The Best Criminal Minds Episodes

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Updated September 16, 2023 66.7K votes 9.8K voters 722.3K views
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The Behavioral Analysis Unit investigates deadly crimes in each episode of Criminal Minds. Some great Criminal Minds episodes are about developing profiles of potential perpetrators while other good episodes feature drama within the BAU. A few good episodes of Criminal Minds finds BAU team members being targeted as the victims of crimes.

What are the best episodes of Criminal Minds? “Limelight” from season three is a fan favorite. This episode finds the BAU contending with an FBI Agent with an eye for fame. “Alchemy” is also a compelling episode of the series, Criminal Minds.

“A Higher Power” is another good episode from Criminal Minds as is “Cradle to Grave” in which Mae Whitman and Hallee Hirsh guest star as victims of a twisted kidnaper and killer.

Do you have a favorite episode of Criminal Minds? Give the best episodes a vote up and vote down any episodes you may not have liked.

Most divisive: True Genius
Ranked by
  • 100
    1

    100

    November 25, 2009
    2,743 votes
    • Season: Criminal Minds - Season 5
    • Episode Number: 9
    • Series: Criminal Minds
    The BAU team races to help Hotchner find The Reaper and save his family before it's too late.
  • Revelations
    2

    Revelations

    February 07, 2007
    1,571 votes
    • Season: Criminal Minds - Season 2
    • Episode Number: 15
    • Series: Criminal Minds
    In this conclusion of a special two-part episode, finding the serial killer becomes critical to the BAU when the team realizes Reid is being held captive and a live feed of him being tortured is shown on the internet. Meanwhile, Reid's troubled childhood is revealed in flashback sequences as he drifts in and out of consciousness.
  • Mayhem
    3

    Mayhem

    September 24, 2008
    1,025 votes
    • Season: Criminal Minds - Season 4
    • Episode Number: 1
    • Series: Criminal Minds
    When an SUV carrying members of the team explodes, the rest of the team fights to save them and catch the terrorists responsible for the bombing.
  • Penelope
    4

    Penelope

    November 21, 2007
    1,278 votes
    • Season: Criminal Minds - Season 3
    • Episode Number: 9
    • Series: Criminal Minds
    As a team member fights for life, the BAU continues the search for an attacker that leads the unit to believe the assailant could be someone close to the investigation.
  • Lo-Fi
    5

    Lo-Fi

    May 21, 2008
    434 votes
    • Season: Criminal Minds - Season 3
    • Episode Number: 20
    • Series: Criminal Minds
    The BAU faces one of its toughest cases when the team is called to New York City to determine if a series of random shootings is the work of one serial killer or a team of killers working together.
  • Hit
    6

    Hit

    May 16, 2012
    1,298 votes
    • Season: Criminal Minds - Season 7
    • Episode Number: 23
    • Series: Criminal Minds
    When the BAU goes up against a gang of serial-killing bank robbers in Washington, D.C., the team tries to negotiate the situation unfolding inside the bank, but the stakes rise when one of their own becomes a hostage.