CBS has officially announced the cancellation of two popular series from the FBI universe — FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International — after their sixth and fourth seasons respectively. Although both shows ranked among CBS’s top 10 most-watched programs during the 2024–2025 season, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach stated that the decision was driven by financial and strategic content development reasons.
High Production Costs and Declining Ratings
Both shows had high production costs. FBI: International, primarily filmed across Europe, faced elevated expenses due to travel, location fees, and international crew salaries. Meanwhile, FBI: Most Wanted required filming in multiple locations across the United States, also increasing production costs. Despite maintaining steady viewership, ratings for both series dropped by approximately 10% compared to the previous season, with FBI: Most Wanted averaging 6.5 million viewers and FBI: International around 6.53 million.
Strategic Focus on Main Series and New Developments
The cancellations reflect CBS’s strategy to concentrate on more cost-effective, high-performing programs. While FBI continues strong and has been renewed through Season 10, CBS is developing a new spin-off titled FBI: CIA. This new series will follow the collaboration between an FBI agent and a CIA operative tackling domestic terrorism in New York City. FBI: CIA is expected to premiere in Fall 2025, airing alongside FBI on Monday nights.
Fan and Cast Reactions
The cancellations took many fans by surprise and sparked disappointment on social media, with some viewers feeling the network made the wrong call. Cast members also expressed their gratitude toward fans and their colleagues, sharing heartfelt messages reflecting on their time with the shows.
