Criminal Minds is one of the most popular crime drama TV shows in recent history. The series follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, using psychological profiling to investigate crimes and find perpetrators. Criminal Minds first premiered in September 2005 on CBS and ran for a whopping 15 seasons before ending in February 2020. During its long run, Criminal Minds developed a huge fanbase and won numerous awards. Fans are now wondering if the remaining seasons of Criminal Minds will be coming to Netflix.
Background on Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds was created by Jeff Davis and first premiered on September 22, 2005 on CBS. The show aired for 15 seasons spanning 324 episodes, with the series finale airing on February 19, 2020. The series follows the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, a group of criminal profilers who use psychology and behavioral analysis to investigate serious crimes like serial killings, abductions, arson, threats, and terrorism. The BAU team travels around the country assisting local law enforcement agencies in solving these complex cases. The team is led by Unit Chief Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner played by Thomas Gibson for seasons 1-12. Other main cast members over the course of the show include Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), Jennifer “JJ” Jareau (A. J. Cook), Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), and Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler). Each character brings a particular set of skills and expertise to help profile criminals and save lives.
Throughout its 15-season run, Criminal Minds remained a top rated show for CBS. At various points it was among the top 10 most watched shows on network television. The show and cast received numerous awards and accolades over the years. Joe Mantegna won the Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor People’s Choice Award in 2016. Kirsten Vangsness and Paget Brewster won the Best Ensemble Award at the 2006 Satellite Awards. Thomas Gibson earned a nomination for Favorite TV Drama Actor at the 37th People’s Choice Awards. The series also won the 2006 ASCAP Award for Top TV Series. On the review side, Criminal Minds holds a “superb” 88% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The show developed a loyal viewership and fanbase, particularly for its memorable characters and their relationships.
Criminal Minds on Streaming Platforms
For years, Criminal Minds fans have wanted to be able to stream the show online. Netflix does not currently have the streaming rights to new episodes of Criminal Minds in the United States. Past seasons of Criminal Minds have aired on other services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and IMDBtv. Here is an overview of where you can currently find Criminal Minds streaming in the U.S.:
- IMDBtv – Free streaming with ads, Seasons 1-12
- Hulu – SVOD with ads or no ads plan, Seasons 1-12
- Amazon Prime Video – Purchase Seasons 1-14
- Paramount+ – Seasons 13-15
The newer Paramount+ streaming service (formerly known as CBS All Access) has exclusive rights to the most recent seasons 13-15 of Criminal Minds. IMDBtv has the rights to most of the middle seasons. Hulu has seasons 1-12. And fans can purchase access to seasons 1-14 on Amazon Prime Video. So no single service currently has the complete series available for streaming.
Will Criminal Minds be on Netflix?
Netflix does not currently stream any episodes of Criminal Minds for viewers in the United States. The streamer once had select past seasons of the show years ago, but that is no longer the case. Netflix does offer the full series for viewing in some international markets like the UK, Australia, and Canada. But US fans are still unable to stream there. So what are the chances Netflix will add Criminal Minds back to its US library in the future? Let’s take a closer look.
Current Streaming Landscape
It’s important to understand the current streaming rights situation for Criminal Minds. As noted earlier, Paramount+ owns exclusive rights to the most recent Seasons 13-15. They also have a non-exclusive deal for the earlier seasons 1-12, which also stream on Hulu and IMDBtv. This fractured rights landscape makes it unlikely Netflix will try and license the full back catalog of Criminal Minds soon. Paramount has incentive to keep the show’s streaming limited to drive signups for their newer platform. Hulu and IMDBtv benefit from having the older episodes to entice true crime fans. With so much competition, Netflix likely cannot justify paying top dollar to license the series completely.
Netflix’s Content Strategy Shifts
In recent years, Netflix has moved away from licensing expansive back catalogs of old TV shows. The streamer has instead focused investment on original content and newer acclaimed series. For completed long running shows, Netflix seems less inclined to pay the high costs when other streaming services already own rights. Part of this shift comes from the rise of competitors like Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+, which are bringing back legacy content libraries. Netflix is no longer one of the only games in town bidding for these streaming rights. Their content budget is now devoted more heavily to what makes Netflix unique – new big budget originals.
What Fans Can Do
For Criminal Minds fans eager for the show’s return to Netflix, the best option is letting the streamer know directly. Netflix analyzes demand and engagement frequently to decide what content to pursue. Fans should utilize social media channels and Netflix customer service to request Criminal Minds. If the show returns to the Netflix request charts, that data will inform licensing decisions. Netflix wants titles that drive conversation and signups. So active feedback from fans can make an impact. However, the fractured streaming rights make this a bigger challenge compared to past shows Netflix has revived.
Table: Criminal Minds Season Availability By Streaming Service
Season | Netflix | Hulu | Prime Video | IMDBtv | Paramount+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
3 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
5 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
6 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
7 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
8 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
9 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
10 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
11 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
12 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
13 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
14 | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
15 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Key Points
- Older seasons (1-12) available on Hulu, Prime Video, IMDBtv
- Recent seasons (13-15) only on Paramount+
- No seasons currently on Netflix in the US
This table summarizes the current fractured streaming availability of Criminal Minds, season by season. Netflix does not have any seasons of the show. The middle seasons can be found on Hulu, Prime Video, and IMDBtv. But the last three seasons are exclusive to the Paramount+ platform. This split rights situation makes Netflix adding the full series unlikely in the near future.
Future Outlook
Based on the current streaming rights deals, it is improbable that Criminal Minds will be coming to Netflix in the United States anytime soon. Paramount+ seems intent on keeping the show’s newest seasons exclusive to their platform for now. And the older seasons already have quite a few streaming homes between Hulu, Prime Video and IMDBtv. However, Netflix subscribers should not give up hope completely. Here are a few possible scenarios that could eventually bring the show back to Netflix in the future:
Netflix and Paramount+ Partnership
Netflix and Paramount+ have partnered on content sharing before. When Paramount+ first launched, Netflix maintained streaming rights to some newer shows like Star Trek: Discovery for a window of time. A similar partnership could eventually bring Criminal Minds Seasons 13-15 over to Netflix as well. This would require Paramount being incentivized to share its exclusivity window, likely 2-3 years after those seasons aired on CBS.
Rights Expiration
The current streaming deals in place for Criminal Minds all have expiration dates. When Hulu and Paramount+’s contracts for various seasons expire years down the road, Netflix could try acquiring part or all of the series at that time. Netflix may be more willing to pay a premium for the show once exclusivity with other services ends. But the competition for those rights renewals will remain fierce.
Revival or Spinoff Series
If Criminal Minds gets revived with a new series or spinoff, Netflix may be more inclined to license the full back catalog. This would allow them to provide viewers context by offering the complete show history. Paramount+ is believed to be considering options to continue the show’s universe in some form. A new chapter for Criminal Minds could pave the way for a Netflix licensing deal.
DVD Sets
For fans wanting immediate access Criminal Minds in its entirety, purchasing the DVD box sets is an option. All 15 seasons are available on DVD for viewers wishing to own the series. DVD releases come with bonus behind-the-scenes features and often extended cuts of episodes. Owning the DVDs allows watching Criminal Minds at any time without relying on streaming rights.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, as of now the remainder of Criminal Minds is unlikely to make its way onto Netflix in the United States in the immediate future. The show’s availability is currently fractured between Paramount+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and IMDBtv. Netflix seems unwilling to spend high fees licensing the series completely at this time. However, there remain glimmers of hope for Criminal Minds eventually returning to Netflix down the road. Partnerships, rights expirations, new series, or fan demand could provide opportunities. For now, fans still have options to stream using Paramount+, Hulu, Prime Video, or purchasing DVD sets. But Netflix subscribers should not rule out Criminal Minds coming back one day, even if it takes patience. The show’s enduring popularity could eventually convince Netflix to become the exclusive streaming home.