The CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) franchise has been delighting viewers with the forensic side of crime for the past 24 years, and it’s still growing. In late June, The Real CSI: Miami is set to debut on CBS, marking the sixth installment in the CSI universe.
As viewers wait for the next series to arrive, now is the perfect time to catch up on the franchise. This guide will explain where and how to watch every CSI TV show in order using popular streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+ and more!
The CSI franchise kicked off in 2000 with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. It follows the day-to-day lives of the Las Vegas Police Department’s crime scene investigators as they utilize physical evidence to solve crimes. The series boasted a memorable cast, including William Peterson, Catherine Willows, and Laurence Fishburne. Meanwhile, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was among the first crime shows to focus on criminalists, forensic entomologists, and blood-spatter specialists instead of the typical rugged cops or brilliant detectives, and it quickly became one of CBS’ most popular series of all time.
Soon, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation earned its first direct spinoff, CSI: Miami. The show featured an all-new cast of characters in a different city but utilized the same formula popularized by the original series and followed the Miami-Dade Police Department crime scene investigation team. The spinoff managed to stand on its own as it focused more on the detective side of crime and arguably boasted the best cinematography in the franchise. It wasn’t long before CSI’s first spinoff received its own spinoff with CSI: NY, which garnered attention for the unique crimes and mature subjects it explored.
Unfortunately, CSI’s streak of successful spinoffs faltered with CSI: Cyber. The show had potential as it was the first to delve into the growing world of cybercrime and boasted an Oscar-winning lead star, Patricia Arquette. However, viewers were sorely disappointed by the poor depiction of cybercrime in the show and the sharp decrease in the quality. After the short-lived CSI: Cyber, the franchise returned to its roots, reviving the original series with CSI: Vegas. The show found a nice balance of newness and nostalgia but demonstrated declining interest in the franchise as it became one of CBS’s least-watched shows.
Undeterred by the cancelation of CSI: Cyber and CSI: Vegas, the CSI franchise forged ahead with The Real CSI: Miami. It will be vastly different from the previous spinoffs as it’s an unscripted docuseries focused on real-life cases and how forensic science aided the victims and their families in receiving justice. In a way, it brings the franchise full circle by tackling the original show’s goal of shining a light on the work of forensic scientists.
How to watch the CSI franchise in order
Viewers can watch the CSI franchise in either release date or chronological order. Chronological order will require switching between series, but it will ensure a better understanding of how the shows fit into the CSI universe and connect to one another.
Here is how to watch the CSI franchise in chronological order:
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Seasons 1 - 2
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CSI: Miami Season 1
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 3
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CSI: Miami Season 2
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 4
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CSI: Miami Season 3
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CSI: NY Season 1
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 5
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CSI: Miami Season 4
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CSI: NY Season 2
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 6
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CSI: Miami Season 5
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CSI: NY Season 3
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 7
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CSI: Miami Season 6
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CSI: NY Season 4
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 8
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CSI: Miami Season 7
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CSI: NY Season 5
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 9
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CSI: Miami Season 8
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CSI: NY Season 6
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 10
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CSI: Miami Season 9
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CSI: NY Season 7
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 11
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CSI: Miami Season 10
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CSI: NY Season 8
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 12
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CSI: NY Season 9
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Seasons 13 - 15
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CSI: Cyber Seasons 1 - 2
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CSI: Vegas Seasons 1 - 3
Where to watch all CSI TV shows online
Another option is watching every CSI TV show in release order. Check out the list below that provides information on where to stream every CSI TV show online and in order!
