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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

  • TV Series
  • 1999– 1999–
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
101K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
53
6
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Filmed on location in New York, the drama showcases the sometimes-complex process of determining guilt or innocence, while lives hang in the balance.
Play trailer0:31
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

This series follows the Special Victims Unit, a specially trained squad of detectives in the N.Y.P.D., who investigate sexually related crimes.This series follows the Special Victims Unit, a specially trained squad of detectives in the N.Y.P.D., who investigate sexually related crimes.This series follows the Special Victims Unit, a specially trained squad of detectives in the N.Y.P.D., who investigate sexually related crimes.

IMDb RATING
8.1/10
101K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
53
6
  • Creator
    • Dick Wolf
  • Stars
    • Mariska Hargitay
    • Christopher Meloni
    • Ice-T
Top credits
  • Creator
    • Dick Wolf
  • Stars
    • Mariska Hargitay
    • Christopher Meloni
    • Ice-T
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 386User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 6 Primetime Emmys
      • 56 wins & 167 nominations total

    Episodes517

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos775

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season 14
    Clip 0:41
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season 14
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Fin And Lake Make An Amazing Team
    Clip 2:56
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Fin And Lake Make An Amazing Team
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Carisi Interrupts Rollins And Amaro
    Clip 3:32
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Carisi Interrupts Rollins And Amaro
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Rollins And Carisi Kiss While Benson And Stabler Reconnect
    Clip 4:36
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Rollins And Carisi Kiss While Benson And Stabler Reconnect
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Chet Is No Match For Benson
    Clip 4:28
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Chet Is No Match For Benson
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Carisi Doesn't Stop Fighting After The Wheelhouse's Not Guilty Verdict
    Clip 3:19
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Carisi Doesn't Stop Fighting After The Wheelhouse's Not Guilty Verdict
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Benson Knows Wheatley Is After Her
    Clip 2:12
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Benson Knows Wheatley Is After Her
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Rollins Helps Aneeka And Imani Find Closure
    Clip 2:33
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Rollins Helps Aneeka And Imani Find Closure
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Whoopi Goldberg Refuses To Be Judged By Barba Or Anyone Else
    Clip 5:07
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Whoopi Goldberg Refuses To Be Judged By Barba Or Anyone Else
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Tori Gets A Benson Boost On Never Wasting A Second Chance
    Clip 2:25
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Tori Gets A Benson Boost On Never Wasting A Second Chance
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Benson And Murphy Grill Hate Crime Suspect
    Clip 3:07
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Benson And Murphy Grill Hate Crime Suspect
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Benson And Carisi Are Shocked By How High This Sex Trafficking Ring Goes
    Clip 1:54
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Benson And Carisi Are Shocked By How High This Sex Trafficking Ring Goes

    Photos3080

    Sam Waterston and Raúl Esparza in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, and Adam Gagan in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Adam Gagan in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Diane Neal and Tina Fabrique in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Misti Traya and Tina Fabrique in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Ice-T in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Peter Scanavino in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Will Chase in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Will Chase and Mariela Garriga in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Kelli Giddish in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Kelli Giddish and Peter Scanavino in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Will Chase, Peter Jacobson, and Mariela Garriga in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mariska Hargitay
    Mariska Hargitay
    • Olivia Bensonas Olivia Benson…
    517 episodes517 eps • 1999–2022
    Christopher Meloni
    Christopher Meloni
    • Detective Elliot Stableras Detective Elliot Stabler…
    281 episodes281 eps • 1999–2022
    Ice-T
    Ice-T
    • Odafin Tutuolaas Odafin Tutuola…
    495 episodes495 eps • 2000–2022
    Dann Florek
    Dann Florek
    • Donald Cragenas Donald Cragen…
    332 episodes332 eps • 1999–2021
    Richard Belzer
    Richard Belzer
    • John Munchas John Munch…
    326 episodes326 eps • 1999–2016
    Kelli Giddish
    Kelli Giddish
    • Amanda Rollinsas Amanda Rollins…
    246 episodes246 eps • 2007–2022
    BD Wong
    BD Wong
    • Dr. George Huangas Dr. George Huang…
    230 episodes230 eps • 2001–2015
    Tamara Tunie
    Tamara Tunie
    • Dr. Melinda Warneras Dr. Melinda Warner…
    226 episodes226 eps • 2000–2021
    Peter Scanavino
    Peter Scanavino
    • Dominick Carisi Jr.as Dominick Carisi Jr.…
    174 episodes174 eps • 2013–2022
    Raúl Esparza
    Raúl Esparza
    • Rafael Barbaas Rafael Barba
    119 episodes119 eps • 2012–2022
    Diane Neal
    Diane Neal
    • Casey Novakas Casey Novak…
    114 episodes114 eps • 2001–2022
    Stephanie March
    Stephanie March
    • A.D.A. Alexandra Cabotas A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot…
    97 episodes97 eps • 2000–2018
    Danny Pino
    Danny Pino
    • Nick Amaroas Nick Amaro
    95 episodes95 eps • 2011–2021
    Mike Doyle
    Mike Doyle
    • Forensics Tech Ryan O'Halloranas Forensics Tech Ryan O'Halloran…
    53 episodes53 eps • 2002–2009
    Joel de la Fuente
    Joel de la Fuente
    • TARU Tech Ruben Moralesas TARU Tech Ruben Morales…
    52 episodes52 eps • 2002–2011
    Joanna Merlin
    Joanna Merlin
    • Judge Lena Petrovskyas Judge Lena Petrovsky…
    43 episodes43 eps • 2000–2011
    Caren Browning
    Caren Browning
    • CSU Captain Judith Siperas CSU Captain Judith Siper…
    43 episodes43 eps • 1999–2011
    Lynn Marocola
    Lynn Marocola
    • Police Officeras Police Officer…
    38 episodes38 eps • 2015–2021
    • Creator
      • Dick Wolf
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories. —John Craig
    • shared universe
    • punctuation in title
    • sexually motivated
    • sexually motivated assault
    • date rape
    • 55 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Where Risks are Taken.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • TV-14
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Mariska Hargitay is a trained rape crisis counselor.
    • Goofs
      Despite many of the crimes being homicides in addition to being sex crimes, homicide detectives are not shown to have responded to the case. The major crime would be the murder itself, with the sex crime elements being included offenses.
    • Quotes

      [Looking through a victim's purse for ID]

      Olivia Benson: No jewelry. I always carry at least a pair of earrings in my purse.

      Elliot Stabler: Yeah, like you carry a purse.

      Olivia Benson: That's 'cause you carry it for me.

      Elliot Stabler: Heh...

    • Crazy credits
      From the second episode of the second season (2000-2001), the opening credits break the pattern followed by the earlier episodes of SVU, the original Law & Order, and Criminal Intent. Instead of the credits ending with a shot of the cast walking towards the camera, they instead are shown sitting around a desk.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Not Driving Anymore
      (remix)
      Written and Performed by Rob Dougan

    User reviews386

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Too Much Mariska Hargitay
    She's the executive producer, and now the "executive actor." She dominates every plot, every action, every aspect of the show. The rest of the cast has been reduced to less than minor roles. Moreover, this ruins the show's previous "police accuracy." "Cragen" ran the unit; Benson runs the unit, personally conducts the investigation and interviews, makes the arrest. Too much. The show needs to restore its balance.
    helpful•86
    32
    • pauldoren
    • Jan 11, 2018

    FAQ20

    • Why did [name of actor/character] leave the show?
    • What was the first working title of this series?
    • What is the age of consent in New York?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Channel 5 (United Kingdom)
      • NBC (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Special Victims Unit
    • Filming locations
      • Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers, Pier 59 - West 18th Street & West Side Highway, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Wolf Films
      • Studios USA Television
      • Universal Network Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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