Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999 • TMDB 8.0 • 28 seasons • 602 episodes • Crime, Drama, Mystery • NBC

Where to Watch

In the US, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit streams on Hulu (27 seasons), NBC (17 seasons), Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus (16 seasons each), YouTube TV and USA Network (2 seasons each), and fuboTV (1 season). It is also available to buy on Fandango At Home (28 seasons), Amazon Video (25 seasons), and the Apple TV Store (25 seasons). Availability checked against US listings on October 29, 2026.

Overview

In New York City, some crimes cut deeper than others, and that is where the Special Victims Unit steps in. Led for more than two decades by Captain Olivia Benson, the detectives of Manhattan’s 16th Precinct investigate sexual assaults, child abuse, and domestic violence — cases that demand both sharp police work and uncommon compassion. Each episode follows a new investigation from the first call through interrogation rooms, courtroom confrontations, and the fragile aftermath for survivors. Over 28 seasons, the show has followed Benson’s own journey from detective to captain, alongside partners who became family: Elliot Stabler, Fin Tutuola, John Munch, Amanda Rollins, and Sonny Carisi. The cases are ripped from the headlines in spirit, but the show’s power lies in how it treats victims as people rather than plot points, and in detectives who carry the weight of every case home with them. It is television’s longest-running live-action primetime drama for a reason: it never looks away.

Creator and Main Cast

Created by Dick Wolf.

• Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson (602 episodes)
• Ice-T as Odafin ‘Fin’ Tutuola (580 episodes)
• Dann Florek as Donald Cragen (333 episodes)
• Richard Belzer as John Munch (325 episodes)
• Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins (290 episodes)
• Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler (285 episodes)
• Peter Scanavino as Dominick ‘Sonny’ Carisi Jr. (260 episodes)
• BD Wong as George Huang (232 episodes)
• Tamara Tunie as Melinda Warner (226 episodes)

Seasons Snapshot

• Season 1 (1999) — 22 episodes: Benson and Stabler establish the unit’s voice.
• Seasons 2–10 (2000–2009) — 19–25 episodes each; the classic era of the squad room.
• Seasons 11–20 (2009–2019) — the squad evolves as Benson rises to sergeant, then lieutenant.
• Seasons 21–27 (2019–2025) — Benson as captain, with Stabler’s return in crossovers.
• Season 28 (2026) — 8 episodes so far, premiered October 8, 2026.

Why Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit?

• Olivia Benson’s 27-year arc from detective to captain is one of television’s great long-form character journeys.
• Almost every episode stands alone, so you can start anywhere — or follow the whole run.
• The show centers survivors’ stories with a seriousness few procedurals match.
• Crossovers with the wider Law & Order universe reward longtime fans without confusing newcomers.
• At 602 episodes and counting, it is the definition of a comfort procedural with real dramatic weight.

Trailer

No official YouTube trailer for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is currently available: NBC and Peacock’s official channels post episode clips and short promos rather than a series trailer, and TMDB lists no English trailer for the show. Check NBC’s official channel for the latest season promos.