Anaya Nolan
Law & Order is a media franchise composed of several related American television series, with over 1,000 episodes in total. The original series, Law & Order, is a police procedural and legal drama that aired from 1990 to 2010 and was revived in 2022. The show follows a two-part approach, with the first half dedicated to crime investigation and the second half focusing on the prosecution. The Law & Order franchise has since expanded to include numerous spin-offs, such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: LA, each exploring different aspects of the criminal justice system and featuring shared characters and fictional organisations. The popularity of the franchise has led to its syndication across various cable channels and streaming platforms, solidifying its place as a cultural phenomenon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of seasons | 25 |
| Number of spinoffs | 7 |
| First aired | 13 September 1990 |
| Number of episodes | 500+ |
| Creator | Dick Wolf |
| Production company | Wolf Entertainment |
| Distributor | NBCUniversal |
| Number of crossovers | 2+ |
| Setting | New York City |
| Based on | True stories |
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What You'll Learn
Law & Order: SVU
There are several series in the Law & Order franchise, with the original series airing from 1990 to 2010, spanning 20 seasons. Law & Order: SVU is one of the five spin-offs produced in conjunction with the original series.
The series stars Mariska Hargitay as Detective (later Captain) Olivia Benson, the commanding officer of the SVU, and formerly the partner of Detective Elliot Stabler, played by Christopher Meloni, who left the series in 2011 after 12 seasons. Other cast members include Danny Pino as Detective Nick Amaro, Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins, and Adam Beach as Detective Chester Lake, who joins the team in season nine. The squad is supervised by veteran Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), who oversees the team for seasons 1-15. FBI Special Agent Dr. George Huang (BD Wong) assists the unit, providing insight into the criminal mind and helping officers deal with the psychological toll of their work.
The series has received acclaim for its gripping narratives, robust cast, and authentic depiction of sensitive issues. It has also spawned a further spin-off, Law & Order: Organized Crime, which features the character of Elliot Stabler joining the NYPD's Organized Crime Control Bureau.
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Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order is a media franchise composed of several related American television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television. The original series, Law & Order, aired from 1990 to 2010 and revolved around two NYPD detectives assigned to solve crimes, with the first half of each episode depicting the investigation and the second half showing the prosecution. The series has since spawned numerous spin-offs, TV films, and crossover episodes, constituting over 1,000 hours of programming.
One such spin-off is Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which premiered in 2001 as the third series in the Law & Order franchise. Criminal Intent is an American police procedural drama set in New York City and primarily produced there as well. The series focuses on the investigations of the Major Case Squad in a fictionalized version of the New York City Police Department, with each episode often based on real crimes that received media attention. Unlike other Law & Order series, most Criminal Intent episodes end with the detectives eliciting confessions, rather than continuing to the trial phase.
The series follows NYPD detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe), who employ psychological tools to understand killers' violent attacks and often disagree on how to solve cases. Throughout the series, Goren and Eames become closer by understanding their personal and professional differences. The show also acquired a more melodramatic tone when longtime Criminal Intent staffer Warren Leight took over as showrunner starting in season six.
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Law & Order: LA
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf. The show revolves around two NYPD detectives assigned to solve crimes, with the first half of each episode depicting the investigation and the second half showing the prosecution by the Manhattan district attorney's office. The series has spawned a media franchise, with numerous spin-offs and adaptations produced in various countries.
One such spin-off is Law & Order: LA, which premiered in 2010 and concluded in 2011. The series marked a departure from the original Law & Order's New York City setting, taking the franchise to the West Coast and exploring the high-profile crimes of Los Angeles. The show followed a team of LAPD detectives, including Tomas Jaruszalski (Corey Stoll), Jonah Dekker (Terence Howard), and Ricardo Morales (Alfred Molina), as they investigated crimes in the greater Los Angeles area. Despite a remarkable cast, "Law & Order: LA" lasted for just one season and 22 episodes before its cancellation in 2011.
The series description, as posted on NBC's official website, reads: "From Dick Wolf, comes a foray into the glitz, glamour, and guilt of Los Angeles. From the tony Beverly Hills to the seedy side of Hollywood, LAPD's elite Robbery Homicide Division is on the case." Each episode of "Law & Order: LA" maintained the classic Law & Order format of depicting a crime and its prosecution but adapted it to the Los Angeles criminal justice system. The crimes prosecuted were based on the California Penal Code, and episodes sometimes referred to the crimes by their Penal Code section numbers, a trademark of LA police procedural shows.
The cast of "Law & Order: LA" included both film and television actors. Skeet Ulrich and Corey Stoll, who portrayed the lead detectives, were relatively unknown at the time. Terrence Howard, who played Deputy District Attorney Jonah Dekker, split his workload with Molina, allowing both actors to remain active in films. The series also featured Megan Boone as Junior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Stanton and Alana de la Garza as Connie Rubirosa, Dekker's partner.
Despite its exciting change of environment and lyrical camera shots of Los Angeles, "Law & Order: LA" struggled to find its footing. Creative differences and the unaltered format contributed to its cancellation after one season. NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt acknowledged the challenges, crediting creator Dick Wolf for reinventing the show but ultimately deciding to move on.
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Law & Order: UK
The original Law & Order series is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf. It launched the Law & Order franchise, which includes numerous spin-offs, crossovers, and a TV film. The original series aired for 20 seasons from 1990 to 2010 and was revived in 2022 for a 21st season. In total, there have been 24 seasons of the show as of 2025, with the series being renewed for a 25th season.
The series was first imagined by Dick Wolf in 2000, but no network was willing to pick it up at the time. Wolf then attracted scriptwriter Chris Chibnall, who wrote 13 adaptations of the original Law & Order episodes for British television. ITV eventually picked up the series, and the first series began filming in January 2008. Law & Order: UK aired from 2009 to 2014, with eight series in total. The cast included Bradley Walsh, Freema Agyeman, Jamie Bamber, Ben Daniels, Harriet Walter, and Bill Paterson.
The show received praise for its gritty and realistic feel, superb acting, and intelligent writing. However, some critics noted that it mangled UK law and stretched the validity of how courtrooms work. Despite this, Law & Order: UK was well-received by viewers, with many finding it entertaining and engrossing.
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Law & Order: Toronto
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series that first aired in 1990. The show has since spawned several spin-offs, including Law & Order: UK and Law & Order: LA. In 2024, a new addition to the franchise premiered: Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent is the first international version of Law & Order to use original stories. The show follows an elite squad of Canadian police detectives from the Specialized Criminal Investigations Unit who investigate high-profile crimes and corruption in Toronto, Ontario. The main detectives, Graff and Bateman, mirror the American counterparts, Goren and Eames, from the original Criminal Intent series. The show also stars K. C. Collins as Deputy Crown Attorney Theo Forrester and Nicola Correia-Damude as Dr. Lucy Da Silva.
The series is produced by Lark Productions and Cameron Pictures, and the episodes are directed by Holly Dale, David Wellington, Peter Stebbings, Sudz Sutherland, Rachel Leiterman, Winnifred Jong, Sharon Lewis, and David Straiton. The first season premiered on February 22, 2024, and consisted of 10 episodes. The series received positive reviews for its use of Toronto as a backdrop and for introducing a new and fresh side to the franchise. The show was renewed for a second and third season in June 2024.
One notable aspect of Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent is its focus on establishing its Canadian roots. The show features local references and showcases the city of Toronto, including iconic locations such as Cherry Beach and the Toronto sign at City Hall. The episode "Crack Reporter" was partially inspired by the crack cocaine scandal involving former Toronto mayor Rob Ford in 2013.
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Frequently asked questions
There are seven U.S. shows in the Law & Order franchise, with more on the way.
The original series, Law & Order, has had 25 seasons as of 2025. Its spin-offs include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), Criminal Intent, Trial By Jury, LA, True Crime, and Organized Crime.
There have been several international adaptations of Law & Order, including Law & Order: UK, Law & Order: Toronto, and Singapore's Code of Law.
The Law & Order franchise includes the original series, its spin-offs, TV films, and crossover episodes, totalling over 1,000 hours of programming.
