You know that "dun-dun" sound. It’s iconic. It’s basically the heartbeat of American procedural television. But honestly, trying to figure out how to stream Law and Order across its thirty-plus years of television history feels like trying to solve one of the cases without any forensic evidence. You’d think a show this massive would just be in one place, sitting there waiting for a weekend binge. It isn't.
Television rights are a mess. Between the original series, Special Victims Unit (SVU), Organized Crime, and the defunct spin-offs like Criminal Intent or Trial by Jury, the licensing is scattered across the digital landscape like confetti. If you want the full Dick Wolf experience, you’re going to need a strategy.
The Peacock Monopoly (Mostly)
Let’s be real: NBCUniversal wants you on Peacock. Since they own the network, they’ve pulled most of the heavy lifting over to their own platform. If you’re looking for the current seasons of the "main" trio—the original Law & Order revival, SVU, and Organized Crime—Peacock is your primary hub.
But here is the kicker. You can’t just watch for free anymore like the early days of streaming. You need a premium subscription to access the deep archives. Specifically, Peacock houses every single season of SVU. That is over 500 episodes of Olivia Benson staring down suspects. It’s a staggering amount of content.
However, the original 1990 series is a bit more complicated. While the newest seasons (the revival starting with Season 21) are all there, the "classic" years are often incomplete or shuffled around due to old syndication deals that refuse to die. It’s annoying. You might find a block of middle seasons on one service and the early Lennie Briscoe years somewhere else entirely.
Why Some Seasons Are Ghosting You
Have you ever noticed how Season 1 through 10 of the original show are harder to find than a clean crime scene? This is the dark side of how to stream Law and Order.
The "Mother Ship"—as the creators call the original show—faced a weird licensing limbo for years. For a long time, you couldn't stream the early 90s episodes anywhere. They were stuck in cable syndication loops on networks like WE tv and SundanceTV. Currently, Peacock has been filling those gaps, but they still don't always have the "full" 20-season run of the pre-cancellation era available at all times.
✨ Don't miss: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
If you’re a purist who wants to see Logan and Greevey from the very beginning, you might actually have to resort to buying seasons a la carte.
Buying vs. Renting
Sometimes the subscription model fails us. Honestly, if you are a die-hard fan who rewatches specific arcs—like the Jack McCoy glory years—buying the digital seasons on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Vudu makes more sense.
- Amazon Prime Video: Usually costs about $20-$30 per season. It's expensive but permanent.
- Google Play/YouTube: Good for Android users, but the interface for 20+ seasons of a show is clunky.
- Physical Media: Don't laugh. The DVD box sets are often cheaper than the digital licenses if you find them used. Plus, they can't be "delisted" when a contract expires.
The SVU Exception
Special Victims Unit is the golden child. Because it never went off the air, its streaming presence is much more stable. Hulu still carries a significant chunk of SVU episodes, usually the most recent seasons, thanks to a legacy deal NBC had with them before Peacock launched.
If you already pay for Hulu, check there first. You might find you have 15 seasons ready to go without adding another $7.99 to your monthly bills. But for the full history, you’re eventually going to have to migrate to Peacock.
What About the Spinoffs?
The Law & Order universe is sprawling. It’s not just the big three.
- Criminal Intent: This one is a fan favorite because of Vincent D’Onofrio’s quirky Detective Goren. It currently lives on Peacock. It’s a smoother ride than the original series because all ten seasons are usually bundled together.
- Organized Crime: This is the "prestige" version. It’s serialized, meaning one story lasts the whole season. It’s almost exclusively on Peacock.
- Trial by Jury / LA / True Crime: These are the "forgotten" siblings. Finding these is like a scavenger hunt. Law & Order: LA occasionally pops up on Freevee (Amazon’s free, ad-supported service), but it’s hit or miss.
Using a VPN for International Libraries
Now, let's talk about the "gray" area. Rights vary by country. In the UK, Law & Order might be on Sky or Now TV. In Canada, it’s often on Citytv or Netflix.
🔗 Read more: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
If you are traveling or using a VPN, you might find that the library changes. Some people use this to access seasons that are locked behind "buy-only" walls in the States. It’s a bit of a hassle, but if you’re desperate for that one specific crossover episode, it’s an option. Just make sure you’re checking the Terms of Service for your provider, as they’re getting stricter about VPN usage.
The Cost of Being a Fan
Streaming isn't cheap anymore. If you want every version of the show, you are looking at a Peacock Premium Plus sub, maybe a Hulu sub, and potentially a live TV streamer like YouTube TV or FuboTV if you want to watch the new episodes as they air without waiting 24 hours.
If you’re trying to save cash, use the "cycle" method.
Don't subscribe to everything at once.
Binge SVU on Peacock for two months.
Cancel it.
Switch to another service for something else.
Navigating the Live TV Maze
For those who want to watch the new episodes of how to stream Law and Order on Thursday nights, you need a live feed.
- YouTube TV: Great interface, includes a DVR so you can skip commercials.
- Hulu + Live TV: Bundles Disney+ and ESPN+, which is a plus, but it's the most expensive option.
- Sling TV: You need the "Blue" package to get NBC, and it’s only available in select local markets. Check your zip code before you buy.
- The Digital Antenna: If you live in a city, a $20 antenna gets you NBC for free. Forever. It’s the ultimate "life hack" for procedural fans.
Common Misconceptions
People think Netflix has Law & Order. It doesn't. Not in the US, anyway. Netflix used to be the king of procedural repeats, but those days ended when the "Streaming Wars" began in 2020.
Another mistake? Assuming every episode is "standalone." In the early years, yes. But the modern seasons do a lot of three-way crossovers with Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. If you only stream the Law & Order side, you’ll be very confused when a story starts in a burning building in Chicago and ends in a New York courtroom. To get the full story, you actually have to jump between different show pages on Peacock. It’s a logistical nightmare.
💡 You might also like: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
Tactical Advice for Your Next Binge
Stop trying to find the "perfect" all-in-one app. It doesn't exist for this franchise.
First, check if you have a local NBC station via a digital antenna. If you do, that’s your Thursdays sorted for zero dollars. Second, if you’re a completionist, wait for Peacock to run a sale. They almost always do a $1.99/month for a year deal around Black Friday or "Peacock Day." That is the time to strike.
If you are looking for specific older episodes—say, the ones featuring Julia Roberts or Samuel L. Jackson before they were superstars—you’re likely going to have to use a search aggregator like JustWatch. It’s a free site that tracks which streaming service has which specific season in real-time. It’s much faster than opening five different apps to check.
The reality of how to stream Law and Order in 2026 is that it requires a little bit of work. But for the fans who grew up on McCoy’s closing arguments and Benson’s empathy, it’s worth the legwork.
Next Steps for the Savvy Viewer
Check your current subscriptions for "hidden" access. If you have an Instacart+ membership, you currently get Peacock for free. This is a massive win for Law & Order fans that many people overlook. Also, verify your local library’s digital offerings; apps like Hoopla or Kanopy sometimes carry older TV seasons for free with a library card. If you're starting from scratch, begin with Peacock's "most popular" section to catch up on the current season of SVU before the spoilers hit social media.