If you’re a fan of crime dramas, you’ve likely heard of the Law & Order universe. Created by Dick Wolf, this iconic franchise has built a sprawling television empire over the years. It includes multiple spin-offs, movies, video games, and even international adaptations, making it a truly expansive world to dive into. Whether you’re a newbie to the series or a long-time fan looking to revisit the classics, there’s a lot to navigate. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how to watch Law & Order, in what order to experience the shows, and where you can stream all of the action.
What Makes the Law & Order Universe So Unique?
Before we dive into how to watch it all, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how special the Law & Order franchise is. The series first premiered in 1990, and since then, it’s become synonymous with police procedurals, courtroom drama, and thrilling crime investigations. The unique blend of police detectives solving crimes and lawyers handling the prosecution makes Law & Order stand out from other shows in the genre. But it doesn’t stop there – over the years, the franchise has grown into a huge universe with several spin-offs, crossovers, and adaptations, both domestic and international.
Whether it’s Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Intent, or Organized Crime, each show has its own focus but remains connected through shared characters, storylines, and, of course, its signature approach to crime and justice.
How to Watch the Law & Order Universe: The Basics
Start with the Original: Law & Order
If you’re new to the Law & Order franchise, it’s best to start with the original show. It laid the groundwork for everything that followed and remains a classic in its own right. The show ran for 20 seasons and introduced us to iconic characters like Detectives Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Mike Logan (Chris Noth), as well as District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston).
While it’s a hefty commitment with 24 seasons and 509 episodes, the good news is that it’s available for streaming on platforms like Peacock and Hulu, so you can binge-watch at your own pace. It’s not necessary to watch every single episode in order, but if you’re keen on seeing how the franchise evolved over time, it’s worth the effort.
Spinning Off: The Key Shows You Can’t Miss
After Law & Order, the next step is to dive into the spin-offs. These shows focus on different aspects of the criminal justice system, from investigating sex crimes to tackling organized crime syndicates. Here’s a rundown of the main spin-offs you should check out:
- Law & Order: SVU (Special Victims Unit): This is perhaps the most popular spin-off of them all, focusing on the elite squad of detectives working on cases involving sexual assault and child abuse. Featuring Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, this show is one of the longest-running in TV history. It’s available to stream on Hulu and Peacock.
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent: This series takes a more psychological approach, with detectives investigating the minds of criminals and their motivations. The show ran for 10 seasons and is also available on Peacock.
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury: A short-lived spin-off that aired for just one season, this show focuses on the courtroom drama and the legal challenges faced during high-profile criminal trials. You can find it on streaming services with older box sets.
- Law & Order: LA: Taking the action out of New York and placing it in Los Angeles, this series brings a fresh perspective on the formula, though it only lasted two seasons. It’s available for purchase through various digital platforms.
- Law & Order: True Crime: This limited series focuses on real-life crime cases. The first season tackled the infamous Menendez brothers trial. While only one season exists, it’s a good entry point for anyone interested in real-world crimes. Available on Peacock.
- Law & Order: Organized Crime: This newer spin-off follows Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) as he returns to the NYPD to combat organized crime. The show is available to stream on Peacock and is part of the larger SVU universe.
The Law & Order Cinematic Universe: Movies, Video Games, and International Adaptations
Movies and TV Movies: Exiled – A Law & Order Movie
For die-hard Law & Order fans, there’s an essential TV movie you shouldn’t miss: Exiled: A Law & Order Movie. This 1998 film stars Chris Noth as Mike Logan and picks up where his storyline on the original show left off. It’s an excellent way to further explore the Law & Order universe and provides closure for certain characters. Available on DVD, it’s a fascinating character study that’s best enjoyed after watching the original series.
Video Games: A Bygone Era of Interactive Crime Drama
Did you know that Law & Order had its own video games? Released between 2002 and 2011, these graphic adventure games allowed players to step into the shoes of a detective or prosecutor, solving various cases. While these games are no longer available for download and were not the highest quality, they were a fun experiment in bringing the Law & Order experience to a new medium. Some die-hard fans may still track down the old versions if they want to experience this unique part of the franchise’s history.
International Versions: Law & Order Across the Globe
The Law & Order universe isn’t just limited to the United States – several international versions have been made, adapting the show to local legal systems. For example, Law & Order: UK follows the British legal system and features a new cast but retains the same premise. Similarly, there’s Law & Order: Toronto and the French version, Paris Enquêtes Criminelles.
While these international adaptations don’t play a crucial role in the main Law & Order storyline, they offer interesting variations of the show’s formula and are a must-see for dedicated fans interested in how different cultures approach crime and justice.
Crossovers and Other Related Shows
One of the coolest aspects of the Law & Order universe is the frequent crossover episodes. Much like the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), the Law & Order universe has featured crossovers with other Dick Wolf-created shows, creating a much larger shared universe.
Homicide: Life on the Street
In the 90s, Dick Wolf teamed up with creator Paul Attanasio for a crossover between Law & Order and Homicide: Life on the Street. This was an iconic moment in television history, and it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves these series. The episode titled “Law & Disorder” features Mike Logan appearing on Homicide: Life on the Street, and vice versa. If you’re a completionist, you can watch the entire Homicide series, but the crossover episode is the most important one to see.
The Chicago Franchise
Dick Wolf’s reach doesn’t stop with Law & Order. He also created the Chicago franchise, which includes Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, and Chicago Justice. These shows frequently cross over with Law & Order series, particularly SVU and Criminal Intent. The Chicago franchise expands the universe even further, and you’ll want to watch these if you’re a fan of the Law & Order world.
FBI Franchise
In recent years, the FBI franchise, including FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, and FBI: International, has been loosely tied to the Law & Order universe, primarily because of Dick Wolf’s involvement. These shows aren’t direct spinoffs but share similar themes, and they often feature crossovers with the Chicago franchise, creating an even broader shared universe.
