- As fans wait for "Yellowstone" season five to return, many are searching for similar shows to enjoy.
- If you're after a gripping neo-Western, check out "Justified," "Open Range," and "Longmire."
- For more family loyalty and power struggles, try "Peaky Blinders," "Ozark," and "Mayor of Kingstown."
As fans wait for "Yellowstone" to return to screens, many are searching for similar shows to enjoy.
Given the behind-the-scenes drama between cocreator Taylor Sheridan and star Kevin Costner, audiences could be waiting for quite a while.
Although it was previously announced that the latter half of season five would air in November 2023, that's looking increasingly unlikely.
In June, Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter that scripts for the final episodes have not yet been written, let alone shot and edited.
Throw in the recent SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, and "Yellowstone" fans now have no indication when, or even if, we'll see the series conclude.
While we keep our fingers crossed that the cast and crew (possibly minus Costner) return to set in Montana in the near future, here are nine shows we think can fill the Yellowstone-sized void for fans in the meantime.
"Justified" follows a protagonist very similar to "Yellowstone's" John Dutton.
Summary: "Justified" follows Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), a tough deputy US marshal who likes to enforce his own brand of justice — putting him at odds with both the criminals he hunts and the pencil-pushers he works for.
Why you'll like it: For better or for worse, Givens shares in "Yellowstone" protagonist John Dutton's (Kevin Costner) appreciation for upholding values of the past. The series is also set in the Appalachian region, and viewers will enjoy the rustic, rural backdrop.
"Justified" is streaming on Hulu.
"Longmire" also deals with a widowed father trying to make the world right for his children.
Summary: Based on the Walt Longmire mystery novels, this show centers on a sheriff (Robert Taylor) as he attempts to rebuild his life and career following the death of his wife. At the urging of his daughter and his new female deputy, he returns to his post to investigate several dangerous crimes.
Why you'll like it: Like "Yellowstone," "Longmire" uses the backdrop of the modern frontier for its tale of a widowed father doing everything he can to protect the family he has left — even if they don't necessarily agree with his methods.
"Longmire" is streaming on Netflix.
If the history behind how the Duttons' built their lives in Montana piques your interest, watch "Hell on Wheels" next.
Summary: Set during the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, this historical drama explores the challenges faced by those living in the lawless melting pot of a town known as "Hell on Wheels."
Why you'll like it: "Hell on Wheels" showcases the challenges of building and maintaining a life in the Wild West, much like the "Yellowstone" prequel "1923."
"Hell on Wheels" is streaming on AMC+
"Mayor of Kingstown" is another show from "Yellowstone" cocreator Taylor Sheridan.
Summary: This crime drama follows Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner), the de facto mayor of Kingstown, a fictional Michigan city riddled with crime. Stepping into the role after his older brother dies, Mike is initially reluctant but eventually embraces his role as a power broker between the street gangs, inmates, police, and politicians of Kingstown.
Why you'll like it: Cocreated and written by Taylor Sheridan, "Yellowstone" audiences will find a lot of thematic similarities between the two shows — as well as a Dutton-like dysfunctional family.
"Mayor of Kingstown" is streaming on Paramount+
"Outer Range" adds a sci-fi twist to the neo-Western genre.
Summary: The most recent neo-Western on this list, "Outer Range" follows a rancher named Royal Abbott (played by Josh Brolin) who finds himself fighting to protect his land and his family when he discovers an unfathomable mystery at the edge of Wyoming's wilderness — a huge black hole.
Why you'll like it: If you're looking for a Western with a bit of suspense and mystery, then "Outer Range" is sure to keep you guessing.
"Outer Range" is streaming on Prime Video.
"Ozark" explores similar themes to "Yellowstone" in a very different context.
Summary: "Ozark" focuses on Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), a financial advisor who gets wrapped up in a money laundering scheme. When everything goes wrong, he has to relocate his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks.
Why you'll like it: If you appreciate the blend of crime, family loyalty, and morally ambiguous characters in "Yellowstone," you may find "Ozark" right up your street.
"Ozark" is streaming on Netflix.
Both "Peaky Blinders" and "Yellowstone" deal with themes of family loyalty and the clash between communities and the law.
Summary: Set in post-World War I Birmingham, England, this British crime drama follows the Shelby crime family led by Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy). Known as the "Peaky Blinders," they rise to power through cunning and ruthless tactics, facing rival gangs and law enforcement.
Why you'll like it: Like "Yellowstone," political undercurrents drive the plot of "Peaky Blinders," and both the Shelbys and the Duttons find themselves confronted with coming up with new, novel ways of defying the government and the law.
"Peaky Blinders" is streaming on Netflix.
"Deadwood" depicts the American Wild West, just like "Yellowstone" spinoff "1883."
Summary: "Deadwood" is all about a frontier town in South Dakota and its inhabitants, depicting their struggles for survival, power, and identity in the untamed American West during the late 19th century. Its large ensemble cast is led by Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane.
Why you'll like it: Like "Yellowstone," during its heyday, this series was one of the most popular dramas on television, earning rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. If you particularly enjoyed the prequel "1883" and its depiction of the American Wild West, you won't have trouble getting into "Deadwood."
"Deadwood" is streaming on Max.
"Yellowstone" cocreator Taylor Sheridan starred in "Sons of Anarchy" before making the pivot to screenwriting.
Summary: This series centers on an outlaw motorcycle club in California, and its leader Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), who struggles to reconcile his feelings of loyalty to the club and community that raised him with his desire to leave it all behind and become a law-abiding family man.
Why you'll like it: While it's not a Western, "Sons of Anarchy" delves into themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and the criminal underworld, similar to "Yellowstone" and comparisons can be drawn between Jax and "Yellowstone" character Kayce (Luke Grimes).
"Son of Anarchy" is streaming on Hulu.
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