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IMDbPro

Law & Order

  • TV Series
  • 1990– 1990–
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
146
9
Sam Waterston, Camryn Manheim, Anthony Anderson, Hugh Dancy, Jeffrey Donovan, and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)
Franchise trailer
Play trailer1:04
9 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
Follows a crime (usually a murder), usually adapted from current headlines, from two separate vantage points, the police investigation and the prosecution in court.Follows a crime (usually a murder), usually adapted from current headlines, from two separate vantage points, the police investigation and the prosecution in court.Follows a crime (usually a murder), usually adapted from current headlines, from two separate vantage points, the police investigation and the prosecution in court.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
146
9
  • Creators
    • Dick Wolf
    • Rick Eid
  • Stars
    • Jerry Orbach
    • Jesse L. Martin
    • Dennis Farina
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Dick Wolf
    • Rick Eid
  • Stars
    • Jerry Orbach
    • Jesse L. Martin
    • Dennis Farina
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 253User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 6 Primetime Emmys
      • 47 wins & 203 nominations total

    Episodes467

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos9

    Law & Order: The Eighth Year
    Trailer 1:04
    Law & Order: The Eighth Year
    Law & Order: The Third Year
    Trailer 0:31
    Law & Order: The Third Year
    Law & Order: The Original Law & Order Returns
    Trailer 0:28
    Law & Order: The Original Law & Order Returns
    Law & Order: Season 21
    Trailer 0:16
    Law & Order: Season 21
    Law & Order: Life Choice
    Trailer 0:59
    Law & Order: Life Choice
    Law & Order: Wedded Bliss
    Trailer 1:58
    Law & Order: Wedded Bliss
    Law & Order: Season 3
    Trailer 0:33
    Law & Order: Season 3
    Law & Order: Season 14
    Trailer 1:02
    Law & Order: Season 14
    Law & Order: Season 1
    Trailer 0:55
    Law & Order: Season 1

    Photos1555

    Camryn Manheim, Anthony Anderson, and Jeffrey Donovan in Law & Order (1990)
    Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)
    Anthony Anderson and Jeffrey Donovan in Law & Order (1990)
    Hugh Dancy and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)
    Sam Waterston in Law & Order (1990)
    Sam Waterston, Linus Roache, and Alana De La Garza in Law & Order (1990)
    Carey Lowell and Sam Waterston in Law & Order (1990)
    Sebastian Stan in Law & Order (1990)
    Carolyn McCormick and Sebastian Stan in Law & Order (1990)
    Sebastian Stan in Law & Order (1990)
    Carolyn McCormick and Sebastian Stan in Law & Order (1990)
    Sebastian Stan in Law & Order (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach
    • Detective Lennie Briscoeas Detective Lennie Briscoe…
    274 episodes274 eps • 1991–2004
    Jesse L. Martin
    Jesse L. Martin
    • Detective Ed Greenas Detective Ed Green
    198 episodes198 eps • 1999–2008
    Dennis Farina
    Dennis Farina
    • Detective Joe Fontanaas Detective Joe Fontana
    46 episodes46 eps • 2004–2006
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    • Lieutenant Anita Van Burenas Lieutenant Anita Van Buren…
    391 episodes391 eps • 1991–2010
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • E.A.D.A. Jack McCoyas E.A.D.A. Jack McCoy…
    378 episodes378 eps • 1994–2022
    Steven Hill
    Steven Hill
    • D.A. Adam Schiffas D.A. Adam Schiff
    229 episodes229 eps • 1990–2000
    Leslie Hendrix
    Leslie Hendrix
    • M.E. Dr. Elizabeth Rodgersas M.E. Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers…
    143 episodes143 eps • 1992–2010
    Fred Thompson
    Fred Thompson
    • D.A. Arthur Branchas D.A. Arthur Branch
    116 episodes116 eps • 2002–2007
    Chris Noth
    Chris Noth
    • Detective Mike Loganas Detective Mike Logan
    111 episodes111 eps • 1990–1995
    Benjamin Bratt
    Benjamin Bratt
    • Detective Rey Curtisas Detective Rey Curtis…
    95 episodes95 eps • 1995–2009
    Michael Moriarty
    Michael Moriarty
    • E.A.D.A. Ben Stoneas E.A.D.A. Ben Stone
    88 episodes88 eps • 1990–1994
    Carolyn McCormick
    Carolyn McCormick
    • Dr. Elizabeth Olivetas Dr. Elizabeth Olivet
    87 episodes87 eps • 1991–2009
    Elisabeth Röhm
    Elisabeth Röhm
    • A.D.A. Serena Southerlynas A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn
    85 episodes85 eps • 2001–2005
    Alana De La Garza
    Alana De La Garza
    • A.D.A. Connie Rubirosaas A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa
    85 episodes85 eps • 2006–2010
    Angie Harmon
    Angie Harmon
    • A.D.A. Abbie Carmichaelas A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael
    72 episodes72 eps • 1998–2001
    Dann Florek
    Dann Florek
    • Captain Donald Cragenas Captain Donald Cragen…
    69 episodes69 eps • 1990–2004
    Richard Brooks
    Richard Brooks
    • A.D.A. Paul Robinetteas A.D.A. Paul Robinette…
    69 episodes69 eps • 1990–2006
    Jill Hennessy
    Jill Hennessy
    • A.D.A. Claire Kincaidas A.D.A. Claire Kincaid
    68 episodes68 eps • 1993–1996
    • Creators
      • Dick Wolf
      • Rick Eid
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    8.1
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    Law & Order: Criminal Intent
    7.5
    Law & Order: Criminal Intent
    Law & Order: Organized Crime
    7.7
    Law & Order: Organized Crime
    Criminal Minds
    8.1
    Criminal Minds
    NCIS
    7.8
    NCIS
    Chicago P.D.
    8.1
    Chicago P.D.
    Chicago Fire
    8.0
    Chicago Fire
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
    7.7
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
    Without a Trace
    6.9
    Without a Trace
    Blue Bloods
    7.7
    Blue Bloods
    FBI
    6.9
    FBI
    9-1-1
    7.8
    9-1-1

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When the show began airing in re-runs on TNT, new digital technology was used to insert "product placements" (paid appearances of name-brand products) into the show. The easiest to spot is for Coca-Cola. Any time you see a Coke can sitting on a desk, it has been added digitally.
    • Goofs
      In several episodes, Curtis draws his weapon (a Glock semiautomatic) and we hear the hammer being cocked. This type of gun does not have an external hammer and can only be fired in double action.
    • Quotes

      [Opening narration]

      Narrator: In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.

    • Crazy credits
      After the attack on the World Trade Center the opening was changed for one episode to reflect the sacrifices of the NYPD and the NYFD.
    • Alternate versions
      The DVD release of the series will include footage not originally broadcast.
    • Connections
      Edited into Radno vreme ili kako sam izludeo na poslu (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Not Driving Anymore
      (Instrumental)

      Written and Performed by Rob Dougan

      (UK Version)

    User reviews253

    Review
    Top review
    Gritty and Compelling Ensemble Drama That Works
    This intense drama, now in its 15th season and still going strong, set the stage for ensemble drama, in which the cast plays a secondary role to the story. Law & Order, as originally conceived, drew the viewer into the process by which American law enforcement and litigation works, or doesn't, depending on the viewer's opinion. The first half-hour is devoted to the investigation of a crime, the second to its prosecution. Cases are made or lost by evidence, lack thereof, a technicality, or even judicial whim. Dick Wolf made it clear from day one that the cast was expendable; no prima donnas here. The first cast was all male, with one African-American. Wolf apparently caved to fan pressure for a more politically-correct spectrum, but it really didn't matter so long as the actors could carry the story forward. His best casting choice was Jerry Orbach, his worst Elisabeth Rohm, but with or without these people, the drama continues. In recent years, L&O has lost some of the grittiness that made it so compelling, and I do miss actors such as Steven Hill, Michael Moriarty, Chris Noth, Jill Hennessy and now Orbach, but the show is still far superior to the majority of what passes for prime-time programming. It only suffers in the rare episodes when a politically-correct message is pushed into the story, i.e., whenever it deviates from its original format of presenting how the criminal justice system works. Ignore the spinoffs; the original Law & Order is still the best.
    helpful•36
    11
    • louiepatti
    • Sep 27, 2004

    FAQ27

    • Is it true that most episodes of Law & Order are based on real life cases?
    • Can the police really lie to you?
    • Which episodes from Season One were based on actual cases?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 13, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Bravo (Canada)
      • CBS Justice (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Law & Order Prime
    • Filming locations
      • Katz's Delicatessen - 205 East Houston Street, East Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Studios USA Television
      • NBC Universal Television
      • Universal Network Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1
      • 1.33 : 1

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