Where to start withLaw & Order
4 versions · originally a series, 1990
Themes: Justice, Moral ambiguity, Systemic corruption, Ripped from the headlines, Partnership.
Start with Law & Order (Dick Wolf, 1990) — the series. Law & Order exists in 4 versions across media, beginning as a series in 1990; each is ranked below by what it does best.
The Law & Order franchise delivers a procedural examination of the American criminal justice system through rigorous police investigation and prosecution.
✦ Most fans start here
Law & Order (1990)
The original tv
✦ Start hereLaw & Order
Dick Wolf · Series · 1990
Law & Order (1990) establishes the definitive procedural template, offering a balanced, two-part structure that follows police investigation and legal prosecution for viewers who appreciate grounded, headline-inspired storytelling.
1999 series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Dick Wolf · Series · 1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) shifts the focus to specialized, emotionally charged investigations, providing a character-driven experience for those interested in the complexities of sensitive criminal cases.
2001 series
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Dick Wolf · Series · 2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) provides a unique psychological perspective by exploring the criminal mind, ideal for viewers who prefer an analytical, character-focused approach to solving complex crimes.
2021 series
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Dick Wolf · Series · 2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021) centers on dismantling dangerous illegal enterprises, offering a more serialized, high-stakes narrative focused on the tactical efforts of the Organized Crime Control Bureau.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Law & Order series in?
You should begin with the original Law & Order from 1990. After starting that series, you can branch out into the spin-offs, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 1999, Law & Order: Criminal Intent from 2001, or the more recent Law & Order: Organized Crime from 2021.
Is Law & Order: Special Victims Unit a direct sequel to the 1990 Law & Order?
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a spin-off of the original 1990 Law & Order rather than a direct sequel. It maintains the same procedural format while focusing specifically on crimes handled by the Special Victims Unit within the same fictionalized version of the New York City justice system.
How long has Law & Order: Criminal Intent been on television?
Law & Order: Criminal Intent premiered in 2001. It was developed as the second spin-off of the original 1990 Law & Order series, following the successful launch of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit two years earlier in 1999.
Should I watch Law & Order: Organized Crime if I have seen the other series?
If you are a fan of the original 1990 Law & Order or its earlier spin-offs, Law & Order: Organized Crime is a logical next step. Released in 2021, this series expands the franchise by focusing on a specialized unit dedicated to investigating major organized crime syndicates.