Top 10 Most Shocking Criminal Minds Reveals

Gasp! For this list, we’ll be looking at the times the long-running series surprised us with wild, scary, heartbreaking, and sometimes pleasant discoveries. Spoilers ahead for all 16 seasons of “Criminal Minds,” including “Criminal Minds: Evolution.” Our countdown includes moments from episodes "Memoriam", "It Takes a Village", "A Shade of Gray" and more! What reveal shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments.
Check out these other "Criminal Minds" videos:
Top 20 Real-Life Crimes that Inspired Criminal Minds: • Top 20 Real-Life Crime...
Top 20 Stars You Forgot Were on Criminal Minds: • Top 20 Stars You Forgo...
Top 10 Criminal Minds Episodes That Kept Us Up At Night: • Top 10 Criminal Minds ...
Challenge friends and family on our multiplayer Trivia!
www.watchmojo.com/play
Have Your Idea Become A Video!
wmojo.com/msmojo-suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/msmojo-subscribe
MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
#criminalminds #evolution #shocking #plottwist #bau #crime #unsub

[@MsMojo]

What reveal shocked you the most? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 Criminal Minds Episodes That Kept Us Up At Night: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4vUk62pfLKrn8U

[@MamaPinks]

"List of Criminal Minds Episodes That Made Us Cry Like Babies!" "Riding the Lightning" was a devastating episode for me. (I myself gave up a child because i was with an abusive man I couldn't get away from) I couldn't stop crying and have only seen it twice. I can't watch it again. It gave me the same uncontrollable devastation when watching "The Green Mile," which I have also, have only ever seen twice.

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

George Foyet will always be my favorite Unsub. His reveal was brilliantly shot and executed. Jaw dropped to the floor shocking.

[@janeentumbao8690]

C Thomas Howell... Was once married to Tommy Chong's daughter. Which may kinda explain some of the comedy from in in later episodes when Haley(Hotch's dead wife) was in a vision while Hotch was in a coma.

[@shandaabsar-so5gp]

That's my favorite too

[@Zyryne1]

Hotch beat the dog shit out of that man. Derek didn't want to pull him off of the guy, but manslaughter is a bad beat. Hotch fucked that guy all the way up. 😊❤

[@laniegirl11]

I cannot, cannot, CANNOT with him. I saw that first and then The Outsiders, and it messed with my ability to enjoy Ponyboy.

[@HartKent]

This show is UNSTOPPABLE!! Dirty Dozen was one of the best reveals ever! And the reveal that the kid killed his little brother and the cop covered it up

[@earrickafarmer4909]

I thought this was the one (story) from St. Louis (there is a similar story like this)

[@briannanicole8512]

JJ's confession to Reid always felt weird to me. Their friendship dynamic throughout the show was AMAZING. The trope of "one must love the other" was never felt by the audience. They were close friends, the entire BAU are. So JJ saying she loved Reid was so out of character, especially with her overwhelming love for Will. It's like they pretended the season 7 finally was a joke. JJ was worried the entire time that Will was dead. And has always shown enormous love for him. Idk to me it just ruined the story of the entire show up till that point and I hate that scene.

[@Ella-te7fe]

I am with you on this.

[@michaledavis6232]

Girl, same. It really felt like they we’re just trying to add something new and it doesn’t work…. If they wanted to make it a romantic relationship they should have done it when Spencer was telling all about his feelings.

[@MamaPinks]

I don't know. I feel like if you really watch their relationship throughout the series (im thinking back to the sports tickets), it has always had an air of a "secret crush," at least that what I had felt a few times! I can see it, although, yes, awkward. (P.S. My Chihuahua is named Spencer Reid. 😊 or Princess Spencer on the days he's feeling entitled🙃)

[@immapotato1]

I pretend it doesn't exist

[@zammymynakersnackstbmoth]

@@immapotato1 Same cuz wtf

[@josefk7437]

I thought the best reveal was in the episode "Painless" when the unsub was revealed to be the former hero of the school shooting ten years earlier, but the other students stole the credit while the unsub was stuck incapacitated in the hospital. "Painless" was my favorite episode.

[@lifeisbitvlover171]

And the worst part was that the other students took credit because the principal told them to, just cause they were popular and the real hero wasn't...

[@NightAngelus]

For Number 4 you forgot one shocking part. Not only did the older brother kill the younger brother - He stuffed plane parts down the kids throat.

[@lindasmith6316]

That's what I was thinking about.

[@Zyryne1]

That's not uncommon with sibling murder. When they're young. 😊❤

[@arianewinter4266]

.... Not that shocking honestly.... All kids are little psychos

[@justpeaxhy]

I cant remember the episode name but the one where the unsub turned out to be a cannibal and fed the search party volunteers the victim and had his own meat restaurant was such a good twist imo, im suprised it wasn't on the list

[@ruthpayne534]

The episode is called "Lucky".....

[@specksmommy]

Yep, that episode is "Lucky," and that revelation gets completely overshadowed by Garcia getting shot in the final scene.

[@shanksandtanks240]

YES! The exchange between him and the priest he was “confessing” to: “God is inside all of us.” “So is Tracy Lambert (i think that was her name)” It was crazy the first time I watched it.

[@earrickafarmer4909]

I swear I was thinking this too I just posted the same thing too

[@doelow8577]

Jamie Kennedy plays the unsub I learned recently in this episode blew my mind had no idea it was him when I was younger watching it

[@albo3323]

The earlier seasons of Criminal Minds were just shock after shock. By far the most shocking for me was Sseason 3 episode 8, where the serial killer fed the victim to all those church volunteers who were helping search for her 😶😶😶😶. That should've been number 1. "You are not alone my son. God's in all of us" "So is Tracy Lambert" SHOCK FOR DECADES!!

[@elizabethh4329]

brooooo this shook me to my core! AND I WAS EATING A SLOPPY JOE! I'll never forget the trauma lol😂

[@kevinstull8552]

​@@elizabethh4329I guess you'll never look at meat the same way again 😂.

[@elizabethh4329]

@@kevinstull8552 i haven't touched a sloppy joe since lol

[@lindasmith6316]

Oh, I'll never forget that!

[@Zyryne1]

That was a face crack, but predictable. And wasn't the actor that portrayed that unsub like super unexpected? 😊❤

[@alinethebean]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that Foyet killed Haley, Hotch's ex-wife. It was such a heartbreaking event :(

[@capriliii]

I think cause it wasn't necessarily a 'reveal'

[@shandaabsar-so5gp]

Right

[@shwethapollali3020]

It was not all that upsetting. I hated Meredith Monroe's character Haley, mainly because Haley was an awful woman and a hypocrite (Didn't she know the risks of being the wife of a federal agent earlier? She left Hotch after having a kid with him and when Hotch was at one of his lowest points). Also, I couldn't stand the actress herself.

[@beccagregory3586]

Gideon's death should have been on the list, it left me stunned and in tears

[@kimberlybellard6972]

The one where the woman was kidnapped by her daughter’s kidnapper was a disturbing episode to me especially when she found her daughter’s corpse on the bed. Also the one where the boy killed his younger brother was also disturbing especially when the parents learned that he also killed a puppy they got for Christmas one year

[@IljaHordist]

I would add Reid's discovery who his mother's new caretaker is.

[@josefk7437]

JJ's confession to loving Spencer in the hostage situation was only to divert the captor while Spencer untied himself and got his second gun.

[@m.m.2727]

Later JJ says that she was telling the truth

[@caseymacmacl7463]

Sure it was! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.😉🤣

[@plumdutchess]

I certainly hope so, since it just felt off. Her saying later she was being truthful was awkward as hell.

[@Jah_LEASE_yah]

I'm glad I stopped watching around season 12, cause JJ harboring a secret love for Spencer the entire show makes literally no sense.

[@Iris-bn1xw]

@@Jah_LEASE_yah exactly. JJ would never have done that to Will or the kids. It was just a desperate attempt of the writers..

[@caitlinireland4396]

I love the fact you guys and @watchmojo are doing more criminal minds vids

[@johnbakasmoothhotchocolate]

Yeah, this show is awesome. And I'm glad it's back again after being in syndication for a time.

[@louisacoote2337]

The Hanging Game video challenge ep is one of my favourites. Penelope bonding with the teen boy is brilliant and the reveal that it’s his dad is chilling. Foyet reveal is absolutely spine-chilling and the S 4 finale is just so creepy too.

[@trasegorsuch5140]

The one where the kid is killing kids was especially surprising.

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

That was insane!

[@TheEljoel]

It was pretty obvious half way through

[@atadbitahistory9660]

2x06

[@tjwash5118]

Hoch’s ex wife being killed, while he was on the phone with her, racing to get to her was the worst thing I can recall.

[@specksmommy]

How about HOTCH getting shot?!?! Haven't seen it mentioned.

[@Anthony-qs3in]

The JJ was in love with Reid was the stupidest plot line ever.

[@klandgraf6956]

I remember seeing the episode where Penelope got shot and I remember just my jaw dropping

[@amukhoza857]

What in fact was the point of JJ’s confession. It wasn’t an outstanding plot line and kind of devalues Spencer’s love for that girl (I can’t remember her name 😶) and JJ’s love for her husband.

[@Mama-eu1ss]

Jane Lynch was amazing as Spencer's mother ❤

[@cloudyazurephoenix9931]

What not even an honourable mention of “god is in all of us” - “so is Tracy Lambert”?

[@PaiviProject]

I sure loved the show for years ❤ I remember many of those but I think when Penelope got shot was one of most shocking ones.

[@redsloane9905]

Same! The guy was handsome, suave, and Garcia was swept away. He was so deliberately cruel. 😪💔

[@oliviafouser]

I will never get over the Zugzwang episode

[@Snowball1377]

I love seeing people cover my fav show My fav reveal had to be that Garcia went out with a killer like what!?! It was so crazy that she ended up nearly dying over love

[@msgabbi1000]

Number one should have been Spencer Reid’s haircuts

[@dalnimoujo1496]

The young unsub was really shocking. Especially, the big reveal at the last end of what he truly did to his brother.

[@HartKent]

Morgan’s cousin is alive - held captive by her stalker

[@zukostryder]

My faaaavorite episode reveal and episode in general was True knight in season three with Frankie Muniz 🤌🏻👌🏻🖤

[@annebodee]

Foyet killing Hotch's ex-wife is the saddest episode of the whole series.

[@shwethapollali3020]

Not at all. It was immensely satisfying (for me at least). I couldn't stand Meredith Monroe. Her character Haley was anyway totally useless.

[@annebodee]

@@shwethapollali3020 That's sick.

[@kinsellawasrobbed7515]

There was an episode where a hitman really didn't kill his victims but he was hiding them from the person who hired him. That was a surprise. I wish I knew the episode and season because I only saw it once and can't find out when it happened

[@JIllieSage]

I think you are thinking of season 9 episode 3 Final Shot.

[@mummysolow7606]

I think you're confusing that with Hawaii 5.0, that episode was where Ian Doyle of criminal minds was a hitman who later helped Danny and Steve find all the people he stashed away..

[@kinsellawasrobbed7515]

@@JIllieSage I will check it out. Thank you :)

[@CrazyScienceBro]

I watched just to make sure Emily's arc was mentioned..... It deserved to be higher

[@Luka__99]

Wasn’t JJ’s miscarriage shown in the flashbacks in season 9 when she was kidnapped? So the audience already knew about it and it was only news to Spencer, right?

[@specksmommy]

I think they were just using that scene instead of her grabbing her tummy in the med tent so that words are actually spoken to demonstrate the reveal.

[@williamsummerson1204]

One of the greatest shows of all time. Foyet is arguably the best and most Psychopathic unsub ever.

[@josefk7437]

There was a lot of competition for that role, but I thought the Prince of Darkness played by Tim Curry was up there, so was Alex Zorgen, the guy who sells victims to serial killers.

[@williamsummerson1204]

Tim Curry did a phenomenal job.

[@Zyryne1]

I was most effected by the Hope's mother episode. It was shock after shock after shock. Appalling and i wish that momma was saved by Morgan because he would have tied that animal in a double knot. 😊❤

[@gizzmowalliss]

The episode that always shocked and saddened me was flesh and blood which showed David smith son of joe smith cut out the hearts of those who took advantage of young woman in a mirroring of his father in the episode in name and blood were his father dying of cancer cut the hearts out of woman after his wife abandoned him and his son.

[@specksmommy]

Others I thought would have made the cut are Hotch getting shot and a literal child killing multiple literal children. I guess they were left out since there were similar plot lines/twists on the list. The one where the teenage girls are kidnapped and have to choose one to die, I was not expecting one of them to actually die (and of course the big shock is that the girl who was sick survived.) The kid with homocidal fantasies attempting suicide was a pretty big twist at the time. (Also thr furst time we hear Spencer cuss, so that was a shock, too.) A sweet twist was Stephen Gideon being named after Rossi. (Or Rossi's baby being named after Jason. I'm having trouble remembering.) Maeve's death was a bit unexpected. That's all i got right now.

[@grec.]

Amazing show. Impecable writing in the first 7 seasons.

[@caseymacmacl7463]

YEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! MORE MORE MORE Criminal Miinds! Fabulous!! Thank You!!!!

[@irawilliams343]

I miss Emily, Derek, Hotch and Gideon so much 😢

[@atadbitahistory9660]

​@@Giorgos906I admittedly never got that feeling.

[@markelabanks4808]

Hotch kills The Reaper Reid going to prison Morgan& his pregnant wife being shot Prentiss & Doyle arc

[@JenThePirate]

I love when you do CM countdowns 👍

[@kellibradley]

James Van Der Beek is so good in those episodes. Its too bad that DID is portrayed in a serial killer. Most individuals with a mental illness get harmed rather than being the perpetrator.

[@user-zv9gl5yv5k]

can believe cat adams being the one who put reid in jail went undrafted

[@gurglequeen433]

For me it's the reveal that Sue Walsh was behind her niece Gabby's kidnapping. Every single time I get caught up in her acting, I genuinly feel bad for her until I remind myself that she's the bad guy here.

[@gldni17]

So... I have to assume by context that "physically mistreated" is your new age-restriction dodging term for "sexually abused," right?

[@koelkastridder3388]

Apocalypse apocalypse we cant call child abuse child abuse anymore because the overlords don't like icky words

[@poke1855]

Yes yes yessssss to all this criminal minds content

[@tachipaws3769]

The reveal that Spencer had feelings for JJ and she had liked him at some point prior then used that under a situation of duress or whatever, that whole thing pissed me off. Spencer can’t catch a break 😭💀

[@elaipark]

This is amazing ❤❤❤❤😊

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

This is the reason why it's one of the best shows they always keep u guessing my number 1 favourite show ever awesome list

[@CuddleCrazay]

Omg the 7 seconds episode messed me up. I couldnt IMAGINE hurting my own niece. 😢

[@ideamediaanalysis8737]

What about the season 4 episode Normal? That twist reveal had me shook.

[@susanrobinson910]

I wonder who enters the room to interview Elias Voit at the very end of the latest season…they left it as a cliffhanger. I have my own hunches, but I hope it leads to someone returning to the cast! Anyone have any ideas of their own?

[@robertturbessi666]

my vote is derick morgan

[@jmarshall9127]

I'm hoping for Reid

[@robertturbessi666]

@@jmarshall9127 id be happy with that too. or on the off chance hotch.

[@jmarshall9127]

@@robertturbessi666 yes yes would love to see hotch back

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

These are so "crime-blowing"!

[@joshuamohlman]

This shows twists caught me off guard more than almost every M. Night Shyamalan movie

[@fionam7768]

Yeah, I'm with you - waaaaay ahead of Foyette. Not saying His wasn't a great story line - it *so* was - but personally, I didn't find it anywhere near as surprising as any of the three that almost made it. And I didn't see PG - or any other one person - being the Dirty Dozen, which remains one of my favourite BigBad storylines.

[@leonardolim8976]

Most disgusting episode is from hell and back. Most genius criminal minds episode is where the serial killer love to play games Favorite ep is the Mosley lane

[@aquele4virou3]

Mosley Lane is so creepy, those unsubs. And the fact the parents realize their son was alive the day before is heartbreaking. And yes, To hell and back is one of the most eerie and an overall tragedy in all accounts. I dont know if I remember the second one you said.

[@leonardolim8976]

@@aquele4virou3 h the one where a serial killer forces 3 girls to play survival but only 2 can escape, or when a girl was abducted and the serial killer set up the escape room as a game but filled the floor with glass shards

[@leonardolim8976]

@@aquele4virou3 the "mom" is soo creepy that even with a nicest voice she stil sound like a witch or a goblinette. I'm not sure if ur a fan of disney channel but she guest star as Trudy the museum manager on Olivia holt's I didn't do it and even there she intimidates me

[@leonardolim8976]

@@aquele4virou3 i almost threw up when that guy fed pigs a hand. Good thing i watched it 2 hrs after my dinner

[@Lp0tr33]

James Van Der Beek as a they/them was great.

[@innocentsweetiepie]

I think they had more huge moments than what they showed and def more shocking or intense moments than the ones they chose

[@lauranydb7979]

It just wasn't the same without Reid and Morgan.

[@PrncessLaya]

Criminal Minds was amazing back in the day (I can't speak for what it has become bc I haven't started Evolution).. and he wasnt mentioned here but am I the only person that was super annoyed by Mr. Scratch!!? he could, at the least, only be MENTIONED in an episode and it would piss me right off lol

[@Bozbaby103]

James Van Der Beek played his character well. Three personalities? Yeah, I was impressed.

[@accioyoongi]

the episode with elias, i remember watching it and seen my county pop on the tv so i was so confused for a bit💀

[@gstephens313]

Tracy Lambert is in all of us. That had me SHOOK 😬

[@WendyPhiona]

Damn missed this

[@tracyholder2948]

The Gitmo twist is still a favorite....

[@oliverognenoski2565]

i loving so much criminal minds

[@micahnewby7964]

Cheeky move saying the words "and sometimes pleasant" over the Reid-AJ confession

[@TheNissa93]

Omg I never realized Monroe was in season 16 ... (Not his real name but character from Grimm)

[@gandalainsley6467]

You know what is the most shocking part? If you skip the last season all together you won't miss out on anything on the new criminal minds.(I got to the last season and it felt like they had nothing to show so I stopped watching . I jumped into the criminal minds evolution when it came out and turns out that through the whole last season not much happened. I thought I maybe will need to finish the last season that bored me but nope)

[@earrickafarmer4909]

Definitely surprised that the one episode where they find out at the end of the episode that the name that was feeding the volunteers was the killer and feed the volunteers people I was a little more shocked by that then the Foyet thing tbh

[@AllDestroyer1984]

Wow, not even as an honorable mention for season 2 "The Boogeyman"?! Lemme refresh your memory: someone killing kids in Ozona, TX. Team goes there (with Elle/Glaudini final appearance) to suspect the local school councilor, only to realize it is his pre-teen son, who is apparently psychopath by birth. Talk about shocking plot twist...

[@JtpMUSIC93]

as i watch this video IM WATCHING CRIMINAL MINDS RN LOL

[@angemaidment5640]

Just as well I can’t access “Criminal Minds:Evolution”, I wouldn’t have coped with the news about Krystall.

[@staticinkstains]

I forget which episode it is but i watched it recently: the dude who was shooting people from his car while driving, they thought he was going to kill his family next but interspersed with the scenes of them rushing to get to his family you saw them in the car with him as he got into a chase with police...only for it to be revealed that he was alone in the car and he had already killed his family before the BAU was even brought in

[@damaniqphillip2756]

Wow

[@zukostryder]

9:32 this one made me aoooooo sad and terrified

[@BubblesSensei]

I fucking KNEW the Prentiss twist. I have watched it several times. And I STILL teared up watching a clip of the BAU members finding out she died!!!

[@tammylynnbeatricedoyle4500]

Definitely The Reaper!!

[@kimberlyfinch6055]

Wait what about the sneaky creeper who lived in the attic and killed his victims

[@saraburress4406]

3:51

[@Le_re1102]

List is missing Floyd Feylinn Ferrell was feeding Tracy Lambert to the search party and Cat Adams being behind Reid’s arrest

[@lesleycasey4748]

As sad as the Hope episode AKA kidnapped girl and mother slowing figuring out she committed suicide was the ending was the ending ruined it by essentially making it appear that when he surrendered and Monica grabbed the gun and killed him that there was no consequences. Why not show how heartless the legal system is and show her in jail for a vigilante killing versus releasing butterflies. Made a great episode a huge let down

[@saraburress4406]

5:55

[@bwines16]

Just watched the shades of grey episode today and it’s glaringly obvious the kids the unsub. I’ve only watched the series once before so I doubt it’s something I’d remember.

[@Zyryne1]

Prentiss could see that kid was a psychopath. She set up the juice pouch thing for proof. 😊❤

[@specksmommy]

*sociopath *chip bag

[@denisedallimore9082]

My most shocking Criminal Minds reveal is that there is an season 16

[@CP-yd7lp]

The blonde girl in the thumbnail bears a striking resemblance Bernadette.

[@juliemccauslin5807]

TBH season 16 is pretty much one storyline with sub storylines. I truly hope the show returns to single show solves or some stories that take a few episodes to solve because as good as the storyline is I'm seriously considering just skipping forward to the episode where it's solved and done

[@vulpixfairy1985]

This show is phenomenal but now I can’t stomach crimes that involve children as unsubs and/or victims. I switch them off once I can see children are involved.

[@saraburress4406]

1:12

[@saraburress4406]

11:37

[@FamousQuoters]

got 2 love MS.G past 2 respect her future

[@I_love_music_n_cheese_n_music]

most shocking when Emily died when Emily was back when Emily left when Emily was back when Emily left when Emily could come back but didn’t want to

[@saraburress4406]

13:30

[@saraburress4406]

10:06

[@notwerkinginthishouse8634]

Adam and Amanda

[@hediyekutuk6171]

Penolepe hangi bölümde vuruluyor

[@californiahiker9616]

When Hodges wife got killed.

[@zukostryder]

One of the sadddest moments for me was Reid's girlfriend