‘Criminal Minds’ Ending with 20th Season on Paramount+
Criminal Minds: Evolution will end with its forthcoming 20th season, which is scheduled to premiere in 2027. The decision closes a television franchise that has run for two decades, first on CBS and then on Paramount+.
The series began on CBS in 2005 and ran for 15 seasons and more than 300 episodes before Paramount+ revived it a year after its cancellation. Since moving to streaming, it has used 10-episode seasons and longer story arcs, compared with 22 or more episodes for most of its CBS run. The final season will feature regulars including Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler and Paget Brewster.
In short
- Criminal Minds: Evolution will conclude with season 20.
- The final season is due to premiere in 2027.
- The franchise spans 20 years across CBS and Paramount+.
Explained simply
Criminal Minds is a US crime drama about the FBI’s Behavioural Analysis Unit, a team that studies evidence and patterns of behaviour to investigate serious crimes. The original series began on CBS in 2005 and ran for 15 seasons, with more than 300 episodes.
After it was cancelled, the franchise returned on Paramount+ as Criminal Minds: Evolution. Its streaming seasons are shorter, with about 10 episodes, and follow longer storylines than the original network run. The series follows the unit’s investigators, including characters played by Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster.
The show’s move from broadcast television to streaming reflects how the same franchise can continue on a different platform and in a different format. Its long run has made it a lasting part of US crime television.