Revival premiered November 24, 2022.
- 17 Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 17 10 episodes.
- 18 Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 10 episodes.
- 19 Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 10 episodes, aired May 28 to July 23, 2026. Season 20 renewed, date to be announced.
Spinoffs in Release Order
0 / 5 watchedBoth spinoffs stand apart from the main run. Each opens with its backdoor pilot, which sits inside the original series.
- 1 The Fight Criminal Minds season 5, episode 18. Introduces Sam Cooper's Red Cell team.
- 2 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Season 1 13 episodes, February to May 2011. Cancelled after one season.
- 3 Beyond Borders Criminal Minds season 10, episode 19. Introduces Jack Garrett's international team.
- 4 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Season 1 13 episodes, March to May 2016.
- 5 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Season 2 13 episodes, March to May 2017. Final season.
About Criminal Minds
The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit profiles serial offenders across 15 seasons on CBS from September 2005 to February 2020, then returns as Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+ from November 2022. Spinoffs Suspect Behavior and Beyond Borders each launched from a backdoor pilot inside the original run.
Good to know
Season 19 aired May to July 2026, and season 20 was renewed in March 2026 with no premiere date announced. Suspect Behavior lasted one season in 2011 and Beyond Borders lasted two seasons in 2016 and 2017.
