How many seasons of Der Staatsanwalt are there?

Der Staatsanwalt has aired 20 seasons so far.

How many episodes of Der Staatsanwalt are there?

There are 123 episodes of Der Staatsanwalt across 20 seasons.

What is Der Staatsanwalt's IMDb rating?

Der Staatsanwalt holds an IMDb rating of 5.9/10 from 190 votes.

Crime

When Does Der Staatsanwalt Season 21 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

Name: Der Staatsanwalt
Genre: Crime
Rating: 5.9

Der Staatsanwalt Season 21 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 12-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around February 2026.

IMDb

5.9/10

Seasons

Episodes

123

Diagnostics

Network: ZDF
Genres: Crime
First aired: 2005-01-10
Last aired: 2025-03-21
Runtime: 50 min
Rated: NR

Search interestRising ↗

Predictive Logic Analysis

Der Staatsanwalt occupies a stable niche in German public television. It has aired continuously since 2005 with 123 episodes across 20 seasons, which is the kind of tenure that usually signals a show the network values enough to maintain. ZDF, as a public broadcaster, tends to renew established procedurals longer than commercial networks would, particularly when they serve a reliable domestic audience. The TMDB returning-series designation suggests production has been greenlit or at least not formally cancelled, which is a neutral-to-positive marker for a show of this age and type.

The main risk is the 15-month gap since the last episode aired without any explicit renewal announcement or production news. For a show that has aired regularly for two decades, a year-plus silence is unusual and could indicate either a natural pause between seasons (normal for ZDF's production cycles) or early signs of declining priority. The search interest data is a modest positive, showing the show maintains audience awareness at a high absolute level with rising trend momentum. However, the very low IMDb rating of 5.9 with minimal votes and the flatness of episode ratings across season 13 point to either a small or disengaged rater base, which is a soft negative. The Trakt active-watcher count of 61 is quite small, suggesting limited engagement on streaming platforms and a primarily traditional TV viewership.

What is Der Staatsanwalt about?

Der Staatsanwalt follows Bernd Reuther, a seasoned state prosecutor navigating the complex intersection of law, politics, and personal morality in the German criminal justice system. Each episode presents a new case that pulls Reuther into increasingly murky legal territories, where the letter of the law frequently collides with ethical gray zones and institutional pressures. The show's central appeal lies in its exploration of prosecutorial decision-making—what compels someone to pursue justice when the system itself may be compromised, and how far one should bend procedure to achieve what feels like the right outcome. For viewers drawn to intelligent crime drama that prioritizes legal and moral philosophy over procedural mechanics, Reuther's struggles provide both intellectual engagement and genuine dramatic tension.

The program operates as a character-driven legal procedural that privileges internal conflict over external spectacle. Rather than chase scenes or forensic pyrotechnics, Der Staatsanwalt dwells in courtrooms, interrogation rooms, and the quiet offices where decisions that ruin lives are made. Rainer Hunold's performance anchors the series, conveying a man whose idealism has weathered decades of compromise. The ensemble cast—particularly Fiona Coors as Kerstin Klar and Astrid Posner as Dr. Judith Engel—fills out a professional world where colleagues become both allies and obstacles. The tone is measured and reflective, favoring dialogue and ethical dilemma over action, which distinguishes it from more sensational European crime imports.

Over its two decades on air, Der Staatsanwalt has maintained a consistent presence on ZDF, establishing itself as a reliable fixture in German television rather than a cultural phenomenon. While international recognition remains limited, reflected in modest IMDb engagement, the show has clearly resonated with its core domestic audience—a testament to its longevity and renewal through twenty seasons. The series occupies a particular niche within European crime drama: neither the procedural efficiency of British legal thrillers nor the noir darkness of Scandinavian imports, but rather a distinctly German meditation on institutional justice and individual conscience.

Is Der Staatsanwalt renewed or cancelled?

Working toward renewal

high

TMDB returning-series status and 20-season continuous broadcast history

medium

ZDF's track record of renewing established domestic crime procedurals

medium

Rising search interest and high absolute search interest (100/100)

Working against it

high

No cancellation signals or public renewal news 15 months after last episode

medium

Very low IMDb rating (5.9) and minimal rater engagement

low

Small Trakt active-watcher base (61) with steady momentum

Der Staatsanwalt Season 21 Release Date

If renewed, the next season would likely arrive in late 2025 or early 2026, following ZDF's typical production and broadcast schedule. German procedurals on public TV often air new seasons in autumn or winter slots. However, without an explicit renewal announcement or visible production activity, it is impossible to predict a specific date. The 15-month gap since the March 2025 finale is consistent with either a normal off-season or a signal that the show may be in limbo pending a renewal decision that has not yet been made public.