NCIS (franchise)
American media franchise
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is a media franchise of American television programs originally created by Donald P. Bellisario and currently broadcast on CBS, all of which deal with military related criminal investigations based on the Naval Criminal Investigative Service of the United States Department of the Navy.
- NCIS
- Donald P. Bellisario
- Don McGill
- NCIS: Los Angeles
- Shane Brennan
- NCIS: New Orleans
- Gary Glasberg
- NCIS: Hawaiʻi
- Christopher Silber
- Jan Nash
- Matt Bosack
- NCIS: Sydney
- Morgan O'Neill
- NCIS: Origins
- Gina Lucita Monreal
- David J. North
- NCIS: Tony & Ziva
- John McNamara
| NCIS | |
|---|---|
_logo.svg){kind=logo} | |
| Created by |
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| Original work | JAG |
| Owner | CBS Studios |
| Years | 2003–present |
| Films and television | |
| Television series | |
| Audio | |
| Soundtrack(s) |
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In 2003, NCIS was introduced via a backdoor pilot from the TV show JAG. Over the years, NCIS itself has spawned several spin-offs: NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023), NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2021), NCIS: Hawaiʻi (2021–2024), NCIS: Sydney (2023–present), NCIS: Origins (2024–present) and NCIS: Tony & Ziva (2025). NCIS: Los Angeles had a proposed spin-off, NCIS: Red, but it was not picked up by CBS.
Seven television series make up the NCIS franchise: NCIS, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Hawaiʻi, Sydney, Origins, and Tony & Ziva. All series in total amount to 1,102 episodes across 52 seasons of television. The main NCIS series, which is the longest-running show of the franchise, premiered its twenty-third season on October 14, 2025.
Series
The first three series (as well as the intended NCIS: Red), were spun off via a two-part episode from an established series, serving in effect as a backdoor pilot.
| Series | Television seasons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | 2025–26 | ||
| NCIS | Pilot | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | |
| NCIS: Los Angeles | Pilot | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||||||||||
| NCIS: New Orleans | Pilot | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| NCIS: Hawaiʻi | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| NCIS: Sydney | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| NCIS: Origins | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| NCIS: Tony & Ziva | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
NCIS (2003–present)
NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023)
NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2021)
NCIS: Hawaiʻi (2021–2024)
On February 16, 2021, it was reported that a potential spin-off set in Hawaii is in the works from NCIS: New Orleans executive producers Christopher Silber and Jan Nash.[1] On April 23, 2021, it was announced that CBS had given the production a straight-to-series order to the spin-off, and reportedly intended to include the franchise's first female lead character.[2]
NCIS: Sydney (2023–present)
On February 16, 2022, Paramount announced that a spin-off set in Sydney, Australia had been ordered by Network 10 and Paramount+; Shane Brennan has been announced as the showrunner for the spin-off, which will be the first set outside of the United States.[3][4] The series premiered in Australia on Paramount+ on November 10, 2023, and aired on Network 10 from May 15, 2024.[5][6] It was also announced that in the United States, amid the suspension of other NCIS productions due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, the series would also begin airing on a delayed basis on CBS from November 14.[7] The series was available for streaming in selected territories internationally on Paramount+.[8] Its second season premiered on 7 February 2025.[9]
The cast is led by Olivia Swann and Todd Lasance, with Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel and William McInnes.[10]
NCIS: Origins (2024–present)
On January 5, 2024, it was announced that a spin-off and prequel series based on Leroy Jethro Gibbs's early days as an NCIS agent was in the works. Mark Harmon is set to reprise his role as Gibbs in a narrator role.[11] The series is set to air during the 2024–2025 season.[12]
NCIS: Tony & Ziva (2025)
On February 28, 2024, it was announced that Paramount+ had ordered another spin-off of NCIS focusing on Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo's characters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David.[13] On May 7, 2024, the official Instagram for the NCIS franchise presented a call between Weatherly and de Pablo where the spin-off title was confirmed to be NCIS: Tony & Ziva.[14] Production began in June 2024 in Budapest.[15][16] CBS Studios produces Tony & Ziva. John McNamara is the showrunner and executive produces with Weatherly, de Pablo, Laurie Lieser, Christina Strain, Shelley Meals and Mairzee Almas.[17]
It was cancelled after one season on December 19, 2025.
Main cast
Crossovers
This is a complete list of crossovers, from only within the franchise (crossovers from other series, such as the franchises' backdoor pilot in JAG, are excluded). All characters, main, recurring, and shared guest stars, are credited.
| Series A | Series A episode title | Air date | Written by | Series B | Actors from series B appearing on series A | Crossover type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCIS | "Legend (Part I)" | April 28, 2009 | Shane Brennan | NCIS: Los Angeles | Chris O'Donnell, Daniela Ruah, Peter Cambor, LL Cool J, Barrett Foa, Brian Avers | Backdoor pilot | ||
| "Legend (Part II)" | May 5, 2009 | |||||||
| "Endgame" | November 10, 2009 | Gary Glasberg | Kelly Hu | Character appearance | ||||
| "Crescent City (Part I)" | March 25, 2014 | NCIS: New Orleans | Scott Bakula, Lucas Black, Zoe McLellan, C. C. H. Pounder | Backdoor pilot | ||||
| "Crescent City (Part II)" | April 1, 2014 | |||||||
| "Sister City (Part I)" | January 5, 2016 | Christopher J. Waild | Scott Bakula, Lucas Black, Zoe McLellan, Shalita Grant | Two-part episode | ||||
| "Pandora's Box (Part I)" | February 14, 2017 | Christopher J. Waild | Scott Bakula, Lucas Black | |||||
| "Starting Over" | March 28, 2022 | Margaret Rose Lester & Scott Williams | NCIS: Hawaiʻi | Vanessa Lachey | ||||
| "The Brat Pack" | May 2, 2022 | Katherine Beattie & Kimberly-Rose Wolter | Jason Antoon | Character appearance | ||||
| "A Family Matter" | September 19, 2022 | Scott Williams | Vanessa Lachey, Jason Antoon | Two-part episode | ||||
| "Too Many Cooks"[18] | January 9, 2023 | Christopher J. Walid | NCIS: Los Angeles | Chris O' Donnell, LL Cool J | Three-part episode | |||
| NCIS: Hawaiʻi | Vanessa Lachey, Noah Mills | |||||||
| "A Thousand Yards" | April 15, 2024 | Diana Valentine | NCIS: Los Angeles | Daniela Ruah | Character appearance | |||
| NCIS: Hawaiʻi | Vanessa Lachey | |||||||
| NCIS: Los Angeles | "Identity" | September 22, 2009 | Shane Brennan | NCIS | Rocky Carroll | Character appearance | ||
| "Search and Destroy" | October 13, 2009 | Gil Grant | ||||||
| "Killshot" | October 20, 2009 | Shane Brennan | Rocky Carroll, Pauley Perrette | |||||
| "Pushback" | November 10, 2009 | Rocky Carroll | ||||||
| "Ambush" | November 17, 2009 | Lindsay Sturman | ||||||
| "Random on Purpose" | November 24, 2009 | Speed Weed | Rocky Carroll, Pauley Perrette | |||||
| "Hunted" | May 11, 2010 | Corey Miller | Rocky Carroll | |||||
| "Callen, G." | May 25, 2010 | Shane Brennan | David Dayan Fisher | |||||
| "Familia" | May 17, 2011 | Rocky Carroll | ||||||
| "Lange, H." | September 25, 2011 | |||||||
| "Praesidium" | October 13, 2014 | Erin Broadhurst, R. Scott Gemmill | ||||||
| "Blame It on Rio" | October 19, 2015 | R. Scott Gemmill | Michael Weatherly | |||||
| "A Long Time Coming"[18] | January 9, 2023 | Gary Cole, Wilmer Valderrama | Three-part episode | |||||
| NCIS: Hawaiʻi | Vanessa Lachey, Yasmine Al-Bustami | |||||||
| NCIS: New Orleans | "Musician Heal Thyself" | September 23, 2014 | Jeffrey Lieber | NCIS | David McCallum | Character appearance | ||
| "Carrier" | September 30, 2014 | Gary Glasberg | Rocky Carroll, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Meredith Eaton | |||||
| "Breaking Brig" | October 7, 2014 | Laurie Arent | Rocky Carroll, Mark Harmon | |||||
| "It Happened Last Night" | October 21, 2014 | Jack Bernstein | Rocky Carroll, Joe Spano | |||||
| "The Abyss" | January 13, 2015 | Sam Humphrey | Diane Neal | |||||
| "The Walking Dead" | February 3, 2015 | David Appelbaum | ||||||
| "Rock-A-Bye-Baby" | April 14, 2015 | Jonathan I. Kidd, Sonya Winton | ||||||
| "Touched by the Sun" | October 6, 2015 | Laurie Arent | Leslie Hope | |||||
| "Sister City, Part II" | January 5, 2016 | Christopher Silber | Mark Harmon, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Emily Wickersham, Brian Dietzen | Two-part episode | ||||
| "Pandora's Box, Part II" | February 14, 2017 | Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama | ||||||
| "See You Soon" | September 25, 2018 | Mark Harmon | Character appearance | |||||
| NCIS: Hawaiʻi | "T'N'T" | March 28, 2022 | Christopher Silber & Megan Bacharach | Wilmer Valderrama, Gary Cole, Diona Reasonover, Katrina Law | Two-part episode | |||
| "Prisoners' Dilemma" | September 19, 2022 | Jan Nash & Christopher Silber | Wilmer Valderrama, Gary Cole, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, Katrina Law | |||||
| "Deep Fake"[18] | January 9, 2023 | Christopher Silber | Gary Cole, Brian Dietzen | Three-part episode | ||||
| NCIS: Los Angeles | Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J | |||||||
| NCIS: Origins | "Enter Sandman" | October 14, 2024 | Gina Lucita Monreal & David J. North | NCIS | Mark Harmon | Voice-over | ||
Theme songs
| Series | Theme song | |
|---|---|---|
| NCIS | "NCIS Theme" | |
| NCIS: Los Angeles | "No Crew Is Superior" | |
| NCIS: New Orleans | "Boom Boom" | |
| NCIS: Sydney | "NCIS Theme" | |
| NCIS: Origins | "NCIS Theme" | |
| NCIS: Tony & Ziva | "Beyond the Border" | |
Reception
NCIS, voted America's favorite television series in 2011,[19] finished its tenth season as the most-watched television series in the U.S. during 2012–13 U.S. network television season;[20] and is broadcast in over 200 territories worldwide.[21] As of the end of the 2014–15 U.S. network television season, NCIS remains TV's most watched drama series.[22] Spin-off NCIS: New Orleans ended its first season as the second most watched drama on CBS,[22] and the fifth most watched series on TV. NCIS: Los Angeles ended its fifth season as the fourth most watched series on TV, and the second most watched drama.[23]
Games
NCIS (2010)
NCIS is a video game released in 2010 for iOS, published by GameHouse. It's a mix between a hidden object game and a mini-game collection.[24] Gamezebo said that NCIS is about exactly what you would expect from a licensed game on a mobile phone. It's quick, easy, and simple."[24] AppSpy summarized: "Fans of the TV series may feel like they can get something out of this game, but from the corny lines to the poorly gathered evidence, NCIS: The Game from the TV Show is a game that's hard to recommend at all."[25]
NCIS (2011)
NCIS is an adventure game developed by Ubisoft Shanghai and published by Ubisoft for Nintendo 3DS (as NCIS 3D), PlayStation 3, Wii, Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in 2011. It is based on the original NCIS TV series.
NCIS: Hidden Crimes
On September 15, 2016, Ubisoft launched a hidden-object mobile game titled NCIS: Hidden Crimes. Developed by Ubisoft Abu Dhabi (who also worked on CSI: Hidden Crimes) in conjunction with CBS Interactive, the game was released for Android & iOS devices.[26]
NCIS TV movies
In the UK, certain NCIS multi-part episodes were edited together to make a combined feature and shown on Channel 5, 5USA, CBS Action and Fox UK. These include:
| Title | Episodes edited together | Air date | Runtime | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The NCIS Movie: Enemies | "Enemies Foreign" / "Enemies Domestic" | May 20, 2013 | 1 hr, 20 mins | [27][28] |
| The NCIS Movie: Judgement Day | "Judgment Day (Part I)" / "Judgment Day (Part II)" | June 10, 2013 | 1 hr, 40 mins | [29] |
| The NCIS Movie: Legend (Legend Compilation) |
"Legend (Part I)" / "Legend (Part II)" | June 10, 2013 | 1 hr, 45 mins | [30][31] |
| The NCIS Movie: Kill Ari | "Kill Ari (Part I)" / "Kill Ari (Part II)" | August 22, 2013 | 2 hrs | [32][33] |
| The NCIS Movie: War on Terror | "Engaged (Part I)" / "Engaged (Part II)" | February 1, 2014 | 1 hr, 20 mins | [34] |
| The NCIS Movie: Payback | "Borderland" / "Patriot Down" / "Rule Fifty-One" | March 1, 2014 | 2 hrs, 35 mins | [35] |
| The NCIS Movie: Shell Shock | "Shell Shock (Part I)" / "Shell Shock (Part II)" | April 11, 2014 | 1 hr, 30 mins | [36] |
| Death Wish (Part I & II) | "Shabbat Shalom" / "Shiva" | April 16, 2014 (1) April 18, 2014 (2) |
1 hr, 40 mins | [37][38] |
| The NCIS Movie: Race Against Terror: Hiatus |
"Hiatus (Part I)" / "Hiatus (Part II)" |
|
1 hr, 50 mins | [39][40] |
Abandoned spin-off
NCIS: Red
In November 2012, CBS commissioned a pilot episode for a potential NCIS: Los Angeles spinoff titled NCIS: Red.[41] Written and produced by Shane Brennan, the series would follow "a mobile team of agents who live and work together as they go across the country to solve crimes".[41] On February 6, 2013, John Corbett was cast as retired special agent Roy, the series male lead.[42] Earlier, Miguel Ferrer would join the cast as a series regular, and reprising his NCIS: Los Angeles role,[43] Edwin Hodge had been cast as Kai, an intelligence analyst,[44] Scott Grimes was cast as Dave,[45] Gillian Alexy was cast as Claire,[46] and Kim Raver was cast in the pilot, playing the lead role of Paris.[47] The pilot episode, titled "Red" and "Red-2", aired on March 19 and 26, 2013, during the fourth season of NCIS: Los Angeles. On May 15, 2013, CBS announced that the pilot would not be taken to series.[48] On May 21, 2013, CBS President Nina Tassler stated that "sometimes [spinoffs] work and sometimes they don't. Protecting [the franchise] was really important."[49] CBS was reportedly "open to redeveloping the pilot with a new cast attached",[49] though a second franchise appearance by Scott Grimes in 2017 remains the only continuation of Red to date.
