Criminal Minds Saga Concludes: Paramount+ Announces End After 20 Seasons

The long-running procedural crime thriller, Criminal Minds, which had an impressive run across two platforms and nearly two decades, is finally coming to an end with its upcoming 20th season on Paramount+, also known as its fifth season under the title Criminal Minds: Evolution. Originally created by Jeff Davis for CBS, the series garnered immense success by following the elite FBI profilers of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they hunted serial killers through behavioral examination. Its darker approach to crime and exploration of the personal toll on its members set it apart from other procedurals like Law & Order and NCIS.

Criminal Minds famously cheated cancellation once, moving to Paramount+ after 15 seasons on CBS and gaining an even larger following as Criminal Minds: Evolution. The news of its definitive end comes as a surprise to many, especially given its continued popularity on streaming and the fact that Season 20 was ordered even before Season 19 aired. According to reports, the decision was made recently by the new leadership team, including Casey Bloys, Co-Chair and Chief Content Officer for Skydance Direct to Consumer, though Paramount+'s previous team had also reportedly recommended its conclusion. This marks the end of an era that began in 2005.

Several factors beyond mere performance may have influenced the cancellation. Paramount has been observed moving away from continuations of network television series in recent years, with shows like SEAL Team, Frasier, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva also being canceled. This left Criminal Minds as one of the last remaining remnants of this strategy. Speculation also points to the recent merger with Warner Bros. and associated personnel changes as potentially affecting the show's fate. Notably, Jane Wiseman, the former head of original programming at the platform, had expressed her and her team's support for the series as recently as August, indicating its strong standing with the previous regime.

The abruptness of the decision is further highlighted by the fact that Season 20 had already completed filming ahead of its anticipated 2027 arrival. This means the upcoming finale was not specifically crafted as a farewell for the BAU team, suggesting a potentially open-ended conclusion for the beloved characters.

Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution concluded with a sense of finality for the former Sicarius killer, Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). Voit, who evolved from an overarching threat to a guilt-ridden individual, assisted the BAU in understanding 'The Fan,' an unsub inspired by his own deeds. He ultimately took the fall after his daughter (Allison Nordahl) intervened to save him by stabbing the murderer. With Voit's arc seemingly resolved, the BAU is poised to embark on a new case, free from the lingering shadow of Sicarius.

The cast returning for this final season includes franchise mainstays Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, RJ Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster. Erica Messer will continue as showrunner and executive producer. In a heartfelt statement regarding the cancellation, Messer expressed her gratitude to the remarkable cast, writers, directors, and crew who poured their hearts into the show, and to the unwavering loyalty of fans worldwide who kept Criminal Minds alive for two decades. She stated, “It’s hard to put into words what Criminal Minds has meant to all of us who have been fortunate enough to be part of this extraordinary journey, first on CBS for 15 seasons and then on Paramount+ for five. While suddenly navigating the end of this chapter, I’m filled with gratitude for our remarkable cast, writers, directors and crew who have poured their hearts into this show, and for the incredible fans around the world whose unwavering loyalty has kept Criminal Minds going for two decades. We’re looking forward to sharing Season 20 with everyone, and celebrating the legacy of this special show we’ve all built together.”

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 20 is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2027 on Paramount+, marking the definitive end for the Behavioral Analysis Unit on screen.