Dick Wolf has been responsible for creating some of the most successful television franchises in broadcast television history. For instance, Law & Order has been on the air for over thirty years and expanded into several highly successful spinoffs, including the Mariska Hargitay-led Law & Order: SVU. Meanwhile, the original OneChicago trio (Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med) are all still on the air and have been consistently renewed each year.
Rounding out Wolf's successful universe is the FBI franchise.
FBI first premiered on CBS in 2018. The show follows a team of FBI agents working out of a New York City station office as they tackle terrorism, hacking, and organized crime. The agents must learn to work as a team and utilize all of their expertise to keep the country safe from extremely dangerous criminals.
Since premiering in 2018, the show has expanded into its own franchise. Here is every FBI show ranked from worst to best!
4. FBI: Most Wanted
FBI: Most Wanted focused on a fugitive task force whose sole purpose was to track down and capture some of the country's most dangerous, elusive criminals. The original iteration of the cast included Julian McMahon as Jess LaCroix, the task force's fierce leader and family man. It also included Kellan Lutz as Kenny Crosby, Roxy Sternberg as Sheryll Barnes, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Hana Gibson, and Nathaniel Arcand as Clinton Skye.
While armed with a strong and exciting premise, FBI: Most Wanted was plagued by numerous cast exits early on in its run. This made it a little hard for audiences to truly connect with the show's main characters, as it was unclear who would remain a consistent presence. Despite this, the show gave us six good seasons before being cancelled in 2025 along with FBI: International.
3. FBI: International
FBI: International was the third installment in the Dick Wolf franchise. The show followed the FBI's international fly team, a group of operatives based out of Budapest. The team was tasked with tracking down and neutralizing threats to American citizens around the globe, relying on their intelligence and diplomatic capabilities.
Similar to FBI: Most Wanted, FBI: International was plagued by several cast changes throughout its four-season run. This includes the exits of Luke Kleintank and Heida Reed, the show's male and female leads, respectively.
However, the show was temporarily rejuvenated by the addition of former Chicago PD star Jesse Lee Stoffer in season 4. The actor brought a nice energy to the show and had solid chemistry with the supporting cast, including Carter Redwood as Andre Raines, Vinessa Vidotto as Cameron Vo, and Eva-Jane Willis as Megan "Smitty" Garretson.
Unfortunately, the show was still cancelled in 2025, following the conclusion of its fourth season.
2. CIA
CIA is the newest addition to the FBI franchise, having premiered on CBS as part of the network's 2026 midseason lineup. The show follows a joint partnership between CIA agent Colin Glass (Tom Ellis) and FBI agent Bill Goodman (Nick Gehlfuss). The two work together to prevent domestic terrorism in New York City, despite their suspicions of one another.
CIA benefits from having two veteran TV actors as leads, including former Chicago Med star Nick Gehlfuss. It's evident from the actor's portrayal of stoic, by-the-book FBI Agent Bill Goodman that he is well accustomed to the energy and flow of a Dick Wolf procedural. CIA also offers viewers a fresh take on the FBI franchise, existing alongside its sibling show while maintaining its distinct voice.
1. FBI
There would be no FBI franchise without the consistent viewership from the show that started it all, FBI.
For the past eight years, the show has followed agents Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and Omar "OA" Zidan (Zeeko Zaki) as they work to keep New York City safe from the country's most dangerous criminals. Alongside them is a group of dedicated agents who utilize their expertise in cyber intelligence, profiling, and firearms to hunt down the biggest threats to public safety.
While FBI has experienced a few cast changes over the years, overall, they've maintained a pretty consistent ensemble. This is due, in part, to Peregrym and Zaki, who've been stable faces leading the franchise for the past eight years. FBI also benefits from a fast-paced, engaging premise that allows the show to deliver impactful stories each week. It's what keeps viewers coming back for more.
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