The BEST episodes of NCIS

Every episode of NCIS ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of NCIS!

Explore the inner workings of the government agency that investigates all crimes involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position. Leading this team is NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a skilled investigator and interrogator who is smart, tough and willing to bend the rules to get the job done.

Last Updated: 3/14/2024Network: CBSStatus: Continuing
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Family First
star
8.27
1787 votes

#1 - Family First

Season 13 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/2016

The NCIS, FBI and MI6 teams continue the international manhunt for a spy who's targeting current and former agents. Anthony DiNozzo receives life-changing news.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Stories We Leave Behind
star
8.26
309 votes

#2 - The Stories We Leave Behind

Season 21 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/19/2024

As NCIS mourns the loss of Ducky, the agents find comfort in working on one of his unfinished cases involving a woman whose father was dishonorably discharged from the Marines.

Directors: Michael Zinberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Keep Going
star
8.18
1999 votes

#3 - Keep Going

Season 14 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2017

While investigating a hit and run, Palmer spots a man on a ledge and attempts to talk him down.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Till Death Do Us Part
star
8.06
2801 votes

#4 - Till Death Do Us Part

Season 9 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/15/2012

Terrorism shakes the foundations of the Navy and NCIS to such an extent that Gibbs and the team face surprises that will devastate them.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Twilight
star
8.03
1412 votes

#5 - Twilight

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/24/2005

A group of serial terrorists seek revenge and send Ari on an assignment to kill Gibbs. The NCIS team goes on a hunt after him, but when they discover that Ari has a bigger plan, it is already too late – the NCIS team will have to face the death of one of their team members.

Directors: Thomas J. Wright
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pyramid
star
8.02
3134 votes

#6 - Pyramid

Season 8 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/2011

The lives of NCIS members are in jeopardy when they come face-to-face with the infamous Port-to-Port killer, on the eighth season finale of NCIS.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
She
star
8.00
1086 votes

#7 - She

Season 16 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/12/2019

After a malnourished and confused 9-year-old is found hiding in a storage unit, NCIS reopens an old missing persons case when the girl is believed to be the daughter of a Navy recruit who disappeared 10 years ago. Also, Bishop discovers notes that Special Agent Ziva David kept on the case long after NCIS officially stopped investigating.

Directors: Mark Horowitz
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
House Divided
star
8.00
1998 votes

#8 - House Divided

Season 15 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2017

Two months after Gibbs and McGee were last seen fighting an elusive group of rebels in a Paraguay jungle, the NCIS team in D.C. tirelessly searches for their missing colleagues. Also, Vance and Torres are summoned to a congressional hearing regarding the fallout from the Paraguay mission

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Damned If You Do
star
7.99
2083 votes

#9 - Damned If You Do

Season 10 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/14/2013

The international manhunt for Eli David's killer turns into a federal witch hunt against Gibbs and the team, which questions their unconventional methods and threatens their future at the agency.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Arizona
star
7.99
769 votes

#10 - The Arizona

Season 17 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/14/2020

The team tries to verify the identity of Joe Smith, who claims he served on the U.S.S. Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and wants to be buried there upon his death.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rendezvous
star
7.98
2038 votes

#11 - Rendezvous

Season 14 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2017

Gibbs, McGee and Torres travel to a remote area in Paraguay, controlled by a group of violent rebels, in an attempt to locate a missing Navy SEAL who disappeared during an unsanctioned trip.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Shabbat Shalom (1)
star
7.98
2311 votes

#12 - Shabbat Shalom (1)

Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/8/2013

While the NCIS team investigates the link to a dead journalist and a Navy petty officer, Ziva is taken aback by the sudden emotional visit by her father, who she hasn't seen in more than two years. While Ziva questions the purpose of her father's visit as the Director of Mossad, her father insists he is in the U.S. strictly to see his daughter for Shabbat dinner.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dead Letter
star
7.98
1712 votes

#13 - Dead Letter

Season 13 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/10/2016

The NCIS team, alongside the FBI and MI6, continue an international manhunt for an escaped British spy who has left one colleague fighting for their life in ICU.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Judgement Day (1)
star
7.97
1424 votes

#14 - Judgement Day (1)

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/20/2008

When a former NCIS agent is found dead, the entire team is put in danger as they hunt after the killer.

Directors: Thomas J. Wright
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Heartland
star
7.96
2053 votes

#15 - Heartland

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/2008

When a murder investigation leads the team to Gibbs' hometown, secrets about his past are revealed.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Jesse Stern
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Scope
star
7.96
1337 votes

#16 - Scope

Season 13 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/15/2016

The NCIS team re-examines an ambush on a group of Special Ops snipers in Iraq after an American couple is attacked in the same area six months later. When Gibbs discovers he needs the account of the lone survivor, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Aaron Davis, he tries to connect with the wounded warrior who is being treated for PTSD at Walter Reed Medical Center.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Spinning Wheel
star
7.96
1381 votes

#17 - Spinning Wheel

Season 13 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/2015

After Ducky is attacked by a man claiming to have information about his half-brother who died decades ago, the NCIS team searches for the perpetrator, as Ducky recalls the final emotional days he had with his sibling. Also, with the holidays approaching, Bishop and Jake discuss the future of their relationship.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mona Lisa
star
7.94
1046 votes

#18 - Mona Lisa

Season 16 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/2/2019

Torres relies on his team’s investigative skills after he wakes up on a dilapidated fishing boat, covered in blood and unable to remember the last 12 hours.

Directors: Alrick Riley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Homefront
star
7.94
1622 votes

#19 - Homefront

Season 13 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/3/2016

When a 14-year-old foils a home invasion, Gibbs suspects the teenager is withholding pertinent details. Also, Director Vance and Senior FBI Agent Fornell travel to London as part of the ongoing escaped British spy case.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Shiva (2)
star
7.94
2445 votes

#20 - Shiva (2)

Season 10 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/15/2013

In the aftermath of an event that strikes close to home, the NCIS team unites to seek answers and demand justice in order to protect their most vulnerable colleagues.

Directors: Arvin Brown
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rule Fifty-One
star
7.94
2666 votes

#21 - Rule Fifty-One

Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/25/2010

Gibbs heads to Mexico to face his demons and make a startling decision.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Writer: Jesse Stern
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rule 91
star
7.93
613 votes

#22 - Rule 91

Season 18 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/25/2021

While pursuing a dangerous arms dealer, the team is shocked when Bishop is implicated in an old NSA leak while Gibbs and Marcie realize the killer they've been tracking may be onto them.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Requiem
star
7.92
1672 votes

#23 - Requiem

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/2007

Gibbs finds himself emotionally challenged when he agrees to investigate a crime connected to a friend of his daughter, who passed away years ago, and the investigation leads to a shocking conclusion.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Great Wide Open
star
7.92
624 votes

#24 - Great Wide Open

Season 19 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/2021

Gibbs and McGee head to Alaska while the team works at home to uncover the conspiracy behind the serial killer.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Swan Song
star
7.92
3241 votes

#25 - Swan Song

Season 8 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/10/2011

After new evidence reveals that the Port-to-Port killer has infiltrated the agency, the NCIS teams chase every lead in a race to track him down.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Jesse Stern
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV