Massive TV Franchise Hits Netflix in Surprise Drop This Week

In a surprise drop from the streaming service, Dick Wolf's original Law & Order series will be coming to Netflix this month.

According to insider sources on New on Netflix, the original, classic series — which ran for 20 seasons from 1990 to 2010 — is a new addition to the platform's April roster. The series later returned in 2022, and spawned the spin-off shows Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: LA, Law & Order True Crime, Law & Order: Organized Crime. There was even a television film, titled Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.

Per its official description, Law & Order "is a gripping drama series that examines the criminal justice system and tells the stories of the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders."

The original series featured an outstanding ensemble cast including Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Benjamin Bratt, Angie Harmon, Carey Lowell, Jill Hennessy, in addition to the late Jerry Orbach and Steven Hill. The legal procedural, following a typical case-per-episode arc, also helped launch the careers of iconic actors such as Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Bradley Cooper, Idris Elba, and Adam Driver, who all made guest appearances on the series.

Reports from New on Netflix state that the number of seasons that Netflix will adopt on its streaming service isn't clear yet, but touts the original 20-season run as a likely possibility. Some digging from insiders seems to show that the streamer licensed a “batch of different seasons,” as well as some artwork from Season 8 and 19.

As for seasons 21-25, however, this is a little less likely — although certainly not impossible by any stretch. Regardless, fans will find out the case soon, as the episodes — however many — will arrive on Netflix U.S. on Monday, April 20.