AJ Cook and Adam Rodriguez talking in Criminal MindsImage via CBS
By
Rachel LaBonte
Published Feb 4, 2026, 7:20 PM EST
Rachel LaBonte is an entertainment writer and Rotten Tomatoes–approved critic specializing in film and television. She previously served as a Senior Writer and Editor on Screen Rant’s Core News Team, where she covered major studio releases, franchise films, and top TV series, and later helped build and shape the site’s New Movies vertical.
A graduate of Emerson College with a degree in Media Arts Production and a specialization in screenwriting, Rachel brings both industry knowledge and a strong storytelling background to her coverage. She now writes for Collider, where she continues to analyze the latest movies and television with a critical, audience-focused lens.
Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapFor years now, streaming has steadily replaced cable in the art of the re-run. While popular, long-running network shows like Friends and The Office remain mainstays on TV via syndication, streaming has provided a new avenue for people to revisit their old favorites over and over again. In Nielsen's breakdown of the biggest streaming shows and movies of 2025, seven of the top ten overall titles are primetime network shows that ran for multiple seasons (or are still running). From NCIS to Law & Order: SVU, these are shows that have proven their power several times over.
The tenth show on the list, clocking a jaw-dropping 24.1 billion minutes streamed throughout the year, is Criminal Minds. The CBS procedural initially ran for 15 seasons before coming to a close in early 2020, but its continued popularity paved the way for a revival on Paramount+, dubbed Criminal Minds: Evolution. Considering its premise, which revolves around an FBI unit that specializes in twisted, disturbing cases, it seems like an odd choice to become a popular streaming show, but the fans who know it best aren't shocked at all.
'Criminal Minds' Premise Sets It Apart From Other Crime Shows
Rather than simply centering on law enforcement officers solving crimes, Criminal Minds' core team has a specific focus that makes them unique. The Behavorial Analysis Unit (BAU) uses psychological profiling to get inside the heads of the killers they're hunting, analyzing everything from their methods to their victims to piece together a picture of who they're looking for. Early seasons often saw characters like Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) and Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) actively putting themselves in the shoes of the "UnSubs" (Unknown Subjects) with the help of some early 2000s graphics, and though the format of the show changed over its run, the basic investigative approach remained.
In real life, the concept of profiling in police work is highly debated, but Criminal Minds explores how effective it could be. Whereas other crime shows will take a more by-the-books approach to solving cases, it offers a fresh viewpoint, and one that fans have jokingly adopted themselves as they learn the show's familiar profiling beats and use them to theorize about where stories are headed. Criminal Minds has been criticized in the past for its bleak, violent stories — original lead Mandy Patinkin even famously left the show because of it — yet that hasn't stopped viewers from rewatching it over and over again.
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Posts By Jasneet SinghWith 18 total seasons (revival included) and counting, Criminal Minds is already set up for streaming success since there are so many episodes for viewers to binge. However, that isn't the only thing responsible for its sizable viewership. Some of the most disturbing cases the BAU faces are deeply compelling, like Season 5's "Mosley Lane," which deals with the heavy topic of child abduction in a haunting, poignant way. Though Criminal Minds isn't afraid to let its heroes lose — the series' 100th episode brutally demonstrates that — it also delivers plenty of happy endings, often as keen reminders that there is light to be found in the darkness.
Strong, Fan-Favorite Characters Make 'Criminal Minds' a Twisted Comfort Watch
Rossi, Prentiss, and J.J. in their tactical gear at the hospital in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 Episode 9Image via Paramount+
Leading viewers through that darkness is the BAU and the relentless, courageous agents who work there. Like all long-running shows, Criminal Minds experienced plenty of cast turnover during its original run, but, remarkably, three actors appeared in all 15 seasons: Kirsten Vangsness, AJ Cook, and Matthew Gray Gubler. Vangsness and Cook have even stuck around for Evolution, which also features Paget Brewster and Joe Mantegna, two longtime cast members who made their debuts in Seasons 2 and 3, respectively. That kind of consistency among an ensemble is difficult to come by, and it has certainly turned Criminal Minds into the juggernaut it is because viewers can really spend time with these characters.
The show is at its best when it is focusing on them and integrating their personal lives into the cases. This job would take a toll on anybody, and Criminal Minds doesn't shy away from that, instead respecting the work that these crime-solvers do. Gubler's Dr. Spencer Reid is a particular fan-favorite, and a two-episode Season 4 run digging into his relationship with his absentee father while the team searches for a kidnapped child is a standout. So too is the Season 14 episode "The Tall Man", which finally reckons with JJ's (Cook) late sister after years of alluding to the tragic circumstances of her death. Evolution has upped the show's character-centric focus by giving the BAU an overarching mystery to solve.
Subscribe to the newsletter for streaming show deep dives
Subscribing to the newsletter gives curated coverage of streaming trends, classic series and revivals — from profiling-driven hits like Criminal Minds to ensemble favorites — with clear analysis and context that deepen your viewing perspective. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.The close bonds between the characters go a long way in dispelling the horrors that they constantly face, and fans are deeply invested in them. It's no wonder Criminal Minds was brought back from the dead only a year after it first signed off. These are mysteries and characters fans want to keep watching, and its billions of streaming minutes prove that. With Season 19 set to premiere this year, the BAU's reign likely won't come to an end soon.
Criminal Minds
TV-MA
Crime
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
Release Date
September 22, 2005
Criminal Minds follows the elite team of FBI profilers in the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they analyze and track down the country’s most dangerous serial killers and criminals. Led by experienced agents like Jason Gideon, Aaron Hotchner, and later David Rossi, the team delves into the minds of the perpetrators, using psychological profiling and investigative techniques to anticipate their next moves. Each episode features intense and often chilling cases, while also exploring the personal lives and challenges faced by the team members.
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Criminal Minds
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Matthew Gray Gubler
Subscribe to the newsletter for streaming show deep dives
Subscribing to the newsletter gives curated coverage of streaming trends, classic series and revivals — from profiling-driven hits like Criminal Minds to ensemble favorites — with clear analysis and context that deepen your viewing perspective. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.What To Watch
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