The Ultimate Law & Order Franchise Watch Guide
Dun-dun. Justice is best served with a side of Olivia Benson.
When the iconic “dun-dun” sounds, you know you’re about to enter the world of Law & Order. The long-running procedural universe, which includes the original flagship series and several spin-offs, has become a pop culture mainstay.
In 1988, creator Dick Wolf conceived an idea for the franchise’s first series, Law & Order, which depicted an optimistic portrayal of the American criminal justice system. Since the series premiered on NBC in 1990, Law & Order has played a pivotal role in the modern consumption of crime procedurals, launching a slew of spin-offs.
In our handy guide, we break down how to watch the entire Law & Order universe on Peacock, beginning with the original series to its latest spin-off, Law & Order: Organized Crime, which premieres Season 5 on April 17 exclusively on Peacock.
The Law & Order Universe
The Law & Order franchise has spanned more than three decades with multiple series, spin-offs, and big event crossovers. Here's a snapshot of every show you can stream on Peacock:
Law & Order (1990-2010, 2022-Present): The original series that kick-started the Law & Order universe blends criminal investigations with riveting courtroom drama with its unique two-part episode structure. Sam Waterston played its longest-tenured character, Jack McCoy, for 19 seasons.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-Present): The franchise’s first spin-off, led by Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), focuses on the Special Victims Unit team as they investigate and prosecute various cases involving sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011): The second spin-off follows the major case squad’s investigations, headed by Detective Robert Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio), into high-profile cases.
Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021-Present): Christopher Meloni returns as Elliot Stabler to lead his own Law & Order spin-off. The newest series focuses on the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB) with Stabler, formerly of the Special Victims Unit, returning to duty.
Each series in the Law & Order universe taps into different corners of the justice and court systems. Here’s how you can stream each Law & Order series on Peacock.
Law & Order
Seasons Available: 9 (Seasons 13-24)
Law & Order redefined crime dramas with its weekly “ripped from the headlines” cases. Each episode is broken up into two parts: first, the investigation of the crime, followed by the legal proceedings to bring criminals to justice. The main cast members who headlined the series from Season 13 on included Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy, Chicago Med’s S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren, Anthony Anderson as Detective Kevin Bernard, and Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green.
Nine seasons of Law & Order are available to stream on Peacock, including the current 24th season, which stars Hugh Dancy, Tony Goldwyn, Maura Tierney, Mehcad Brooks, and Reid Scott.
Episodes to Get You Started:
- Season 13, Episode 24: The finale episode, “Smoke,” finds the detectives investigating the death of a comedian’s infant son after he is dropped from a window.
- Season 14, Episode 23: In "Caviar Emptor," a Persian caviar importer is murdered one day after getting married. The team suspects that money is the motive for his death, but an unexpected turn of events turns the case in a new direction.
Stream nine seasons of Law & Order on Peacock, with new Season 24 episodes available Fridays.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Seasons Available: 26
The longest-running primetime live-action series in US TV history, Law & Order: SVU centers on detectives within the SVU unit as they investigate sexually based crimes. The main cast is led by Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson and Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler, who starred in the first 12 seasons before returning in later seasons, with both detectives making up the series’ iconic duo. The cast is rounded out with rapper Ice-T as Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins, and Peter Scanavino as Assistant DA Dominick Carisi.
Episodes to Get You Started:
- Season 1, Episode 1: In the series’ pilot, "Payback," a taxi driver is found stabbed and dismembered in his cab; later, it’s discovered that he is a rapist. Benson and Stabler interview his various rape victims.
- Season 10, Episode 3: "Swing" is a showstopper in the 10th season where a case hits home. Benson brings Stabler shocking news: His own daughter, Kathleen, is a suspect.
All episodes of Law & Order: SVU are available on Peacock, including new Season 26 episodes, which drop Fridays.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Seasons Available: 10
Focused on the psychological aspect of crime, Law & Order: Criminal Intent takes viewers inside the minds of both detectives and criminals. The cast of Criminal Intent includes Vincent D'Onofrio as Detective Robert Goren, Kathryn Erbe as Detective Alexandra Eames, Jamey Sheridan as Captain James Deakins, Courtney B. Vance as Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver, and Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan.
Episodes to Get You Started:
- Season 1, Episode 1: The series premiere, “One,” establishes the subversive nature of the franchise, opening on the criminals as they engage in a diamond heist gone awry that quickly escalates. Goren and Eames must track down these criminals.
- Season 5, Episode 4: In “Unchained,” a corpse is found in water with chains on his feet. Logan and Barek's investigation steers them toward two rival Mafia families. However, their investigation unravels the dark corruption within the police force.
All 10 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent are available to stream on Peacock.
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Seasons Available: 4; Season 5 coming to Peacock on April 17
This spin-off brings Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) back into the fold as he takes on New York’s most dangerous organized crime syndicates. Expect high-stakes drama and plenty of crossover episodes with SVU. Meloni is joined by Danielle Moné Truitt as Sergeant Ayanna Bell, Ainsley Seiger as Jet Slootmaekers, and Dylan McDermott as the antagonist Richard Wheatley.
Episodes to Get You Started:
- Season 1, Episode 1: In "What Happens in Puglia," Elliot is devastated by a personal loss, and he has to face the crime syndicates of New York City.
- Season 2, Episode 9: There is no end to family drama in "The Christmas Episode," an epic crossover with SVU that also picks up after an intense cliffhanger. When Elliot’s son Eli goes missing, he needs Benson and the task force’s assistance.
Stream the first four seasons of Law & Order: Organized Crime on Peacock. The fifth season premieres exclusively on Peacock on April 17.
Crossovers and Must-Watch Events
Sometimes court cases draw a link to one another. The Law & Order franchise has had several epic crossover episodes over the years.
You can’t miss the first Law & Order and SVU crossover. Begin with Law & Order Season 21, Episode 10, “Black and Blue,” and finish with SVU Season 23, Episode 22, “A Final Call at Forlini’s Bar.”
To catch an SVU and Organized Crime crossover, start with SVU Season 22, Episode 9, “Return of the Prodigal Son” featuring the epic return of Elliot Stabler, and go directly into Organized Crime’s first episode, “What Happens in Puglia.”
The Law & Order franchise remains a monumental part of TV history, and Peacock is your one-stop shop for every series. From classic episodes of the original series to the dramatic cases of SVU to the latest developments of Organized Crime, you can stream them all on Peacock. Experience the Law & Order universe like never before.
Stream Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: Organized Crime on Peacock.
