The BEST episodes of Criminal Minds season 7

Every episode of Criminal Minds season 7, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Criminal Minds season 7!

Special Agents Jason Gideon and Aaron Hotchner head up the FBI's most elite profiling team, the Behavioral Analysis Unit, the experts in analyzing criminal psychology. With each mind-blowing case, they put their lives on the line as they travel the country, matching wits with the most ruthless criminals on Earth.

Last Updated: 12/20/2024Network: Paramount+Status: Continuing
Run (2)
star
8.25
729 votes

#1 - Run (2)

Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2012

As the BAU team continues to pursue the bank-robbing serial killers, the team determines that the suspects have a bigger target in the nation's capital, and with one of the team still a hostage, they must work quickly to diffuse an explosive situation. Wedding bells ring for one of the BAU. Prentiss ponders her future.

Directors: Glenn Kershaw
Writer: Erica Messer
Watch Now:Amazon
Hit (1)
star
8.03
1881 votes

#2 - Hit (1)

Season 7 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/16/2012

When the BAU goes up against a gang of serial-killing bank robbers in Washington DC, the team tries to negotiate the situation unfolding inside the bank, but the stakes rise when one of their own becomes a hostage.

Directors: Michael Lange
Writer: Rick Dunkle
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
True Genius
star
7.85
2293 votes

#3 - True Genius

Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/2012

A series of murders in San Francisco bearing the tell-tale signs of the infamous Zodiac Killer have the BAU wondering if the notorious serial killer has returned. Also, Reid ponders if he should be doing more with his genius abilities.

Directors: Glenn Kershaw
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Family Affair
star
7.81
2245 votes

#4 - A Family Affair

Season 7 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/29/2012

When the BAU travels to Atlanta to investigate the murders of women, the clues lead them to look for an unsub who is not working alone.

Directors: Rob Spera
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Company
star
7.81
2055 votes

#5 - The Company

Season 7 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/11/2012

When Morgan's sister sees a woman who looks like their presumed-dead cousin, Cindi, it forces Morgan to confront a lie he told his family last year to provide closure and compels the BAU to reopen the case of her disappearance.

Directors: Nelson McCormick
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It Takes a Village
star
7.74
2597 votes

#6 - It Takes a Village

Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2011

The BAU team is at a crossroads as they are questioned by a Senate Committee for their retaliatory actions in the wake of Prentiss' loss, but an unexpected familiar face could help them win their case and keep the team together.

Directors: Glenn Kershaw
Writer: Erica Messer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Unknown Subject
star
7.74
2165 votes

#7 - Unknown Subject

Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/25/2012

The team is called to Texas to search for a serial rapist in Houston known as "The Piano Man" who has returned and is attacking his past victims. Meanwhile, Prentiss begins to deal with the traumatic experience caused by Ian Doyle after returning to the BAU.

Directors: Michael Lange
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Proof
star
7.74
2456 votes

#8 - Proof

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/2011

The BAU team searches rural Oklahoma when women are being found murdered after being robbed of one of their five senses. Also, JJ and Prentiss get the cold shoulder from Reid as he deals with their deception about Prentiss' presumed death.

Directors: Karen Gaviola
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Thin Line
star
7.72
2073 votes

#9 - A Thin Line

Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/22/2012

The BAU team investigates a series of brutal home invasions and murders in California's Inland Empire that appear to be gang-related, but their investigation may uncover a more sinister motivation.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
star
7.72
2367 votes

#10 - Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Season 7 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/7/2011

The BAU team looks into the real reasons behind an apparent mass suicide of a small group of youths at a military academy. Also, Hotch and Morgan butt heads when a team member could be in jeopardy.

Directors: Charles Haid
Writer: Erica Messer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Profiling 101
star
7.68
2110 votes

#11 - Profiling 101

Season 7 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/9/2012

Rossi and the team teach college students the science of criminal profiling by taking the class through a serial-killer case that spanned 20 years.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Foundation
star
7.67
2208 votes

#12 - Foundation

Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/21/2012

The team hunts for a kidnapper when an emaciated boy is found in the desert and another goes missing.

Directors: Dermott Downs
Dorado Falls
star
7.65
2444 votes

#13 - Dorado Falls

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/5/2011

The BAU team investigates a mass murder at an Internet security company in Charlottesville, Va., but clues reveal it is not a typical serial killer at work.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Divining Rod
star
7.64
2202 votes

#14 - Divining Rod

Season 7 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/2/2012

A serial killer is executed, in Oklahoma, a copycat shows up and the BAU are called to find him. Meanwhile, Prentiss gets nervous about a real estate purchase.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Hope
star
7.63
2453 votes

#15 - Hope

Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/2011

It’s personal for Garcia when the BAU investigate the disappearance of a woman in her survivors’ support group whose daughter went missing seven years earlier.

Directors: Michael Watkins
Watch Now:Apple TV
Closing Time
star
7.62
2346 votes

#16 - Closing Time

Season 7 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/15/2012

The team hunts a killer when bodies are found hidden in lifeguard towers on Southern California beaches.

Directors: Jesse Warn
Writer: Rick Dunkle
Watch Now:Apple TV
Snake Eyes
star
7.61
2373 votes

#17 - Snake Eyes

Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/2012

The BAU tries their luck in Atlantic City when the team is called in to investigate a series of ritualistic casino-related murders. Also, after a spat with her boyfriend, Kevin, Garcia thinks she and Morgan may have gotten a little too friendly with each other.

Watch Now:Apple TV
I Love You, Tommy Brown
star
7.58
2101 votes

#18 - I Love You, Tommy Brown

Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/14/2012

When married couples fostering young children end up being killed in Seattle, the BAU team looks for an unsub with a maternal-yet-murderous instinct. Also, Garcia fears a possible proposition from Kevin.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:Apple TV
Painless
star
7.56
2558 votes

#19 - Painless

Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2011

Survivors of a Boise high school massacre return to remember the event 10 years later, but the BAU team is called in when a new killer with a similar style targets the survivors. Also, Hotch is worried that his son, Jack, may be a victim of school bullying.

Directors: Larry Teng
Watch Now:Apple TV
From Childhood's Hour
star
7.54
2505 votes

#20 - From Childhood's Hour

Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2011

The BAU team investigates the abductions of young children with troubled mothers in St. Louis. Also, Rossi reconnects with his first wife who has shocking news for him.

Directors: Anna Foerster
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Bittersweet Science
star
7.53
2110 votes

#21 - The Bittersweet Science

Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/14/2011

The investigation of a series of bludgeonings in Philadelphia leads the team to the city's boxing scene; Hotch connects with a fellow runner while training for the triathlon.

Directors: Rob Hardy
Watch Now:Apple TV
Heathridge Manor
star
7.49
2181 votes

#22 - Heathridge Manor

Season 7 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/4/2012

The BAU team heads to Oregon to investigate a series of gothic, ritualistic murders.

Watch Now:Apple TV
There's No Place Like Home
star
7.49
2481 votes

#23 - There's No Place Like Home

Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/9/2011

When a series of tornadoes hits Kansas, the BAU is called in to investigate bodies of young boys that turn up in the aftermath of the storms. Also, work pressures cause tension on JJ's home front.

Directors: Rob Spera
Watch Now:Apple TV
Epilogue
star
7.46
2275 votes

#24 - Epilogue

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/2011

The BAU search Californias Angeles National Forest after a number of bodies mysteriously turn up in the mountain lakes there. Also, Rossi struggles with an agonizing decision regarding his ex-wife, Carolyn.

Directors: Guy Ferland
Writer: Rick Dunkle
Watch Now:Apple TV