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Law & Order

1990 – nowShow26 seasons549 episodesTV-14

CrimeDrama
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic698.6Rotten Tomatoes–84%

A tense, intriguing crime series about crime and everyday modern life.

Good for family movie night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs or scares.

Shows with

Episodes

26 seasons · 549 episodes · best: S6E23 "Aftershock" 9.1

Episodes

7.7
7.6
7.7
7.7
7.8
8.0
7.9
7.8
7.8
7.7
7.6
7.5
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.8
7.6
7.8
7.8
7.8
6.7
7.4
7.5
7.4
7.7
8.0

Story

Truth matters.

In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing the evidence and questioning the suspects until someone is taken into custody. The district attorney's office then builds a case to convict the perpetrator by proving the person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Working together, these expert teams navigate all sides of the complex criminal justice system to make New York a safer place.

Feels like

  • Procedural Crime Drama
  • Legal & Police Intersection
  • Societal Mirror
  • Ensemble Character Study
  • New York City Atmosphere
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Episodic Mystery
  • Institutional Critique
  • Grounded Realism
  • Long-Running Legacy

Cast

24 of 4,611 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Constantine Makris, Edwin Sherin, Jace Alexander
Written by
Richard Sweren, René Balcer, Ed Zuckerman
Produced by
Arthur W. Forney, Jeffrey L. Hayes, Richard Sweren
Music by
Mike Post

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 13, 1990 · October 22, 2026 · Still running

First aired
September 13, 1990
Latest episode
October 22, 2026
Status
Still running
Length
26 seasons · 549 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
124 countries

Tropes

Homosexual Reproduction, Black-and-Grey Morality, Early-Bird Cameo +9

  • Homosexual Reproduction
  • Black-and-Grey Morality
  • Early-Bird Cameo
  • Dirty Cop
  • Cardboard Box Home
  • Formula-Breaking Episode
  • Inspector Javert
  • The Alibi
  • Interrogation Montage
  • Multi-Part Episode
  • Gravity Is Only a Theory
  • Western Terrorists

12 of 511 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Law & Order?"

Questions about Law & Order

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Law & Order?

NetflixHulufuboTVPeacockPhiloYouTube TVNBCPeacock Premium+

In the United States, Law & Order streams on Netflix, Hulu, fuboTV, Peacock, and Philo, and it is free with ads on NBC. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 73 other countries.

Is Law & Order worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.8 and Metacritic 69). Audiences rate it higher (83 out of 100) than critics (69).

Which season of Law & Order is best?

Seasons 6 and 26, with an IMDb average of 8.0. Season 21 is the weakest at 6.7. The highest-rated episode is Aftershock (season 6, episode 23) at 9.1, and the lowest is Free Speech (season 21, episode 5) at 6.2.

Is Law & Order okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imagery

Yes: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, strong language, and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

What tropes does Law & Order use?

Homosexual ReproductionBlack-and-Grey MoralityEarly-Bird CameoDirty CopCardboard Box HomeFormula-Breaking EpisodeInspector JavertThe AlibiInterrogation MontageMulti-Part EpisodeGravity Is Only a TheoryWestern Terroristsand 499 more

TV Tropes lists 511 tropes for it, including Homosexual Reproduction, Black-and-Grey Morality, and Early-Bird Cameo.