NCIS is one of the most popular TV shows, and for good reason, but there are also many similar shows that deserve the same attention. NCIS has been on the air for over 20 years and has also led to the formation of several NCIS spinoffs. The show has managed to maintain its popularity despite numerous cast changes and character exits, highlighting the success of its formula. Recent NCIS seasons have even revealed the exit of major main characters, demonstrating its ongoing development.
NCIS‘s popularity over the years can be attributed to its familiarity, routine, and likable characters. However, NCIS is just one of many procedural TV shows that highlight charismatic characters who work together to bring criminals to justice. The niche of NCIS is that it focuses on crimes related to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, and while every show has its own focus, there are a few crime shows that stand out as being most similar to NCIS.
10 Criminal Minds
FBI Profilers Try To Stop Criminals Before They Strike Again
Criminal Minds is another long-running TV show that shares a lot of similarities to NCIS. It focuses on FBI profilers who work together to try and get into the mindset of serious criminals in order to stop them before they attack again. Criminal Minds is also another long-running TV series that has led to spinoffs, including Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. Criminal Minds episodes are known to feature strange and interesting plots that make the show so appealing.
The show features a brilliant cast that partially resembles NCIS in the way that each character is different, but they all work together to form a cohesive team. While Criminal Minds features the FBI, whereas NCIS features its own team, both shows portray the teams investigating crimes and developing trusting relationships with each other. Criminal Minds is another highly popular police procedural with an exciting and brilliant cast, and it is definitely worth watching.
9 Law & Order
Police Officers And Lawyers Work Together To Fight Crime In New York City
Law & Order is a highly captivating TV show that focuses on the intersection of detectives and prosecutors to bring perpetrators to justice. The show originally ran for 20 years before being canceled in 2010 following season 20. However, Law & Order was renewed in 2022 and has been gaining popularity ever since. The revival featured a mainly new team with only two returning cast members, but continued the format of the episodes that made the show so popular.
The greatest part of Law & Order is that it mixes police work with legal procedures and loopholes. Police procedurals typically focus solely on work done on the front lines, but with Law & Order, there is a large emphasis on work that happens behind the scenes when trying to convict a criminal. Just like NCIS, Law & Order characters are likable, charismatic and have a strong sense of justice.
8 Chicago P.D.
Chicago P.D. Investigates Chicago’s Most Dangerous Crimes
Chicago P.D. follows the everyday cops of Chicago as they investigate and bring down Chicago’s most dangerous criminals. Chicago P.D. is a spinoff from Chicago Fire and is one of several TV shows in the One Chicago universe. The series is very similar to NCIS in that it also focuses on a team as they work together to deal with a new crime in every episode.
Similar to NCIS, Chicago P.D. is led by a strong and loyal leader. Sergeant Hank Voight leads the Chicago P.D. team and guides his team in a strong quest for justice. Like NCIS‘s Jethro Gibbs, Voight also has a tough exterior and is tough on crime. He helps bring his team together in order to protect the city he loves the most. Chicago P.D. is another similar show to NCIS and will appeal to the show’s fanbase.
7 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
A Team Of Officers And Lawyers Work Together To Fight NYC’s Most Heinous Crimes
A spinoff from Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit follows a special team of detectives and prosecutors whose purpose is to fight New York City’s most heinous crimes. The team is led by Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson, whose pursuit of justice and passion for victims cements her as one of the greatest show leads in a police procedural. The team typically deals with crimes related to sexual assaults and more sensitive matters, which separates it from Law & Order.
Law & Order: SVU is a very serious show due to its serious subject. It is similar to NCIS in that respect because it does not use humor to reduce the impact of the cases the team deals with. The show mainly emphasizes the cases that the team investigates, with a smaller focus on the main characters’ personal lives, just like NCIS.
6 S.W.A.T.
The LAPD’s Special Weapons And Tactics Unit Fights Crime
S.W.A.T. is a captivating and action-packed show that follows the team members of the LAPD’s SWAT unit as they investigate and fight crime. The team is led by the strong and loyal Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, played by Shemar Moore. Like NCIS, S.W.A.T. focuses on crimes on a case-by-case basis, with each episode featuring a different crime. The show also examines the characters’ personal lives, as Hondo’s partner Nichelle becomes a major part of the series.
While NCIS features a lot of action-packed scenes, S.W.A.T. does emphasize the action a little more. The team is mainly seen on the field while in pursuit of criminals, with less time being spent at headquarters than NCIS‘s team. The two shows have some differences, but both S.W.A.T. and NCIS feature a strong cast of trusting characters.
5 FBI
The Members Of The Federal Bureau Of Investigation Seek Justice
FBI is another captivating police procedural that follows a team of agents as they investigate crimes. FBI is different from typical police procedurals by being very fast-paced and dealing with crimes on a different scale. The FBI team investigates serious and large-scale crimes, such as counterintelligence, to protect New York and keep the American people safe.
FBI is another series that is part of Dick Wolf’s One Chicago universe, but it stands out by finding its niche in large-scale crimes. The show has also led to a couple of spinoffs, including FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. Like NCIS, FBI also features a highly intelligent team who work together to bring criminals to justice and stop them before they strike again. Its exciting and intense plots make it one of the best shows like NCIS.
4 SEAL Team
The Navy SEALs Complete Dangerous Missions For The American People
Something particular about NCIS is that its niche includes the armed forces. SEAL Team is another show that does just that. SEAL Team follows the lives of a group of Navy SEALs as they perform and execute America’s most dangerous missions. The show also examines the physical and emotional toll that a career as a Navy SEAL involves. SEAL TEAM shares a similar tone to that of NCIS and also features intense, action-packed scenes.
Even though NCIS deals with crimes involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, whereas the members of SEAL Team are military personnel, the shows still share many similarities. For example, each episode features a different case or mission. Each team is also led by a strong and dedicated leader. The NCIS team was led by Gibbs, and is now led by Parker, and the SEAL Team team is led by Jason Hayes.
3 Major Crimes
The Major Crimes Division of the LAPD Investigates High Profile Cases
Major Crimes is a spinoff from The Closer that stars Mary McDonnell as Captain Sharon Raydor. Raydor joined the Major Crimes Division after the previous captain exited, but her history as an internal affairs investigator means that it will take time for her new team to trust her. The show follows Raydor and her team as they investigate serious crimes while also dealing with personal struggles.
The show is similar to NCIS in the way that it has a moderate pace and each episode deals with a new problem. However, Major Crimes places a larger emphasis on the personal lives of its characters, as Raydor’s foster son, Rusty, becomes a major part of the show as well. The series still features excellent episodes filled with exciting mysteries and crimes, just like NCIS.
2 CSI
A Team of Forensic Investigators Solve Crimes in Vegas
Perhaps the show that is most similar to NCIS, CSI follows a team of forensic investigators as they solve crimes in Las Vegas. CSI examines cases on a closer level. Whereas NCIS has characters like Abby and Kasie to help the team analyze evidence, CSI has a whole team of characters with Abby and Kasie’s skill sets. The CSI team also works closely with detectives, doctors, and lab technicians to help them solve cases.
CSI
ran for 15 seasons and aired on CBS from 2000 to 2015.
CSI is another long-running TV show that has led to several spinoffs. Like NCIS, CSI has also focused on creating spinoffs in different locations and has expanded to create CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, CSI: Vegas, and CSI: Cyber. CSI also features a dedicated group of investigators who work hard to bring criminals to justice. It is most similar to NCIS because of the episode’s format and team dynamics, but the details in each episode set it aside as a separate but equally enjoyable TV show.
1 JAG
The Origins of NCIS
JAG is another police procedural that focuses on military drama on a familiar case-by-case basis. It is also the origin of NCIS, as NCIS was introduced through a backdoor pilot in JAG. The show examines the military’s Judge Advocate General division, which investigates military-related crimes from a legal standpoint, similar to Law & Order. David James Elliott plays Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr., the show’s lead.
Both JAG and NCIS were created by Donald P. Bellisario and the similarities are very noticeable once the two shows are connected. Both shows are centered around crimes related to military personnel and both shows follow a very standard police procedural format. Each episode features an exciting new crime or development but with the same episodic format. JAG is a great show as a standalone, but it is even better to watch it following NCIS to see where the franchise began.
