The FBI television world created by Dick Wolf now includes three interconnected series that have aired together on CBS for several seasons. With FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International concluding their runs in May 2025, many viewers want to watch the entire story from the beginning. The shows feature shared characters and major crossover events, making the correct viewing order important for following the complete narrative.
For the most accurate experience that matches how the stories were told on television, you should watch the episodes in the order they originally aired. This method preserves the flow of crossover events and character introductions.
Start with the Original FBI Series
Begin your watch with the flagship series, FBI, which premiered on September 25, 2018. This show introduces the main New York field office team and sets the style for the entire franchise. The central team includes Special Agents Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and Omar Adom “OA” Zidan (Zeeko Zaki), led by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto).
A key episode occurs in the middle of the first season. FBI Season 1, Episode 18, titled “Most Wanted,” serves as the launch point for the first spin-off. This episode acts as a backdoor pilot, introducing the Fugitive Task Force team led by Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix (Julian McMahon). After watching this episode, you are ready to weave in the next series.
Integrate FBI: Most Wanted into Your Watch List
The first spin-off, FBI: Most Wanted, officially began with its own premiere on January 7, 2020. This series focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, a specialized team that tracks down criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.
From this point forward, because the shows aired in the same broadcast periods, the recommended method is to interleave episodes by their original air dates. For example, episodes from FBI Season 2 and Most Wanted Season 1 aired in an alternating pattern on Tuesday nights. Following the air date order ensures you see crossover storylines in the correct sequence and maintains continuity for character appearances.
Add FBI: International to the Sequence
The franchise expanded globally with FBI: International, which premiered on September 21, 2021. This series follows the International Fly Team, an elite unit based in Budapest that handles threats to American citizens and interests across Europe.
The introduction of this show was a major event. Its premiere was part of a three-part crossover that started on FBI, continued on FBI: Most Wanted, and concluded with the FBI: International pilot episode. Once all three shows were airing concurrently, the most faithful way to watch is to continue interleaving all episodes from FBI, Most Wanted, and International strictly by their original broadcast dates.
Guide to Major Crossover Episodes
While most episodes are standalone cases, the interconnected storylines are a major draw for fans. These crossover events are the primary reason a specific watch order is recommended.
Here is a list of the major multi-part crossover episodes in chronological order:
- First Crossover: FBI Season 2, Episode 18: “American Dreams” (Part 1) and FBI: Most Wanted Season 1, Episode 9: “Reveille” (Part 2). This two-part event aired on March 24, 2020.
- Three-Show Premiere Event (Fall 2021): This trilogy launched the third series. Watch FBI Season 4, Episode 1: “All That Glitters” (Part 1), then FBI: Most Wanted Season 3, Episode 1: “Exposed” (Part 2), and finish with FBI: International Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot” (Part 3).
- “Imminent Threat” Crossover (Spring 2023): This three-part story began on FBI: International, which was unusual. Watch FBI: International Season 2, Episode 16, then FBI Season 5, Episode 17, and conclude with FBI: Most Wanted Season 4, Episode 16.
Actor John Boyd, who plays Special Agent Stuart Scola, described the experience of filming the “Imminent Threat” crossover.
“It was definitely a first, getting to take a character that I’ve been building for five seasons and drop into shows that I have watched. That was definitely the most interesting part of crossing over… the sheer surrealism of taking your character and going into a world that you’ve seen but never played in.”
Simple Alternative Watch Orders
The air-date order is best for continuity, but it requires frequently switching between series. If you prefer a simpler approach, you have other valid options because many episodes are procedural and case-of-the-week.
You can choose to watch each series completely from start to finish, one after the other:
- FBI (Seasons 1 through 8)
- FBI: Most Wanted (Seasons 1 through 6)
- FBI: International (Seasons 1 through 4)
A hybrid method is to watch the shows season by season in the order they were released. For example, watch FBI Season 1 and Season 2, then Most Wanted Season 1, then FBI Season 3, and so on. If you use either simpler method, you should refer to the crossover episode list above and watch those specific multi-part stories in the correct order when you reach them in your watch-through.
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Shows Not Part of the Wolf Entertainment Series
Several other shows and documentaries use the FBI name but are not connected to the fictional series created by Dick Wolf. These are non-scripted programs and exist separately.
- FBI True: A Paramount+ documentary series that started in 2023, featuring real FBI cases.
- The FBI Declassified: A CBS true crime documentary series from 2020-2021.
- Inside the FBI: New York: A reality series from 2017 that predates the scripted franchise.
You can watch these at any time, as they do not share continuity with FBI, Most Wanted, or International.
Where to Stream the FBI Franchise
All episodes of the three main scripted series are available to stream on Paramount+. The shows also air on the CBS television network. The franchise is currently in a period of change. The original FBI series was renewed and will return for its eighth season on October 13, 2025. However, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International concluded with their final episodes in May 2025. A potential new spin-off, initially referred to as FBI: CIA, is in development and may receive a straight-to-series order for the 2025-2026 schedule.
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