Skip to content
MovieCove
Yellowstone

Yellowstone

My land, my rules.

2018–2024Ended5 seasons53 episodes~60 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

Follow the violent world of the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Led by their patriarch John Dutton, the family defends their property against constant attack by land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Yellowstone?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Yellowstone streaming on Peacock and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Yellowstone?

Yellowstone earns 7 badges, led by Universally Loved and Top 10% of shows.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is Yellowstone worth watching?

Yellowstone's Midcredits score is the 94th percentile of all shows, from 339K ratings across 5 sources. 93% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

94th percentile

Better received than 94% of shows

94th percentile among Drama93rd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)86th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

80 /100

86th percentile of all shows

88th percentile among Drama85th percentile among 2010s

Critics 57 · Audience 82

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

93% liked it

97th percentile of all shows

97th percentile among Drama97th percentile among 2010s
93% rated it 7–107% rated it 1–6

Critics 83% · Audience 76%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

89th percentile

339K ratings across platforms

86th percentile among Drama89th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 10% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A beautifully shot modern western soap opera about a ruthless family fighting to hold onto their sprawling Montana ranch.

Fans praised

  • stunning Montana scenery and cinematography
  • Kevin Costner's commanding performance as John Dutton
  • addictive family dynasty drama blending western and mafia tropes

Detractors panned

  • morally repugnant characters with no one to root for
  • repetitive, implausible plot that recycles land-grab conflicts
  • over-the-top characterization, especially Beth's relentless venom

What stands out

Cinematography88

breathtaking Montana vistas and on-location authenticity

ActingDivisive80

Costner and Hauser praised as perfectly cast; Beth (Reilly) polarizing but often called riveting

AtmosphereDivisive75

immersive western world-building, wild and dangerous tone

TensionDivisive65

gripping family power struggles, but cheapened by invincible protagonists

DialogueDivisive55

some quote-worthy cowboy lines but often soapy or preachy

Plot and storyDivisive50

predictable land-defence cycle wears thin, many dropped threads

CharactersDivisive45

uniformly loathsome yet captivating; critics deplore lack of growth and moral compass

PacingDivisive40

first seasons taut, later seasons sluggish with filler

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 14 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 6 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

5 seasons

Season 5 · 2022 · 14 episodes · 8.0 average across 14 rated episodes

  • S5E1

    One Hundred Years Is Nothing

    Nov 13, 202264 minTMDB rating 8.0
  • S5E2

    The Sting of Wisdom

    Nov 13, 202260 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S5E3

    Tall Drink of Water

    Nov 20, 202254 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S5E4

    Horses in Heaven

    Nov 27, 202258 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S5E5

    Watch 'Em Ride Away

    Dec 4, 202252 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S5E6

    Cigarettes, Whiskey, a Meadow and You

    Dec 11, 202258 minTMDB rating 7.7

Watch experience

What is Yellowstone like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseMelancholicDread
Heaviest: throughout
Dark humor
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Multiple perspectives · 2% of shows: The same events retold from different characters' points of view.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its material straight, treating the family's conflicts and moral compromises with gravity and never undercutting its own drama.
The rideThe series sustains a high level of tension and dread from the first episode, with moments of violence and betrayal distributing the emotional weight evenly across the run.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically across seasons, frequently shifting perspectives among the Dutton family members and their adversaries.
Episode formatEach episode continues the same overarching story of the Dutton family's battles, with few standalone episodes.
Season formatEach season introduces a new major conflict or threat (e.g., a developer, a new political enemy), while the core cast and ongoing character arcs continue.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves viewers pondering the cost of legacy and the blurred lines between law and justice, with a lingering discomfort at the violence the family commits.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

6% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe series is driven by John Dutton's mission to protect the Yellowstone Ranch from encroaching developers, the Native American reservation, and the government, with recurring conflicts that define each season.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfLegacySociety
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% (this title) · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3% (this title)
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

Legacy · 3% of showsFamily bondsPower · 5% of shows
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe central conflict is John Dutton's obsessive drive to preserve his family's ranch for future generations, a legacy that justifies ruthless actions against all outsiders.
StanceThe series presents the Duttons' violent defense of their legacy with a neutral, almost documentary gaze, neither celebrating nor condemning their choices outright.

The world

ContemporaryRuralWildernessStylized realism
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score · Brian Tyler
SettingThe Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in present-day Montana, a vast working ranch bordering a national park and Native American reservation.
MusicThe score blends sweeping orchestral themes with acoustic guitar, evoking both the grandeur and melancholy of the Montana landscape.

Content guide

Is Yellowstone okay for kids?

TV-MA

Yellowstone is rated TV-MA. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (66/100), sexual content at intense (66/100), language at intense (79/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (53/100) and frightening material at moderate (54/100). Overall it is heavier than 57% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 25 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France18
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil18
  • Austria16
  • Czechia18+
  • FinlandK16
  • Hungary16
  • LTN-14
  • MexicoB-15
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway12
  • Poland12
  • PortugalNR
  • ROAP
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • Spain16
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 77% of all showsHeavier than 57% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 52%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 73%
Profanity
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 72%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 51%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 42%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language, violence, and sexual content. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Yellowstone have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Yellowstone?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor; Kevin Costner won the Globe for this show.

Kevin Costner
as John Dutton
Globe win: Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - DramaTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Luke Grimes
as Kayce Dutton
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kelly Reilly
as Beth Dutton
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Wes Bentley
as Jamie Dutton
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Cole Hauser
as Rip Wheeler
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Kelsey Asbille
as Monica Dutton
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Brecken Merrill
as Tate Dutton
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Jefferson White
as Jimmy Hurdstrom
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Gil Birmingham
as Thomas Rainwater
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Forrie J. Smith
as Lloyd Pierce
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

More like this

What are shows like Yellowstone?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Yellowstone include 1923 (2022), Ransom Canyon (2025) and Dutton Ranch (2026).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with Yellowstone?

25 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: neo-western. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.