Criminal Minds Episode Ratings Heatmap
2005 · 5 Seasons · 114 Episodes · Overall Score: 7.8/10 (22 rated)
Season 1 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 1 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.24), maintaining an average of 7.8.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | 7.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 2 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 3 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 4 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 5 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 6 | 8.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 7 | 8.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 8 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 9 | 7.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 10 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 11 | 7.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 12 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 13 | 7.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 14 | 7.9 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 15 | 8.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 16 | 8.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 17 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 18 | 7.7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 19 | 7.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 20 | 7.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 21 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 22 | 8.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 23 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 25 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 26 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Season Avg | 7.8 | – | – | – | – |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 5 seasons and 114 episodes, Criminal Minds has earned an overall series rating of 7.8 out of 10. The series displays remarkable consistency across its narrative arc, maintaining reliable ratings from premiere to conclusion.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 1, Episode 6 ("L.D.S.K."), rated at an extraordinary 8.4/10 with 28 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 1, Episode 11 ("Blood Hungry"), landing at 7.4/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 1 between Episode 6 ("L.D.S.K.", 8.4) and Episode 7 ("The Fox", 8), a swing of 0.4 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of Criminal Minds
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 1, Ep 6 | L.D.S.K. | 8.4 | 28 | Nov 2, 2005 |
| #2 | Season 1, Ep 15 | Unfinished Business | 8.1 | 24 | Mar 1, 2006 |
| #3 | Season 1, Ep 22 | The Fisher King (1) | 8.1 | 24 | May 10, 2006 |
| #4 | Season 1, Ep 7 | The Fox | 8.0 | 26 | Nov 9, 2005 |
| #5 | Season 1, Ep 16 | The Tribe | 8.0 | 24 | Mar 8, 2006 |
| #6 | Season 1, Ep 14 | Riding the Lightning | 7.9 | 24 | Jan 25, 2006 |
| #7 | Season 1, Ep 9 | Derailed | 7.8 | 27 | Nov 23, 2005 |
| #8 | Season 1, Ep 20 | Charm and Harm | 7.8 | 23 | Apr 19, 2006 |
| #9 | Season 1, Ep 2 | Compulsion | 7.7 | 41 | Sep 28, 2005 |
| #10 | Season 1, Ep 5 | Broken Mirror | 7.7 | 35 | Oct 19, 2005 |