Yellowstone

The Duttons run the biggest contiguous ranch in the United States, and Yellowstone follows how they protect that land at almost any cost. John Dutton, the hard-edged patriarch, uses legal pressure, political connections, and sometimes violence to fend off developers, rival interests and a nearby Indigenous reservation that has its own claims and grievances. Around him, his children clash with each other, test loyalties and take on dangerous roles in the family business. The series mixes ranchhand brutality with boardroom maneuvering, showing day-to-day ranch life, tense negotiations, and the personal toll that guarding generational wealth takes on love, sanity and family bonds.

Premiering in 2018, Yellowstone was created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Sheridan, known for contemporary western writing, shaped much of the show's tone and scripts, and the series grew into a flagship hit for its network.

The show has drawn attention from television award bodies, garnering several nominations for acting, production and technical categories. Cast performances and the series' visual style have been singled out, earning industry recognition across multiple seasons.

Yellowstone left a clear stamp on pop culture, spurring spinoffs such as 1883 and 1923 and fueling a renewed appetite for modern western drama. It inspired memes, fashion interest in ranch and cowboy styles, and conversations about rural identity. The series became a cultural touchpoint for viewers who like serialized family power struggles set against wide open landscapes.

Critics and audiences gave Yellowstone strong ratings, reflected in an average user score around 8.26 out of 10 from nearly 3,000 votes. Reviews often praised intense performances, especially from the main cast, while noting the show leans into moral ambiguity, violence and power politics. Central themes include legacy, land ownership, the collision of money and tradition, and conflicting claims to territory and sovereignty.