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The Best Episodes of Criminal Minds

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Every episode of Criminal Minds ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Criminal Minds!

The Best Episodes of Criminal Minds

An elite team of FBI profilers analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. The Behavioral Analysis Unit's...
  1. Background image for Entropy
    9.1/10(3.8k votes)

    #1 - Entropy

    S11:E11

    The BAU implements an elaborate strategy to try and take down the “Dirty Dozen” hitmen ring, with Reid playing a central role.

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  2. Background image for Save the Children
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Save the Children

    S17:E10

    When the identity of the last Gold Star member is revealed, the pieces of the puzzle click together. Prentiss, now in mortal danger, must confront Jade and her accomplice to expose the truth behind the “conspiracy” before time runs out for the BAU.

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  3. Background image for Revelations (2)
    8.9/10(4.1k votes)

    #3 - Revelations (2)

    S2:E15

    In this conclusion of a special two-part episode, finding the serial killer becomes critical to the BAU when the team realizes Reid is being held captive and a live feed of him being tortured is shown on the internet. Meanwhile, Reid's troubled childhood is revealed in flashback sequences as he drifts in and out of consciousness.

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  4. Background image for Alpha Male
    8.9/10(8 votes)

    #4 - Alpha Male

    S12:E15

    The BAU investigates when several young men and women are victims of disfiguring acid attacks. Also, Dr. Reid begins to settle into his new surroundings.

    Director:Rob Bailey
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  5. Background image for Believer
    8.9/10(7 votes)

    #5 - Believer

    S13:E22

    When Reid discovers former FBI Special Agent Owen Quinn locked inside a storage unit, the BAU questions the credibility of Quinn's bizarre accounts of searching for an UnSub that he named "The Strangler".

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  6. Background image for ...And Back (2)
    8.8/10(5 votes)

    #6 - ...And Back (2)

    S4:E26

    The BAU tracks a serial killer who chooses junkies, prostitutes and the homeless off the streets of Detroit as his victims and takes them across the border into Canada, and an agent's life is in peril.

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Criminal Minds

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  8. Background image for 100
    8.8/10(17 votes)

    #7 - 100

    S5:E9

    The BAU team races to help Hotchner find The Reaper and save his family before it's too late.

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  9. Background image for True Genius
    8.8/10(13 votes)

    #8 - True Genius

    S7:E11

    A series of murders in San Francisco bearing the tell-tale signs of the infamous Zodiac Killer have the BAU wondering if the notorious serial killer has returned. Also, Reid ponders if he should be doing more with his genius abilities.

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  10. Background image for Mr. Scratch
    8.8/10(12 votes)

    #9 - Mr. Scratch

    S10:E21

    When three people implicated in murders claim they were attacked by a “clawed shadow monster” at the moment each crime occurred, the BAU searches for an UnSub who is controlling their minds. Also, the search for the culprit puts one of the team in jeopardy.

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  11. Background image for Scarecrow
    8.8/10(8 votes)

    #10 - Scarecrow

    S12:E8

    The team heads to Yakima, Washington when the remains of a dozen people are found along a creek bed.

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  12. Background image for Red Light
    8.8/10(6 votes)

    #11 - Red Light

    S12:E22

    Derek Morgan brings the BAU a lead in the case against serial killer and escaped convict Mr. Scratch.

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  13. Background image for Killer App
    8.7/10(6 votes)

    #12 - Killer App

    S13:E4

    The BAU investigates a workplace shooting committed by a state-of-the-art drone in Silicon Valley.

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  14. Background image for Lucky Strikes
    8.7/10(6 votes)

    #13 - Lucky Strikes

    S13:E5

    Morgan lends emotional support to Garcia when she experiences anxiety over a case that is personal to her from her past.

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  15. Background image for The Fisher King (2)
    8.6/10(3.4k votes)

    #14 - The Fisher King (2)

    S2:E1

    The BAU team continues to unravel the clues given to each of them by a psychopath in order to save his most recent victim. Gideon decides not to focus on the personal aspects of the case. Rather, he tells the team to profile the killer as they would in any other investigation. Reid stays behind to work on a personal connection that could solve the case as one member of the team fights for life.

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  16. Background image for Amplification
    8.6/10(16 votes)

    #15 - Amplification

    S4:E24

    When a new type of chemical warfare is released into the open air, the BAU must act quickly to find the source before any more innocent people are exposed.

    Writer:Oanh Ly
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  17. Background image for Zugzwang
    8.6/10(13 votes)

    #16 - Zugzwang

    S8:E12

    When Reid discovers that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by her stalker, he and the BAU team band together to find her before it's too late.

    Director:Jesse Warn
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  18. Background image for Demons (2)
    8.6/10(13 votes)

    #17 - Demons (2)

    S9:E24

    The investigation in Texas reveals a deep web of corruption; Garcia must save a friend.

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  19. Background image for Seek and Destroy
    8.6/10(8 votes)

    #18 - Seek and Destroy

    S12:E10

    BAU team investigates a series of home invasions in upscale neighborhoods in San Diego involving casualties.

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  20. Background image for The Bunker
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #19 - The Bunker

    S13:E6

    Several women go missing in Virginia and the BAU must figure out what they all have in common in order to find them.

    Director:Aisha Tyler
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  21. Background image for The Capilanos
    8.6/10(8 votes)

    #20 - The Capilanos

    S13:E17

    The BAU is called to Oklahoma to investigate a murderous clown terrorizing the sleepy town of Guymon.

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  22. Background image for Ex Parte
    8.6/10(8 votes)

    #21 - Ex Parte

    S13:E19

    The BAU takes charge of a hostage situation at a law firm in D.C., where Matt Simmons’ wife, Kristy works.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  23. Background image for Sex, Birth, Death
    8.5/10(3.7k votes)

    #22 - Sex, Birth, Death

    S2:E11

    The BAU is called to investigate a series of murders of prostitutes in Washington D.C. and Reid suspects a teenager he met asking for his help is guilty of the crimes. The case becomes complicated when a congresswoman, who about to make a speech to praise the city's lower crime rate, threatens to take away the case if Hotchner calls a press conference to discuss it.

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  24. Background image for Masterpiece
    8.5/10(19 votes)

    #23 - Masterpiece

    S4:E8

    When a narcissistic psychopath confesses he has killed seven people and more will die, the team must locate his latest victims before it is too late.

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  25. Background image for Conflicted
    8.5/10(17 votes)

    #24 - Conflicted

    S4:E20

    The team travels to Fort Lauderdale during spring break to find a serial killer who is targeting co-eds on vacation.

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  26. Background image for Lauren
    8.5/10(14 votes)

    #25 - Lauren

    S6:E18

    As Prentiss faces off against Ian Doyle, JJ receives a call and returns to help them find Prentiss and capture Doyle before it's too late.

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Best Episodes Summary

"Entropy" is the best rated episode of "Criminal Minds". It scored 9.1/10 based on 3792 votes. Directed by Heather Cappiello and written by Breen Frazier, it aired on 1/13/2016. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Save the Children".