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When it comes to discussions about “the best of CBS,” CBS’ flagship procedural crime drama, Criminal Minds, is at the top of the list. The series, about an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit, originally aired on CBS for 15 seasons and over 320 episodes from 2005 until 2020, solidifying its place as one of TV’s longest-running crime dramas alongside NCIS and CSI, but extended its longevity even further when it was brought back to the screen for the re-titled Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+ in 2022. The show is one of CBS’ most iconic and successful crime dramas, and Prime Video subscribers can now stream it after the first five seasons of Criminal Minds joined the platform on March 31st.
Criminal Minds Is One of CBS’ Most Iconic Shows, and It Still Holds Up
Criminal Minds has always been considered a ratings winner that has stood out even in a packed field of crime shows. Deeply inspired by FBI profiling techniques pioneered in the 1970s and 80s, the series successfully shifted the focus from “whodunit” to “whydunit,” focusing on the minds of criminals themselves rather than just the forensics. Beyond the deep dive into criminal minds and the things that push them into criminal behavior, the series is anchored by the found family dynamic of the members of the BAU team. The show focuses just as much on the weekly cases as it does on the emotional bonds of the team and the immense psychological toll of their work, offering a human core that balances the darker subject matter.
