The Definitive Count: How Many Seasons Of Criminal Minds Are There In 2025?
The question of "how many seasons of Criminal Minds" is far more complex than a simple number, especially in 2025. What started as a procedural drama on CBS in 2005 has evolved into a sprawling franchise, with its original run concluding and a successful, darker revival now dominating the streaming landscape. As of today, December 22, 2025, the total number of seasons for the flagship series, including its continuation, stands at a massive 18 seasons, with a 19th season already confirmed.
This count is crucial for both new viewers looking to start the journey and long-time fans trying to keep track of the BAU's latest cases. The original show, famed for its focus on behavioral analysis and the hunt for "Unsubs," officially ended its run, only to be seamlessly continued by the streaming-exclusive series, Criminal Minds: Evolution, which has breathed new life into the beloved characters and their intense investigations.
The Original Run: 15 Seasons of Profiling Excellence
The original Criminal Minds series, which premiered in 2005, became a cultural phenomenon, running for an impressive 15 years. This foundational series established the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) of the FBI as the premier team for hunting down the nation's most vicious serial killers.
A Look Back at the CBS Era (2005–2020)
- Total Seasons: 15
- Total Episodes: 324 episodes
- Network: CBS
- Series Finale: February 19, 2020
- Key Cast Members: Mandy Patinkin (Jason Gideon), Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner), Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan), Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid), A.J. Cook (JJ Jareau), Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia), Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss).
Over its run, the original series maintained a remarkably consistent format, focusing on the psychological profiling of unknown subjects, or Unsubs. While the show experienced numerous cast changes, the core dynamic of the team, led by characters like David Rossi and Emily Prentiss, kept viewers hooked. The 15th and final season, though shorter than previous ones, provided a sense of closure for the BAU team, wrapping up the long-running mystery of "The Chameleon" and giving fan-favorite characters a proper send-off.
The Revival: Criminal Minds: Evolution (Seasons 16, 17, and Beyond)
The story of the BAU did not end in 2020. After a brief hiatus, the series was revived on the streaming service Paramount+ under the new title, Criminal Minds: Evolution. This continuation is considered the official next chapter of the flagship series, with its seasons sequentially numbered from the original show's run.
The Current Season Count Breakdown (As of December 2025)
- Original Series: 15 Seasons
- Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 1 (Overall Season 16): 1 Season (Aired 2022–2023)
- Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 (Overall Season 17): 1 Season (Aired 2024)
- Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 (Overall Season 18): 1 Season (Premiering May 8, 2025)
- Total Confirmed Seasons: 18 Seasons
- Total Episodes (Flagship Series Only): Approximately 354 episodes (as of July 2025).
The revival, often referred to as a "reboot" by fans, changed the show's format from a case-of-the-week procedural to a season-long arc. Each season of Evolution focuses on a single, major Unsub, a shift that allows for deeper character development and a more cinematic, darker tone suitable for a streaming service. The first season of Evolution (Season 16 overall) centered on the chilling network of serial killers created by the villain Elias Voit, also known as "Sicarius."
What We Know About the Latest Seasons
The most current and exciting news for fans revolves around the upcoming and confirmed seasons:
1. Season 18 (Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3)
The third season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, which is the 18th season overall, is one of the most anticipated returns of 2025.
- Premiere Date: May 8, 2025, on Paramount+.
- Focus: The next major case is expected to follow up on the mysterious "Gold Star" cliffhanger, which was introduced at the end of Season 17. The team, including veteran profilers like JJ Jareau, Luke Alvez, and Tara Lewis, will be forced to confront a new, deeply entrenched conspiracy.
- Cast Updates: Most of the core cast members from the revival are set to return, continuing the stories of David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, and the rest of the BAU.
2. Season 19 (Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4)
In a strong vote of confidence for the series, Paramount+ officially renewed the show for a fourth season of the revival (Season 19 overall) ahead of the Season 18 premiere. This early renewal confirms that the BAU's journey is far from over and guarantees more high-stakes profiling in the years to come. Showrunner Erica Messer continues to guide the narrative, ensuring continuity and the show's signature blend of intensity and character focus.
The Full Criminal Minds Franchise Count
While the flagship series and its Evolution continuation are the main focus, the Criminal Minds universe is a true franchise, featuring two short-lived spin-offs. If you are a completionist looking for the absolute total episode count across the entire franchise, the number grows even larger.
The Spin-Off Series
- Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2011): This spin-off featured the "Red Cell" team and ran for only 1 season (13 episodes).
- Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016–2017): This series focused on the International Response Team (IRT) and ran for 2 seasons (26 episodes).
Total Franchise Episode Count: Including the 324 episodes of the original series, the episodes of Evolution, and the two spin-offs, the entire Criminal Minds franchise amounts to over 393 episodes.
Where to Watch All Seasons of Criminal Minds
For viewers looking to binge-watch all 18 seasons, the streaming landscape has simplified significantly with the launch of the revival. The entire catalog is now centralized:
- Original Criminal Minds (Seasons 1–15): Available for streaming on Paramount+ and Hulu.
- Criminal Minds: Evolution (Season 16, 17, and 18): Exclusively available on Paramount+.
The move to Paramount+ has been a successful one for the franchise, allowing the writers to explore darker, more mature themes and utilize a serialized format that modern streaming audiences prefer. This new format, coupled with the return of beloved characters like Dr. Spencer Reid (in spirit, as his absence is a major plot point) and Penelope Garcia, ensures that the BAU remains a dominant force in the world of TV crime dramas.
Topical Authority & Entity List
To summarize the deep dive into the Criminal Minds universe, here are the key entities and concepts covered:
Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Evolution, BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit), Unsub (Unknown Subject), Paramount+, CBS, Original Run, Revival Series, David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, JJ Jareau, Luke Alvez, Tara Lewis, Penelope Garcia, Dr. Spencer Reid, Aaron Hotchner, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler, Thomas Gibson, Erica Messer (Showrunner), Season 16, Season 17, Season 18, Season 19, Sicarius (Elias Voit), Gold Star, Total Episodes, Spin-offs, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Streaming Service.
Detail Author:
- Name : Elijah O'Keefe
- Username : bailey.francesco
- Email : georgiana54@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 1995-06-21
- Address : 47821 Mraz Locks North Jennifer, WY 13476-4898
- Phone : 386.453.7245
- Company : Kautzer, Blick and Roob
- Job : Teacher
- Bio : Ea qui maxime itaque sed ipsum. Qui quisquam velit dolor necessitatibus nemo nihil exercitationem.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/bgoldner
- username : bgoldner
- bio : Cupiditate modi aut illo quibusdam sunt. Quia laborum et omnis. Quos rerum quo aspernatur non.
- followers : 4786
- following : 1174
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/baby_id
- username : baby_id
- bio : Et inventore eos quia temporibus non repellat.
- followers : 5931
- following : 93
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/goldnerb
- username : goldnerb
- bio : Cum qui sed corrupti.
- followers : 4042
- following : 804
