Mindhuntermay have ended far too soon, but another iconic crime drama shares its unique premise. Based on the true-crime book of the same name,Mindhunterwas instantly captivating and unsettling in the best way. Though its run was cut short by Netflix, many still believeMindhunteris a perfect crime show, from its talented cast to its eerie storytelling.
Yet, there have been manyinfluential network proceduralsthat fill similar niches toMindhunter. Over the years, fans have turned to other killer-focused shows likeHannibal,Dexter, or full-blown true-crime documentary films and series to fill the void.The perfectMindhunterreplacement, however, has been hiding in plain sightand is currently working on its 19th season:Criminal Minds.
Criminal Minds Has The Same Premise As Mindhunter
While theoriginal run ofCriminal MindsprecedesMindhunterby over a decade, the iconic crime drama is still airing new episodes dedicated to exploring the darkest depths of humanity. Since its 2005 premiere,Criminal Mindshas introduced hundreds of killers— known as “unsubs”— each with a complex backstory, motivation, and M.O. for the Behavioral Analysis Unit to investigate.
Granted, thedisturbing unsubs ofCriminal Mindsare fictional, though many of the most memorable antagonists were inspired by real cases, which is arguablyMindhunter’s most original hook. The Netflix thriller covered actual serial killers like Dennis Rader, David Berkowitz, and Charles Manson in depth, whileCriminal Mindshad their own BTK, Son of Sam, and Manson-inspired unsubs.
Furthermore,Mindhunterfollowed the creation of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, which eventually became the BAU. The timeline consequently suggests that,despite premiering years earlier,Criminal MindsisMindhunter’s spiritual successor. The agents in both series, though separated by decades, follow the same basic code, withCriminal Mindssimply adhering to a more evolved version ofMindhunter’s trailblazing tactics.
Why Mindhunter Was Canceled After Just 2 Seasons (But Criminal Minds Is Still Going)
Though executive producer David Fincher had big plans to expand the slow-burning psychological drama,Mindhunterseason 3 was canceled by Netflix. The thriller had a devoted following, butits viewership wasn’t enough to justify the high production costs. Rather than sacrifice its highly stylized identity,Mindhuntercame to a premature end in 2019 after a mere 19 episodes.
Ironically,Criminal Mindsaired its series finale in 2020 but was revived asCriminal Minds: Evolutionin 2022. The original run also suffered from dips in viewership and strenuous working conditions, which changed after the reboot was picked up by Paramount+ and truncated to 10-episode seasons. While it has new quirks,Criminal Minds: EvolutionguaranteesMindhunter’s core mission lives on.
