Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds centers on cases of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), a group of elite criminal profilers who analyze the country's most notorious criminals as they look to anticipate their next moves before they strike again. Starting in 2005, Criminal Minds ran for 15 seasons before getting a revival show, Criminal Minds: Evolution, in 2022.

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Release Date
September 22, 2005
Network
CBS, Paramount+
Showrunner
Erica Messer
Directors
Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Rob Bailey, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, John Gallagher, Douglas Aarniokoski, Guy Norman Bee, Larry Teng, Nelson McCormick, Alec Smight, Charles S. Carroll, Rob Spera, Charles Haid, Diana Valentine, Rob Hardy, Tawnia McKiernan, Bethany Rooney, Karen Gaviola, Sharat Raju, Thomas Gibson, Aisha Tyler, Anna Foerster, Gloria Muzio, John Terlesky
Writers
Bruce Zimmerman, Virgil Williams, Edward Allen Bernero, Janine Sherman Barrois, Chris Mundy, Simon Mirren, Debra J. Fisher, Kimberly A. Harrison, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Karen Maser, Oanh Ly, Stephanie Sengupta, Aaron Zelman, Kirsten Vangsness, Erica Meredith, Andi Bushell, Holly Harold, Alicia Kirk, Jeff Davis, Randy Huggins, Edward Napier, Jayne A. Archer, Chikodili Agwuna

Cast

  • Headshot Of Kirsten Vangsness In The The 2017 CBS Television Studios Summer
    Kirsten Vangsness
    Penelope Garcia
  • Headshot Of Matthew Gray Gubler
    Matthew Gray Gubler
    Dr. Spencer Reid

Criminal Minds: Evolution follows the BAU team as they reunite to investigate a dangerous new threat that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing them to confront a more connected and organized form of serial crime than they’ve faced before. As David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, and the team return to the field, the series shifts toward a darker, more serialized story about legacy, trauma, and the personal cost of profiling killers.

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Prentiss in Criminal Minds Evolution
Paramount+ Officially Nerfs Criminal Minds’ Most Badass Character

Criminal Minds' story continues after its run on CBS thanks to Paramount+'s revival, but it's at the expense of BAU's most badass character.

Garcia, Prentiss, and Rossi in Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds Star Officially Leaving After 4 Seasons

After a twist-laden season, an original cast member of Criminal Minds: Evolution is officially leaving the hit Paramount+ thriller series.

Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in a linen shirt, drinking a glass of red wine in front of a sheet of bougainvillea in Criminal Minds season 19 episode 10.
Criminal Minds' Worst Era Finally Ends Today (With 1 Caveat)

While Criminal Minds season 19 has gone all in on its Evolution motif, but it appears that the show's worst era has finally come to an unexpected end.

Still of Zach Gilford as Elias Voit in Criminal Minds season 19 episode 9.
Paramount+'s 4-Part Elite Crime Thriller Breaks Major Record Ahead Of Intense Finale

Paramount+'s elite crime thriller has broken a tremendous record in the week before its intense season finale, making it clear the series is relevant.

Still of Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, and Joe Mantegna as David Rossi surrounding an unconscious body in Criminal Minds season 19, episosde 9.
Criminal Minds Has Ruined The BAU

Paramount+'s iteration of the long-running CBS series has effectively ruined the BAU, making the team into a vastly different version of themselves.

Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia in Criminal Minds season 19, episode 7.
CBS Is Crippling Paramount+'s Criminal Minds Revival After 6 Years

Criminal Minds: Evolution has always been a divisive continuation, but the CBS original looms over the Paramount+ series more and more each season.

Joe Mantegna as David Rossi and Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez in Criminal Minds season 19, episode 8.
Say Goodbye To Criminal Minds Season 19's Best Character

Criminal Minds season 19 has almost reached its climactic end, but one of the most intriguing additions to the cast will likely disappear— for good.

A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau and Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez in Criminal Minds: Evolution episode 8, season 19.
Criminal Minds' Format Change Fails To End Its Most Toxic BAU Trope

Despite the format changes within Criminal Minds: Evolution creating space to fix its biggest problems, the series is still faltering with one trope.

A still of Tara and Rebecca sitting on Penelope's couch from Criminal Minds season 19 episode 8.
It's Time To End This Criminal Minds Era

Criminal Minds: Evolution has been a successful continuation of the CBS series, but the Paramount+ revival of the show needs to end a specific era.

FBI agents gathered in a conference room in Criminal Minds season 12, episode 3.
Paramount+ Has Officially Cheapened Criminal Minds' Best Asset

Paramount+ has made many changes to Criminal Minds since 2022, but one of the best parts of the original series seems to be gone for good.

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Criminal Minds still featuring Paget Brewster and Joe Mantegna from season 19 episode 8.
Criminal Minds Finally Remembers BAU's Two Forgotten Legends

Criminal Minds: Evolution doesn't often revisit the past, but took time to remember two of the BAU's forgotten legends from the original CBS series.

A.J. Cook smiling as JJ in Criminal Minds season 19, episode 7.
Thank God, Criminal Minds Finally Remembered Its Best Asset Before It Was Too Late

Criminal Minds season 19 has had some of the best and worst of the new age formula, but episode 7 is a glowing reminder of the show's best qualities.

A still of Kirsten Vangsness as Penelolpe Garcia, walking into a conference room where a woman is holding a gun against an officer's neck on Criminal Minds season 19 episode 7.
After 6 Disappointing Episodes, Criminal Minds Finally Remembered Its True Self In Season 19

Criminal Minds season 19 has struggled to keep itself focused on its central storytelling, and after 6 episodes, found itself renewed and refreshed.

Zach Gilford as Elias Voit in Criminal Minds season 19, episode 7.
Criminal Minds Unintentionally Exposes Its Self-Inflicted Weakness

Many positive changes were made to Criminal Minds' formula since Paramount+ took over, but Evolution's biggest weakness keeps getting worse.

Zach Gilford as Elias Voit and Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in a still from Criminal Minds season 19 episode 7.
Criminal Minds Is Breaking At The Seams & It's One Character's Fault

Criminal Minds' formula is breaking at the seams, especially throughout the past few episodes of the series, and it's entirely one character's fault.

Zach Gilford as Elias Voit in Criminal Minds season 19, episode 7.
Criminal Minds's Fiery Voit Outburst Has Only One Clear Explanation

Criminal Minds season 19, episode 7 ended with a bang for Elias Voit, but the Sicarius Killer's mysterious cliffhanger has one obvious explanation.

Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in Criminal Minds season 19, episode 6.
Paramount+ Officially Explains Rossi's Criminal Minds Character Retcon

David Rossi's character has changed dramatically since Criminal Minds: Evolution began, but season 19 perfectly explains his true nature.

Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia in Criminal Minds season 19 episode 7.
Paramount+ Is Setting Up A Devastating Criminal Minds Exit

Criminal Minds season 19 has been quietly setting up an exit for one of its original cast members, who could leave the long-running series behind.

Reid in Criminal Minds
It's Officially The Start Of An Era For Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds has officially started a new era as its streaming success reaches an exciting height on Paramount+ several years after it started.

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Criminal Minds still featuring AJ Cook as JJ, looking off to the side in her FBI vest with police lights in the background.
Criminal Minds Season 19's Story Weakness Explains Why It Must Run Longer

Criminal Minds: Evolution's last episode was its weakest of the season thus far, but its least compelling story explains why the show needs to go on.

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