Criminal Minds is a crime drama show that follows an elite team of FBI profilers as they attempt to analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds. The show first aired in 2005 and is now available on Paramount+. With 17 seasons, it can be difficult to know which episodes are the best. That's why we have ranked the best episodes of Criminal Minds so you can get the most out of the show.
From the pilot episode to the series finale, Criminal Minds has offered fans many memorable episodes. From thrillers to heart-breaking moments, it’s hard to pick the best ones. Luckily, we have compiled a list of the best episodes ranked from top to bottom.
Whether you are a fan of the show or just getting started, our list of the best episodes of Criminal Minds will help you get the most out of this amazing show. So settle in for a thrilling ride with Criminal Minds as you watch some of the best episodes the show has to offer.
Written by Sophie and last updated on dec 20, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
When the BAU is called to Salt Lake City Utah to investigate a triple homicide, the search for a connection among the victims could lead them to a fugitive who could have ties to the UnSub.
The episode was rated 7.60 from 811 votes.
When a prominent attorney goes missing in Boston, the BAU unearths secrets in his past which could point to the reasons for his disappearance.
The episode was rated 7.60 from 824 votes.
When shooting victims are found in the Los Angeles area with possible links to criminal activity, the BAU searches for a vigilante UnSub.
The episode was rated 7.61 from 838 votes.
The BAU is stumped to find the common denominator among male victims in Montana, making in difficult to profile the UnSub. JJ confronts her feelings about her sister's tragic death.
The episode was rated 7.62 from 857 votes.
When the wife of an up-and-coming congressman disappears, the BAU investigates his political enemies as possible suspects.
The episode was rated 7.63 from 889 votes.
When a young boy who went missing in San Diego on Halloween suddenly reappears one year later, the BAU must work fast when another trick-or-treater disappears under similar circumstances.
The episode was rated 7.63 from 848 votes.
When a passenger jet crashes in Colorado, the BAU team is called to build a profile around the suspicious circumstances. The case hits close to home for Kate, who is reminded of a family tragedy.
The episode was rated 7.66 from 935 votes.
A series of abductions and murders in Seattle send the BAU seeking an UnSub who was abused in the past and is out for revenge. Garcia heads to Texas to confront the man she shot while defending Reid and herself, as he waits on death row.
The episode was rated 7.69 from 931 votes.
When victims with large social media followings are found dead in Maryland, the BAU searches for an UnSub taking on the persona of an Internet urban legend. Morgan and Savannah struggle to find quality time for each other with their busy careers.
The episode was rated 7.72 from 859 votes.
The BAU investigates random murders in northern Virginia and searches for a conflicted UnSub who has an uncontrollable urge to kill but is also filled with remorse. Rossi receives a visit from a woman who could hold a secret from his past.
The episode was rated 7.72 from 810 votes.
When two guards at a privatized maximum security prison in Texas are murdered, the BAU suspects that more than one UnSub within the prison could be at work.
The episode was rated 7.72 from 785 votes.
The BAU revisits its origins when they look at one of Rossi and Gideon’s old cases to track a killer that got away.
The episode was rated 7.75 from 721 votes.
The BAU team investigates a series of murders in Bakersfield, Ca, which have left the victims unidentifiable. New agent Kate Callahan joins the BAU fold, and assists in the effort to solve the cases.
The episode was rated 7.77 from 1013 votes.
When Kate's niece and her best friend Markayla are kidnapped, the BAU suspects an online predator engaged in sex trafficking who poses as a teenage boy.
The episode was rated 7.81 from 837 votes.
In the episode of Criminal Minds titled Mr. Scratch, the BAU is tasked to search for an UnSub who is controlling the minds of those implicated in murders. This UnSub can only be identified by the victims of these murders claiming they were attacked by a “clawed shadow monster” at the moment each crime occurred.
The episode was met with mixed reviews from viewers. Many praised the show for its intense and thrilling story that didn't rely on blood and gore, citing that Matthew Gray Gubler did a fantastic job in directing the episode. On the other hand, some felt the episode was too unrealistic and filled with pseudo magical psychobabble. Nevertheless, it was a great episode and one of the best the show has ever done.
The episode was rated 7.96 from 916 votes.
