Police procedural showsare among the most popular TV productions in recent years. Although not all of these shows manage to attract the audience, there have been a few that became highly acclaimed and earned their place among the most popular series ever.Criminal Mindsis, undeniably, one of these productions. Over the course of its many seasons, it has grown into one of the most popular shows among traditional television viewers and streaming audiences alike. This CBS series created by Jeff Davis premiered in 2005, introducing the criminal profilers of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), who spend their days dealing with the country’s most dangerous criminals while also trying to cope with their own personal lives.
Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Lola Glaudini, Matthew Gray Gubler, A. J. Cook and Kirsten Vangsness formedthe original cast ofCriminal Minds, which throughout the years underwent a few departures and new additions.Criminal Mindswas among CBS' most watched shows, and managed to hook the audience for 15 seasons, concluding its run on the air in 2020. However, that was not the end for this beloved show, as it was revived by Paramount+ in 2022 with a new it titledCriminal Minds: Evolution.Of course, following its success on streaming,Criminal Minds: Evolutionhas been renewedfor more episodes.
Throughout 300+ episodes, the BAU profilers took on some of the most dangerous criminals on TV, dealing with cases that were both intriguing and dangerous enough to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Here are some of the show’s best episodes.
Criminal Minds
Updated July 26, 2025: This list has been updated with even more info about the best episodes ofCriminal Minds.
20Natural Born Killer (Season 1, Episode 8)
The first season ofCriminal Mindsfeatures some of the most gripping episodes in the entire show, which is why fans stuck around in the first place. In “Natural Born Killer,” the eighth episode of the series, the BAU are tasked with working alongside the Organized Crime Unit to solve a case that appears to be a mob hit. However, the BAU profilers are led to believe that a serial killer is behind the crime, a belief that escalates after one of the agents assigned to the case goes missing.
What Makes It Great
This episode was directed by Peter Ellis, whose directorial credits include the likes ofSupernaturalandHighlander: The Series. Debra J. Fisher and Erica Messer additionally co-wrote this episode, with the duo later working on multiple episodes together throughoutCriminal Minds' first few seasons.
19L.D.S.K. (Season 1, Episode 6)
“L.D.S.K.” is another great episode fromCriminal Minds’s first season, and also one that further explores the relationships between the main characters. In this episode, the profilers head to Des Plaines, Illinois, to investigate the case of a sniper who has killed one citizen and wounded many others, in an effort to prevent an upcoming attack. After failing his firearms qualification exam, Spencer Reid is forced to report for this new task without his weapon, something that lands him in big trouble.
This episode in particular is a strong standout from the first season, especially in the editing department. The sequence that featured the sniper’s shots intercut with Reid’s shooting at the range is a notable highlight, and the tension is more than palpable as Reid is forced to tackle this threat without a reliable sidearm.
18Seven Seconds (Season 3, Episode 5)
“Seven Seconds” is one of the most harrowing episodes of season 3. After a little girl goes missing in a shopping mall in Woodbridge, Virginia, the BAU concludes that the abduction may be an attack by a serial killer they are hunting. Aware that the criminal’s first victim was killed shortly after her abduction, the profilers must work quickly if they intend to find this girl alive.
“Seven Seconds” would be one of the rare instances early inCriminal Minds' run where audience expectations were deliberately toyed with. There was a genuine sense of urgency that made the surrounding episode feel all the more dramatic as a result. If you have a keen eye, you’ll even recognize that the pair of Jacobs brothers featured in this episode were played by real-life twins Salvator Xuereb and Emmanuel Xuereb.
17Memoriam (Season 4, Episode 7)
Criminal Mindsfans love those episodes that delve deeper into the BAU members' pasts and their relationships with one another. “Memoriam”, a highlight from season 4, is one of those episodes, as it not only delves into Spencer Reid’s family past through his investigation of a murder, but also treats the audience to one of the most tender moments on the show when JJ asks him to be her newborn son’s godfather.
Aside from being another fantastic episode centered around Spencer Reid, it’s a paramount episode for Spencer’s development as a character. Shows likeCriminal Mindslive or die based on the strength of their characters. “Memoriam” recognizes this, not only delivering the same kind of quality storytelling that you’d expect fromCriminal Minds, but with additional care taken in giving Spencer some additional complexity.
16The Lesson (Season 8, Episode 10)
“The Lesson” is one of the many episodes ofCriminal Mindsdirected by Matthew Gray Gubler, the actor who plays Dr. Spencer Reid. Of course, aside from acting out some ofReid’s best moments, Matthew Gray Gubler is a terrific director as well. In the episode, the BAU is dealing with a string of murders that could be part of a religious ritual. However, as they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a story that is far creepier than anything they had imagined.
In “The Lesson,” the killer is played by Brad Dourif, an actor best known for voicing Chucky in theChild’s Playfranchise and for his role inOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. His performance as the monstrous Adam Rain gives this episode some much-needed creepiness to make its plot really pop.
15Zugzwang (Season 8, Episode 12)
In the season 8 ofCriminal Minds, the audience meets Maeve (Beth Riesgraf), a bright young woman with whom Reid has a relationship, even though he has never met her in person. One of the main reasons why these young people have never met has to do with the fact that she claims that she is being followed by a stalker. In “Zugzwang,” a horrifying hypothetical finally comes true, as she’s kidnapped by her stalker. Reid sets out to investigate her disappearance in order to find her before it’s too late. Thankfully, he’ll be able to rely on the BAU for some assistance.
The director of this episode, Jesse Warn, is notable for his work on a plethora of television shows.Spartacus,The Originals,Arrow, andThe Vampire Diariesare just a handful of shows he’s directed episodes for. Beth Riesgraf also does a stellar job in portraying Maeve, having previously climbed to fame with her performance as Parker inLeverage.
14Somebody’s Watching (Season 1, Episode 18)
In “Somebody’s Watching,” Jason Gideon and Spencer Reid travel to Los Angeles to conduct a professional seminar, and end up staying longer than expected to investigate a string of murders that seem to be connected, in some strange way, to up-and-coming actress Lila Archer. The case grows increasingly difficult after this young woman develops a love interest for Reid, something that greatly harms the investigation and puts both of them at risk.
Lila was played by Amber Heard, known for her portrayal of Mera in the DC productionsJustice LeagueandAquaman. This episode is also notable for being the single episode ofCriminal Mindsdirected by Paul Shapiro, whose television credits include other terrific shows like24andThe X-Files.
13The Replicator (Season 8, Episode 24)
Typically, the criminals that the BAU deals with only appear in one or two episodes, until they are caught and brought to justice. However, sporadically, the BAU has to deal with criminals who are far tougher to catch, and who also threaten their private lives. Among them is John Curtis, aka The Replicator, the main antagonist of season 8.
The similarly-titled episode “The Replicator” concludes the two-part finale of season 8, with the eponymous villain attempting to take on the BAU by targeting Erin Strauss. Under direct attack, the team enter a dangerous cat-and-mouse chase in one of the most intense episodes of the show’s run.
John Curtis wasflawlessly played by Mark Hamill, who is mainly known portraying Luke Skywalker inStar Warsand The Joker in a plethora of DC projects. Though Hamill’s portrayal of the character was restricted to just a handful of episodes, his presence inCriminal Mindsis certainly welcomed, even drawing comparisons to Tim Curry’s guest performance in “Our Darkest Hour.”
12Mosley Lane (Season 5, Episode 16)
“Mosley Lane” isn’t afraid to dive into some darker storytelling. After an eight-year-old girl vanishes without a trace in Ashburn, Virginia, Sarah Hillridge approaches the FBI to state that the case may be related to the disappearance of her own son, which took place eight years earlier. Thus, the BAU sets out on the daunting task of finding this child alive, attempting to track down the rest of this criminal’s victims while doing so.
“Mosley Lane” was the first episode directed by Matthew Gray Gubler, and also the first time in the series in which a cast member served as director. It additionally features guest appearances by Ann Cusack, Evan Peters, and Beth Grant. The darker nature of this episode would serve as an introduction to Gubler’s directorial style, with his later episodes in the series beingsimilarly grim and graphicin tone.
Criminal Minds: The Best Characters in the Show, Ranked
This show gave the audience a larger view into the daily dealings of a precinct, showing the diverse types of detectives involved in solving cases.
11A Beautiful Disaster (Season 11, Episode 18)
“A Beautiful Disaster” is another episode directed by Matthew Gray Gubler, this time from a script by Erica Messer and Kirsten Vangsness, who plays Penelope Garcia. This time, the BAU faces a killer who seeks revenge on them, and to do so, he attacks Savannah, Derek Morgan’s wife. This episode marked Morgan’s farewell from the show, since after the case, he decided to retire to protect his family and spend more time with his newborn baby.
This episode was a terrific send-off for Shemar Moore, who had been attached to the series since it originally debuted in 2005. Though it was difficult to say goodbye, the final case he participated in is as intense as ever, giving him a climactic story with a bittersweet, if not satisfying, conclusion. Funnily enough,Shemar Moore is officially a fatherhimself as of early 2023.
