THR has confirmed that the upcoming 20th season of Criminal Minds, now subtitled Evolution, will be the show’s last. The beloved crime drama is coming to an end after more than two decades.
“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,” said showrunner and executive producer Erica Messer. “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.”
Criminal Minds was first released in 2005 on CBS, and quickly took the world by storm. In the decades that followed, Criminal Minds remained the most consistent, reliable crime drama in the industry, with countless actors drifting in and out of the show as the seasons passed. It became the blueprint for this unique genre, with various other shows taking inspiration from its episodic format.
The show follows a group of FBI profilers who attempt to pinpoint the moments that turn would-be-killers into dangerous criminals, trying to preemptively stop them before they strike. As the show gradually evolved into a more familiar police procedural, it developed a massive fan base that endured throughout the decades.
On February 19, 2020, CBS initially cancelled Criminal Minds following its fifteenth season. The show was promptly revived by Paramount+ under the subtitle Criminal Minds: Evolution, and continued for a further four (soon to be five) seasons. The rebooted series starred Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, RJ Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster.
“We’re looking forward to sharing season 20 with everyone, and celebrating the legacy of this special show we’ve all built together,” Messer continued in a statement. The upcoming final season of Criminal Minds will air exclusively on Paramount next year.
