15 Best Shows Like Criminal Minds

Shows like Criminal Minds have flooded broadcast television for the last two decades. Even before it premiered, police procedurals had been one of the most popular genres since the advent of television. While there were several hit cop shows on TV, from Columbo and Kojak to Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues, it seems the shows that started in the 1990s and continue to this day took things a step further than any that came before. These shows often pull stories from the headlines and feature just as many sad endings as exciting save-the-day finales.

Criminal Minds premiered in 2005 and followed the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they profiled crimes and unknown subjects (called unsubs). While shows like Criminal Minds don't bother as much with police officers racing to catch criminals, they instead feature the agents and officers delving into the minds of the criminals. The BAU attempts to figure out who they were and why they were doing this to find a way to catch them before they could commit yet another crime. While the show is still forging on with a Paramount+ reboot, there are many other great shows like Criminal Minds.

15 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016-2017)

It's rare for sequels and spin-off shows to live up to the original. This is true in everything from books to movies and, of course, television shows. But even though Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders wasn't nearly as famous as the original, only running for two seasons, it's still worth a watch for those who love shows like Criminal Minds. This particular spin-off takes on a similar premise, but it takes it a step further by stripping the show of borders and sending the characters on exciting hunts away from home.

The show follows an elite team of FBI agents from the International Response Team, led by Jack Garrett (Gary Sinise), who solve cases involving American citizens abroad. With Alana De La Garza as Clara Seger, a cultural anthropologist, and Daniel Henney as Special Ops Agent Matthew Simmons, the series incorporates international settings and diverse cultural challenges, bringing a fresh and global twist to the Criminal Minds franchise.

14 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2015)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

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  George Eads

• Eric Szmanda

• Robert David Hall

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  Paul Guilfoyle

Certain shows manage to establish themselves as classics right off the bat. Criminal Minds did it to the extent of lasting for over a dozen seasons. But five years before the show reached screens, another one was garnering that classic and iconic status - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The show lasted an impressive fifteen years and was nominated for six Golden Globes. If clever crime mysteries are what a person likes about shows like Criminal Minds, especially those with over 300 episodes to satisfy their thirst for suspense, then CSI fits that description.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation follows a team of forensic investigators in Las Vegas, led by Gil Grissom (William Petersen), as they unravel complex cases using cutting-edge forensic science. With a talented ensemble cast including Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, and Laurence Fishburne, the show redefined the crime procedural genre by focusing on the science behind solving crimes. Its success led to several spin-offs, such as CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, and the recent revival, CSI: Vegas. The original series remains a must-watch for fans of gripping procedural dramas, offering a compelling mix of intricate storytelling, memorable characters, and inventive scientific detective work.

13 Numb3rs (2005-2010)

• Rob Morrow

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  David Krumholtz

Numb3rs is one of the shows like Criminal Minds that many people seemed to miss when it aired between 2005 and 2010. Even though the series enjoyed mild success and ran for six seasons, it still doesn't receive the same attention as similar shows in the genre. If a viewer enjoys premises that involve outsiders with outstanding talents joining FBI investigations, then Numb3rs is for you. It follows a mathematician who uses mathematical equations to help the Bureau solve several crimes. It's like nothing seen before in the realm of police procedurals.

The series stars Rob Morrow as FBI Agent Don Eppes and David Krumholtz as his genius brother, Dr. Charlie Eppes, a mathematician who uses his expertise in mathematics to solve crimes. The unique premise of applying complex equations to criminal investigations set Numb3rs apart from other procedurals. The show blends mathematical theories with gripping crime-solving plots, offering viewers a fresh and intellectual twist on the genre.

12 Lie To Me (2009-2011)

Lie to Me

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• Kelli Williams

• Brendan Hines

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  Monica Raymund

Similar to shows like Criminal Minds, Lie To Me is all about behavior. Tim Roth stars as Dr. Cal Lightman, the leading expert on body language and facial expressions, a knowledge he uses to help solve cases. He works outside the police department for a company called The Lightman Group, where he takes on assignments from everyone, including the police, to assist in investigations. The show aired for three seasons and was inspired by the work of Paul Ekman, who did the same work in real life for police departments and anti-terrorist groups.

Lie To Me delves deep into the science of deception detection, exploring the fascinating ways in which subtle facial expressions and micro-expressions can reveal hidden emotions and lies. Dr. Lightman's team, including his protégé Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams), brings a range of expertise to the investigations, making the series a compelling watch for those interested in psychological profiling. The show expertly combines thrilling cases with insightful psychological analysis, offering a unique blend of crime-solving and behavioral science that will captivate fans of Criminal Minds.

11 Castle (2009-2016)

Castle

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  Jon Huertas

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  Tamala Jones

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  Molly C. Quinn

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  Stana Katic

Castle brought together a famous mystery novel writer with an NYPD detective. This is much more light-hearted than most shows like Criminal Minds, but it does share much in common regarding the cast chemistry and the relationship building as they solve cases each week. The series follows writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), who teams up with Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) to solve murders that often resemble the plotlines of his novels. The contrasting personalities of the charming, irreverent Castle and the serious, by-the-book Beckett create a dynamic partnership that evolves over time into a compelling romance.

Supported by a talented ensemble cast including Susan Sullivan, Jon Huertas, and Seamus Dever, Castle masterfully blends witty humor with thrilling mysteries. There are also eight seasons ready to binge-watch, with plenty of gruesome and fascinating crimes, often paired up with conspiracies and corruption. The banter between Fillion and Katic, the actors behind the main characters, makes the show more than worth the watch.

10 The Blacklist (2013-2023)

The Blacklist

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  Diego Klattenhoff

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  Harry Lennix

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  Hisham Tawfiq

The Blacklist takes the ideas from shows like Criminal Minds and adds an exciting twist. While both shows are about stopping the worst criminals that society has to offer and solving crimes before innocent lives are lost, The Blacklist does so by teaming a career criminal with the FBI. James Spader stars as Red Reddington, a former high-profile criminal who agrees to help the FBI capture and arrest dangerous criminals from his "Blacklist" in exchange for his freedom and the chance to work with a rookie agent named Elizabeth Keen.

The series stands out due to James Spader's mesmerizing performance as the enigmatic Red Reddington, whose morally ambiguous partnership with the FBI brings constant tension and intrigue. Megan Boone plays Elizabeth Keen, the rookie agent whose connection to Reddington gradually unravels a complex web of secrets and conspiracies. With a strong supporting cast including Harry Lennix, Diego Klattenhoff, and Ryan Eggold, The Blacklist expertly balances serialized storytelling with procedural elements, making each episode a thrilling blend of mystery, action, and drama.

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9 Dexter (2006-2013)

One of the most alluring things about shows like Criminal Minds is seeing the inner workings of a serial killer's brain in action. It's terrifying and disturbing, but that's half of what makes it so interesting. If that's the case, a perfect companion series is Dexter, featuring one of the most prominent serial killers on TV. However, what makes this show unique is that the serial killer works for the police, and his victims are criminals who seem even worse than he is.

Michael C. Hall delivers a chilling yet captivating performance as Dexter Morgan, a forensic blood splatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department by day and a vigilante serial killer by night. Dexter's strict moral code, known as the "Code of Harry," ensures he only targets other killers who have evaded justice. This duality adds a compelling complexity to the character and keeps viewers rooting for him despite his dark deeds. The story led to his eventual downfall, but getting there was what made the show fun. The series has renewed life with Dexter: Resurrection, which is currently airing in 2026.

8 NCIS (2003-Present)

NCIS

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  Sean Murray

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  David McCallum

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  Mark Harmon

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  Rocky Carroll

NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service takes the police procedural and narrows it down to one specific target - cases involving the Navy. It also doesn't go into great detail into the minds of the killers but instead sets itself up as a mystery that the team has to solve, which is where the similarities lie. Led by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), the NCIS team combines wit, camaraderie, and dedication to solve complex cases involving military personnel.

The ensemble cast, including Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, and Sean Murray, brings a perfect blend of humor and drama, making each episode an enjoyable mix of crime-solving and character dynamics. It was always more popular than Criminal Minds, garnering several NCIS spinoffs and lasting for 20 seasons and counting, but part of that was the less intense adventures. For people who like shows like Criminal Minds but want something more akin to comfort food, NCIS is the way to go.

7 Without A Trace (2002-2009)

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  Anthony LaPaglia

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  Poppy Montgomery

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  Marianne Jean-Baptiste

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  Enrique Murciano

The FBI isn't comprised solely of the BAU, and Without A Trace has another group that is just as important. Just as suspenseful and uncomfortable as shows like Criminal Minds, this series focuses on a unit of the FBI that specializes in missing-person investigations. Led by Special Agent Jack Malone (Anthony LaPaglia), the team uses psychological profiling, forensic evidence, and detailed timelines to locate the missing individuals.

The series provides a unique blend of mystery and human drama as each case delves into the personal lives and motivations of the victims, making every investigation feel urgent and deeply emotional. While Criminal Minds is about hunting down the bad guys, this team is more about finding the missing people and bringing them back home alive. With seven seasons originally airing from 2002 to 2009, it shows an entirely different side of the spectrum regarding investigative work.

6 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-Present)

Law and Order: SVU

Cast

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  Christopher Meloni

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  Mariska Hargitay

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  Richard Belzer

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  Dann Florek

Law & Order was a top-rated show that resulted in several equally successful spin-offs. However, its first significant spinoff, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, ended up not only being more popuar but remains the most successful police procedural show in history, with over 24 seasons. The series is centered around the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate crimes of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.

Led by Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), the show explores not only the crimes but also the emotional repercussions for the victims and the detectives who solve these disturbing cases. The show has been acclaimed for years for depicting the justice system. It's not a happy show, and it's not meant to be. It's an accurate series of tales that tell the tragic stories of victims of the worst crimes. Shows like Criminal Minds deliver a hard-hitting, relentlessly gritty side of the criminal justice system.