CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION Is Ending With Season 20 at Paramount+

After two decades of tracking serial killers, hunting down some seriously twisted criminals, and keeping fans glued to their screens, Criminal Minds is coming to an end once again. Paramount+ has decided that the upcoming 20th season of Criminal Minds: Evolutionwill be the show's last, bringing its five-season streaming revival to a close in 2027.

I have to admit, this is one of those shows I never expected to get hooked on. I normally don't watch these kinds of crime procedurals, but something about Criminal Minds pulled me in, and I've stuck around for 19 seasons. I've been on this crazy ride with the BAU for years, and while I'm a little sad to see it end, I'm actually fine with this latest incarnation wrapping things up. It's been a fun run.

According to Deadline, the cancellation decision came recently under Paramount+'s new leadership, making it the first official cancellation under Casey Bloys, Co-Chair and Chief Content Officer for Skydance Direct to Consumer.

Interestingly, the decision reportedly came at the recommendation of the previous Paramount+ leadership team, which had renewed Criminal Minds: Evolution for Season 20 back in March, before Season 19 even premiered.

What's surprising is that the show is apparently still performing well. It's currently sitting in Paramount+'s Top 10, so this doesn't appear to be a straightforward case of audiences losing interest.

The decision could have more to do with production costs and whether a traditional broadcast-style crime drama makes financial sense for the streaming service.

Criminal Minds: Evolution is also the last remaining Paramount+ continuation of a former network hit, following shows like SEAL Team, Frasier, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva.

Former Paramount+ Head of Originals Jane Wiseman, who recently exited following the merger, previously described her team as “big fans” of Criminal Minds: Evolution and expressed interest in developing more shows like it.

Paramount+ already has plenty of CBS programming available to stream the following day, while its new sibling HBO Max has found success with shows like The Pitt, which combines longer seasons and annual releases with premium streaming production.

Unfortunately, fans shouldn't expect Criminal Minds: Evolution to deliver a carefully planned series finale. Season 20 already wrapped production earlier this fall, before the cancellation decision was made. That means the writers didn't have an opportunity to craft a proper conclusion for the characters, and the show could potentially leave some storylines unresolved.

Longtime executive producer and showrunner Erica Messer addressed the news in a statement that makes it clear the decision caught the creative team off guard.

“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.

“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. We’re looking forward to sharing Season 20 with everyone, and celebrating the legacy of this special show we’ve all built together.”

Of course, Criminal Minds has survived cancellation before. CBS originally ended the series after 15 seasons, only for Paramount+ to bring the Behavioral Analysis Unit back with Evolution.

That revival gave the series another five seasons and pushed its total run to an impressive 20 seasons, tying it for fifth place among the longest-running television dramas. The only shows ahead of it are Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order, NCIS, and Grey's Anatomy, all of which are still going.

The current cast includes Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, RJ Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster, who have helped keep the BAU going through some major changes over the years.

It's disappointing that the creative team won't get to end the series on its own terms, but twenty seasons is a hell of a run, and there are only so many horrifying serial killers these FBI profilers can chase before it's time to call it a day.

I've enjoyed following these characters for all these years, even when the cases got ridiculously disturbing. There's something about the cast and their chemistry that kept bringing me back.

Maybe Criminal Minds will find another way to return someday. It certainly wouldn't be the first time this franchise came back from the dead. But if Season 20 really is the end, I'm good with that.

Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 20 is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+ in 2027.