FILM FRENZY

Jerry Orbach, Chris Noth, Sam Waterston, Jill Hennessy, and Michael Moriarty in Law & Order (Photos: Universal)

By Matt Brunson

(This seasonal feature highlights some of the best box sets of 2025, ones to consider for gift-giving or, better yet, gift-keeping.)

LAW & ORDER (1990-2010)

Format: DVD

Studio / Distributor: Universal

The Scope: Twenty seasons, 456 episodes. (Note: This set does not include the revival series that came 11 years later and is currently in its fifth season.)

The Scoop: It’s a great hook, following the aftermath of a major crime from discovery to denouement. The NBC series Law & Order neatly halved itself every episode, with the first part following the cops as they gather clues, interview witnesses, and solve the mystery, and the second half focusing on the prosecutors who build their case to bring the perpetrator to justice. Spanning 20 years, that’s a heckuva lot of crimes (many actually “ripped from the headlines”), but viewers stayed tuned thanks to the sharp plotlines, realistic developments (the show was closer in style to such gritty series as Hill Street Blues than more fanciful efforts like, say, CHiPs), and marvelous cast of revolving-door characters. The first half always featured a senior detective, his junior partner, and their commanding officer, while the latter portion was generally peopled by a district attorney, an assistant d.a., and an executive assistant d.a. There were approximately three dozen characters over the years who could qualify as co-leads, but among the most memorable were the detectives played by Jerry Orbach, Chris Noth, Benjamin Bratt, and Jesse L. Martin and the lawyers portrayed by Michael Moriarty, Sam Waterston, Steven Hill, Jill Hennessy, and Carey Lowell. (And a special shout-out to S. Epatha Merkerson, who, as Lieutenant Van Buren, appeared in more episodes in the original run than any other performer.)

Over the course of its first 13 seasons, Law & Order was nominated for 52 Emmy Awards (it was completely ignored starting with Season 14). It won Outstanding Drama Series only once (Season 7), and while the principals received a handful of nominations over the years (including four Outstanding Lead Actor citations for Moriarty, three for Waterston, and one for Orbach), its only acting victory was for Broadway legend Elaine Stritch when she guest-starred in a Season 3 episode. As for its Nielsen ratings, it hit the Top 10 only twice in those 20 years (#7 in Season 12 and #10 in Season 13) and the Top 20 only six times (Seasons 9 through 14).

Extras: Cast profiles; deleted and extended scenes; a set of the tour; and a few crossover episodes with other shows in the L&O Multiverse.

Retail Price: $199.99. It’s available at www.moviezyng.com for this price.