Paramount+’s 18-Part Crime Drama Breaks Into the U.S. Top 10 2 Weeks Before Return

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Crime dramas, particularly police shows, are consistently popular on television. Series like Law & Order, The Rookie, and Chicago PD have proven their staying power, and it’s no surprise to see another hit police procedural currently ranking among the most-watched shows.

According to FlixPatrol, Criminal Minds is currently a popular show on Paramount+, ranking as the ninth most-watched program in both the United States and Australia. It’s back in the Top 10, even ahead of its nineteenth season. The show is also performing well internationally, holding the No. 4 spot in France and No. 3 in Italy. Criminal Minds is available on Disney+ in certain regions and is currently gaining traction in Greece and Malta.

Criminal Minds Was Revived After 15 Seasons

The crime drama Criminal Minds first aired on CBS in 2005 and ran for 15 seasons, totaling over 300 episodes. Although the show concluded in 2020 after its fifteenth season, it experienced significant cast changes over the years. Several original actors left before new stars, like Joe Mantegna, became part of the team.

Due to its popularity, Criminal Minds is back! Season 16, titled Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 1, premiered on Paramount+ on November 24, 2022. Most of the original cast returned, but Matthew Gray Gubler, known for playing Dr. Spencer Reid, was not part of the revival.

Even though it ended years ago, Criminal Minds continues to be a hit with fans, attracting a new audience along the way. The show’s popularity hasn’t faded since its original run, and it continued for two more seasons under a new name on Paramount+. Now, Season 19, also called Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4, will premiere on May 28th.

Criminal Minds Investigates Some of the Darkest Cases

Criminal Minds centers around the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), a team that travels the country to help local law enforcement with complex cases. While they’re often called in to investigate serial killers, their work also includes things like missing children and terrorist threats, which makes the show stand out.

Some of the most intense and unforgettable episodes of Criminal Minds involved criminals specifically going after the BAU team itself. Combining these personal threats with the show’s regular weekly cases created a strong connection between fans and the characters, and contributed to the show’s success.

Like many police dramas, the cast of Criminal Minds evolved over time. Mandy Patinkin, who played Jason Gideon, became a particularly popular character. A.J. Cook, who plays Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, also left the show for a short while, but a strong fan campaign brought her back.

As a total TV addict, I’m not surprised Criminal Minds is still a huge hit after all these years – the fans are so dedicated! I’ve noticed everyone’s either revisiting old episodes or finally binging it because Season 19 is coming out this month, and it’s seriously climbing the streaming charts. It’s awesome to see a show with that kind of staying power.

You can watch Criminal Minds on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Disney+ in certain countries around the world.

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2026-05-16 00:06