For more than a decade, television producer Dick Wolf has quietly built one of the most successful shared universes on network television — long before cinematic universes became Hollywood’s favorite obsession. The One Chicago franchise isn’t just a collection of procedurals; it’s an interconnected world where firefighters, doctors, police officers, and legal professionals fight daily battles that blur the line between duty and personal sacrifice.
Spanning across Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, and Chicago Justice, the franchise has remained a ratings powerhouse — with all three flagship shows pulling in around 9 to 10 million viewers per episode during the 2024–2025 season.
But when stacked against each other, which One Chicago drama truly stands above the rest?
Let’s break it down.
#4 – Chicago Justice
The courtroom entry into the franchise had ambition — but struggled to carve out an identity. Premiering in 2017 and lasting only 13 episodes, the legal drama focused on prosecutors navigating Chicago’s complex political and media landscape.
The problem wasn’t the concept — it was connection. Unlike its sister shows, which built emotional bonds through life-and-death emergencies on the streets or in the ER, Justice operated in quieter courtrooms that lacked the urgency audiences had come to expect from the franchise.
Despite its intriguing political undertones, the series never developed the same character depth or momentum that kept viewers invested elsewhere — ultimately becoming the only One Chicago title to face early cancellation.
#3 – Chicago Med
Medical dramas live and die by emotional stakes — and Chicago Med delivers them in abundance. Set inside Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, the show thrives on high-pressure emergency scenarios that often spill into crossover events with its sister series.
Its formulaic structure can occasionally feel predictable, particularly when romantic subplots take center stage. Still, the series continues to hold its own among modern medical dramas by consistently producing intense, self-contained stories that seamlessly integrate into the wider One Chicago narrative.
Even more impressively, Med has seen a late-series resurgence — finishing 2025 as NBC’s most-watched primetime program with over 5.3 million viewers.
#2 – Chicago P.D.
Darker, grittier, and morally complex, Chicago P.D. dives into the uncomfortable realities of policing in a way few network dramas dare attempt.
Led by the unpredictable Hank Voight, the Intelligence Unit explores ethically gray decisions that challenge viewers’ perceptions of justice. It’s this willingness to embrace moral ambiguity — along with fearless storytelling that doesn’t guarantee happy endings — that has helped the show achieve a staggering 90% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
With layered characters and emotionally charged investigations, P.D. offers perhaps the most psychologically intense experience in the entire franchise.
#1 – Chicago Fire
The show that started it all — and still the heart of the universe.
Premiering in 2012, Chicago Fire remains the blueprint upon which the entire franchise was built. From devastating rescue missions to deeply personal workplace relationships, Firehouse 51 isn’t just a setting — it’s a family.
By blending large-scale disasters with intimate character drama, the series captures the unpredictable dangers first responders face every day — both on the job and at home. Its ability to balance action, romance, tragedy, and bureaucracy has kept it on the air for over a decade with no signs of slowing down.
Simply put: without Chicago Fire, there would be no One Chicago.
Final Verdict
While Chicago P.D. may push boundaries and Chicago Med continues to dominate ratings, Chicago Fire remains the emotional and structural foundation of the franchise — proving that sometimes the original really is still the best.