Considering the cultural touchstone the Law & Order franchise has become, it’s hard to imagine a time before that hallmark “Dun Dun” after multiple decades of jaw-dropping episodes, procedural thrills, and more.

From its ripped-from-headlines courtroom showdowns to the magnetic performances from the precinct heroes, both Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit have led viewers on a multi-decade emotional rollercoaster that fans don’t want to get off of. Whether it’s a thrilling crossover episode between squads or a throwback episode to an iconic courtroom villain, fans never tire of watching these squad room heroes kick butt. Law & Order‘s Season 25 newcomer David Ajala spoke to NBC Insider about the joys of hopping aboard the franchise as it celebrates a milestone season this year.

“There is something very, very special about being part of this franchise,” Ajala told NBC Insider in a 2025 interview. “Because when you’re out in New York City, and you’re shooting scenes, people recognize it, you know? They recognize the show, they recognize the actors, and it means a lot to them, and they like to take photos and videos. And to be part of something that is so well-loved is very special.”

Check out Law & Order’s lengthy primetime history, below:

Law & Order premiered in 1990

The first-ever episode of Law & Order aired in September 1990, and it set the tone for a mythic franchise of ripped-from-the-headlines action and procedural drama, soon ushering forth several nail-biting spin-offs. The debut Law & Order cast included George Dzundza, Chris Noth, Michael Moriarty, Richard Brooks, and Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen

After a hiatus in 2010, Law & Order made its triumphant return to primetime in 2022 for an action-packed Season 21, which featured the return of franchise icons Sam Waterston as the mythic D.A. Jack McCoy and Kevin Anderson as Detective Kevin Bernard. Season 21 also ushered forth several franchise newcomers, including Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price and Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun.

Upon Waterston’s exit, Tony Goldwyn’s Nicholas Baxter settled into the honorable post in Season 23 of Law & Order, where he met fellow Season 23 recruit Detective Vincent Riley (Reid Scott). Later in Season 24, the squad got a shake-up with the arrival of 2-7 Lieutenant Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney). As of Season 25, Riley has been teaming up on cases with his partner, Detective Theo Walker (David Ajala).

Over the past 25 years, the 16th and 27th Precincts have taken many forms, and the honor of watching that multi-decade evolution isn’t lost on series creator Dick Wolf, who told the L.A. Times in September 2025 he felt like he was “born under a lucky star.”

Law & Order: SVU hit screens in 1999

SVU has been delivering goosebumps since the show’s 1999 premiere (“Payback”), with its debut cast including Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Richard Belzer, and Law & Order franchise hopper Dann Florek. Ice T’s beloved Fin Tutuola notably didn’t roll up until Season 2 of the NBC nail-biter, but he’s a franchise O.G. regardless. With 27 seasons and counting under its holster, SVU remains a primetime staple as Benson and her elite unit solve whatever case comes their way, often teaming up with the 27th Precinct in the process.

Amid the 2023 wrap party for SVU‘s milestone Season 25, Hargitay spoke with NBC Insider about the surreal joy of being at the helm of such a long-running series.

“People ask me, ’25 years! 25 years!’ And as we shot [the season], they talked about it, and it was so difficult for me to really take in,” Hargitay told NBC Insider. “I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and it was the other night, as I was going to the wrap party with my son, it just hit me: ‘I am going to the wrap party for my show that has been on for 25 seasons.’ And it just hit me, and it was so beautiful for so many reasons.”

While SVU has maintained its multi-decade chokehold on fans in part thanks to Hargitay’s powerhouse performance as the butt-kicking Olivia Benson, she is the first to commend her Law & Order cast and crew for working together as such a “unit.”

“I love my job,” Hargitay said. “I love going to work every day. I love the community that I’m in. I love my cast, my crew, and I love the intimacy of it all and the fact that we work in a culture that says, ‘Let’s do the work, let’s have a fun time, and best idea wins.’ It is such a team. It is such an incredible team, and we rely so much on each other. We’re a unit. It’s so sacred to me.”