Law & Order is the longest-running NBC police procedural drama known for its complex blend of criminal investigations and courtroom drama. The show is known for its depiction of police procedurals and drama. At the same time, it is not the only show of its kind.
From solving cold-hearted murders to tackling psychological profiling, the world of crime shows has a wealth of shows to offer viewers. These TV shows follow detectives, police officers, and forensic experts as they hunt down criminals. Whether you enjoy gritty dramas, courtroom menace, gruesome crimes, or murder investigations, like Law & Order, these ten shows are sure to have something to interest you.
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A list of 10 shows similar to Law & Order
1) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999 – Present)
Law & Order: SVU is a spin-off of the original Law & Order series. It focuses on sexual crimes, child abuse, and domestic abuse. It caters to crimes of a more contemporary nature, with gripping cases and compelling characters with an emotional and procedural storyline.
Similar to the OG Law & Order, SVU also balances out the crimes with the courtroom drama and lays focus on personal and deep storylines. The 26th season of the series is all set to premiere on October 3. The official summary of the season reads :
"Follows the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Unit (SVU), a specially trained squad of detectives who investigates sex crimes including rape, child sexual abuse, human trafficking and domestic violence."
Where to watch: Peacock, Hulu
2) NYPD Blue (1993 – 2005)
NYPD Blue offers a fresh take on crime shows. It is a police drama that portrays New York City, the detectives there, and their struggles, personal and professional. It has been applauded for its realistic storytelling and coverage of real issues that persist, such as alcoholism, corruption, and internal conflicts within the police force.
The show follows a plot similar to Law & Order; it shows the daily life of officers while they tackle regular and occasional controversial crime scenes. NYPD Blue has in focus two detectives, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and John Kelly (David Caruso) (later replaced by Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits).
The show was a success till 2005 and viewers continue to watch the direction of Steven Bochco and David Milch.
Where to watch: Hulu
3) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000 – 2015)
CSI is a well-known show that focuses on the importance of forensic science in solving crimes. The show highlights how science and technology can help solve crimes more efficiently. It has 16 seasons that are available across various platforms.
The show's creator is Anthony E. Zuiker and it features George Eads as CSI Nick Stokes, Eric Szmanda as CSI Greg Sanders, Robert David Hall as Chief ME Dr. Al Robbins, and many more prominent TV names.
It is set in Las Vegas with a team of forensic experts out and about in their bid to solve murders. Like Law & Order, CSI also uncovers the dark human nature and the behavioral aspects that lead people to commit crimes.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix
4) Criminal Minds (2005 – 2020)
Criminal Minds is a psychological thriller that aims to solve cases with a twist on the traditional police procedural format. The show focuses on the FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they attempt to track down serial killers and murderers.
It pays attention to the motivations and psychology of the perpetrators. It is a dark and intense show, a perfect fit for fans of Law & Order. The casting adds a unique flavor to it with Jason Gideon played by Mandy Patinkin, Aaron Hotchner played by Thomas Gibson, Elle Greenaway played by Lola Glaudini and Derek Morgan played by Shemar Moore.
Criminal Minds also became CBS's most-watched show during its run on the network. On June 5, 2024, it was renewed for an eighteenth season.
Where to watch: Hulu, Paramount+, Amazon Prime,
5) Blue Bloods (2010 – Present)
The show centers around the Reagan Family, deeply rooted in law enforcement. Along with the angle of police and crime, the show goes a step further to show the ethical conflict and dilemma that officers deal with in a police investigation.
Like Law & Order, it is set in New York and delves into the justice system from multiple angles. However, the show offers a more family-centered approach and shows the characters striking a balance between professional and personal life.
Blue Bloods has a popular cast as well with Tom Selleck featuring as the New York City Police Commissioner, Frank Reagan. Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, and Len Cariou have also featured throughout the seasons.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Hulu, Amazon Prime
6) Cold Case (2003 – 2010)
The show follows the life of detectives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as they reopen and investigate old, unsolved cases. The seven-season long series follows the course of showing mixed footage, sometimes it is running in flashbacks while sometimes it is running in the present. It strongly focuses on striving for truth and delivering justice to the victims of crimes, similar to Law & Order.
Cold Case is purely fictional and features Kathryn Morris in the role of Detective Lilly Rush, who takes up cases that have already been shut, she reopens all these cold cases to get to the bottom and discover the truth. Every episode has a distinct story and at the end of the episode, the killer would be revealed as he would give out a confession.
Where to watch: Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime
7) The Mentalist (2008 – 2015)
The Mentalist focuses on Patrick Jane played by Simon Baker. Jane is a former psychic-turned-consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation. He uses his keen observational skills to solve crimes. The show is a crime-solving show to its core, much like Law & Order.
The seven-season long show was created by Bruno Heller who is also the executive producer for the show. In the show, Jane works closely with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a consultant and uses his past profession and psychic skills to help solve murders.
Patrick Jane has a personal motive for getting involved in solving murders and that is the murder of his wife Angela Ruskin Jane, and his daughter, Charlotte Anne Jane.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
8) The Closer (2005 – 2012)
This show features Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, who is shown as a LAPD detective. Her ability to solve and close cases by getting a confession from the criminals sets the show apart from all others. Interrogations, complex investigations, and a strong female lead make the show a good watch for all crime lovers.
The Closer has gotten a ton of appreciation and was nominated for 73 awards in the prime time category over the years. It even won 11 awards, the most notable one being the Emmy win for the best prime-time show. The show was created by James Duff and featured, Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, J.K. Simmons as Will Pope, and Corey Reynolds as David Gabriel.
Where to watch: HBO Max
9) Homicide: Life on the Street (1993 – 1999)
The show offers a raw and realistic portrayal of homicide detectives. It is set in Baltimore. It focuses on gritty, real-world investigations and ethical dilemmas. This show and Law & Order share crime in urban settings and the often blurry lines between right and wrong.
The show has won 4 Emmy Awards and continues to have a wide fan base. It was created by Paul Attanasio and is based on a book by David Simon, titled Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. The show also has a dazzling cast, featuring names like Daniel Baldwin, Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto, Melissa Leo, Michelle Forbes, Max Perlich, Peter Gerety, and Jon Seda
Where to watch: Peacock, Amazon Prime Video
10) Major Crimes (2012 – 2018)
A spin-off of The Closer, Major Crimes continues with the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division, now led by Captain Sharon Raydor. The show focuses on major convictions and the importance of a legal strategy to get those convictions. It also goes deep into the legal challenges that police face when solving a case.
Major Crimes has Mary McDonnell in the lead as Captain (later Commander) Sharon Raydor, a well-known and respected internal affairs officer. Another prominent character in the show is G. W. Bailey who is seen as Detective Lieutenant Louie Provenza. This is sure to capture the attention of anyone who has enjoyed watching Law & Order.
Where to watch: HBO Max
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