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NCIS

NCIS

Back in force.

2003–Ongoing20 seasons512 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, a team of special agents investigates any crime that has any connection to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch NCIS?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists NCIS streaming on Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+ and Pluto TV (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about NCIS?

NCIS earns 7 badges, led by Best season yet and Audience favorite.

Reception

Is NCIS worth watching?

NCIS's Midcredits score is the 77th percentile of all shows, from 187K ratings across 5 sources. 84% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

77th percentile

Better received than 77% of shows

72nd percentile among Action70th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)69th
Approval (how many liked it)81st

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

75 /100

69th percentile of all shows

67th percentile among Action62nd percentile among 2000s

Critics 51 · Audience 77

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

84% liked it

81st percentile of all shows

75th percentile among Action76th percentile among 2000s
84% rated it 7–1016% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

97th percentile

187K ratings across platforms

89th percentile among Action95th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show peaked in the first 10-13 seasons with the original Gibbs-led team, then declined as core cast left and the focus shifted from Navy crime to personal drama.

Fans praised

  • Original cast chemistry and banter (Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, Abby)
  • Lighthearted humor balancing crime procedural
  • Consistent military-themed cases in early seasons

Detractors panned

  • Later seasons lose identity with personal melodrama and political agendas
  • Replacements for departed core cast (Tony, Ziva, Abby) are flat or annoying
  • Writing becomes juvenile, repetitive, and predictable

What stands out

ActingDivisive82

Original cast chemistry praised; later replacements called weak or miscast

HumorDivisive78

Banter and head-slaps widely enjoyed; later humor called childish

CharactersDivisive75

Original characters deeply liked; new ones described as flat, one-dimensional

Emotional impactDivisive75

Powerful character moments like Ducky tribute; later seen as manipulative

DialogueDivisive72

Witty banter praised; later deemed juvenile or forced

TensionDivisive68

Cases provided suspense early; later stakes feel low

Plot and storyDivisive62

Earlier seasons compelling; later seasons formulaic and weak

OriginalityDivisive55

Fresh take on military crime early; later seen as generic procedural

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 10 points higher than men.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 11 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 19 points higher than critics.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 14 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

24 seasons

Season 24 · 2026 · 6 episodes

  • S24E1

    Wayward Son

    Oct 6, 202643 min
  • S24E2

    Clean Slate

    Oct 13, 2026
  • S24E3

    Sleeping Dogs

    Oct 20, 2026
  • S24E4
    S24E4

    Like Subscribe

    Airs Oct 27, 2026Upcoming
  • S24E5
    S24E5

    Speechless

    Airs Nov 3, 2026Upcoming
  • S24E6
    S24E6

    Ride or Die

    Airs Nov 10, 2026Upcoming

Watch experience

What is NCIS like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseHopeful
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Warm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcStatus quo each season
ToneThe show treats its crime investigations with seriousness and respect but balances it with warmth and character humor.
The rideThe typical episode balances tense investigation with hopeful resolution; the middle seasons saw peak emotional weight as original cast members departed.
StructureEpisodes follow a conventional crime-solving structure: crime, investigation, resolution.
Episode formatThe series primarily follows a case-of-the-week format with season-long arcs involving recurring villains and character backstories.
Season formatSeasons are largely interchangeable; any season is a viable entry point, though later seasons alter the core cast and tone.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe show consistently delivers satisfying resolutions and reinforces the value of teamwork and justice, leaving viewers with a positive, comforting feeling.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEvery episode presents a new criminal case that the team must solve, fitting the overcoming_the_monster pattern with a human perpetrator as the predator.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsJustice · 14% of showsLoyalty · 7% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series is built on the surrogate family bond between Gibbs and his team, who work together as a tight-knit unit while also navigating duty and justice.
StanceThe show celebrates the found family and loyalty of the NCIS team, affirming their bond and heroic mission to serve justice.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalUrbanRealistic
RockOrchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Joseph LoDuca
SettingNaval Criminal Investigative Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., and various military crime scenes
MusicThe theme song by Joseph LoDuca is a memorable rock-tinged march.

Content guide

Is NCIS okay for kids?

TV-14

NCIS is rated TV-14. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (69/100), sexual content at moderate (42/100), language at moderate (41/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (43/100) and frightening material at intense (63/100). Overall it is heavier than 70% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 25 other countries
  • UK15
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland16
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • ArgentinaSAM 13
  • Austria12
  • Czechia18+
  • Denmark15
  • Hungary12
  • IndiaU
  • MexicoB
  • MYU
  • Netherlands12
  • PhilippinesPG
  • Poland16
  • Portugal12AP
  • RO12
  • SingaporePG
  • Spain12
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 55% of all showsHeavier than 70% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 79%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 57%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 56%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 68%
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 76%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what TV-14 shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does NCIS have?

MovieCove's classifier found 4 depicted content warnings in NCIS: Gore or body horror (moderate), Gun violence (moderate), Medical procedures (mild), Sexual violence (mild). 1 more is mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: War atrocities. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

ModerateGore or body horrorGun violence
MildMedical proceduresSexual violence
MentionedWar atrocities

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in NCIS?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Sean Murray
as Timothy McGee
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
David McCallum
as Donald Mallard
Mark Harmon
as Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Brian Dietzen
as Jimmy Palmer
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Rocky Carroll
as Leon Vance
Pauley Perrette
as Abby Sciuto
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Michael Weatherly
as Anthony DiNozzo
Wilmer Valderrama
as Nick Torres
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Cote de Pablo
as Ziva David
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Emily Wickersham
as Ellie Bishop
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

More like this

What are shows like NCIS?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like NCIS include NCIS: Los Angeles (2009), NCIS: Sydney (2023) and JAG (1995).

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661 other shows share the rarest tag below, premise: manhunt. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.