Yellowstone
Yellowstone, American contemporary western drama television series whose five seasons (2018–24) follow the lives of the Dutton family, the owners of the largest cattle ranch in Montana, as they struggle to protect their land from others whose land it borders. Created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson for Paramount’s cable network, the show stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, and Gil Birmingham. The series was Paramount’s first scripted show, and it is one of the network’s most watched shows.
Since Yellowstone’s debut in June 2018, viewers and critics alike have praised the show for its cinematic visuals, complex characters, intense storylines, and unflinching depiction of life in the American West.
Synopsis
Yellowstone consists of 53 episodes aired over five seasons. Set in the present day, the show explores how the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton III (Kevin Costner), faces threats from Broken Rock Indian Reservation and land developers, as well as indirect conflicts with Yellowstone National Park over wildlife management and competing visions for land preservation.
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John’s children, Beth (Kelly Reilly), Jamie (Wes Bentley), and Kayce (Luke Grimes), and his ranch foreman Rip (Cole Hauser) each play a crucial role in the fight to maintain control of the land that has been in the Dutton family since the Civil War. Some of their primary challenges come from Broken Rock Indian Reservation’s chief, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), who wants the Duttons’ land, arguing it was stolen from his people. The Duttons also go up against a land developer from California, Dan Jenkins (Danny Huston), who wants to build luxury housing, and a corporate giant, Market Equities, which aims to commercialize and develop Montana on a massive scale.
Throughout the series, political ambition, government corruption, public pressure, and interpersonal conflicts create struggle for the Duttons. Oftentimes they resort to violence and blackmail to maintain control of their ranch and protect their family and its legacy.
Series concept and development
In his youth Taylor Sheridan spent a significant amount of time on a ranch his family owned in Cranfills Gap, Texas, learning various ranch activities such as riding horses and shooting guns. Sheridan drew on these experiences when imagining what a modern western series could be, and he aimed to examine issues related to land rights, family legacy, and territorial disputes in the American West.
Sheridan began developing the show in 2013, when he partnered with producer John Linson, who also envisioned creating a modern western. The two fleshed out the story together, and Sheridan wrote the script. Yellowstone was initially financed by and developed for HBO, but the network declined to move forward with its production. Sheridan and Linson then pitched it to the Paramount Network.
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Filming locations
The show takes place in Montana, but the majority of the first three seasons were filmed in Utah. City scenes, including exteriors of the fictional Schwartz & Meyer office, were shot in downtown Ogden. Rodeo scenes were shot at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, and scenes from Dan Jenkins’s lodge were filmed in a clubhouse in Park City.
Seasons four and five were primarily filmed in Montana. The Chief Joseph Ranch, a working cattle ranch in the foothills of Bitterroot Valley, stood in for the Duttons’. Other Montana locations included the state capital, Helena, and Missoula.
Cinematography and score
Yellowstone’s cinematography captures the essence of the American West landscape and highlights the important role land plays in the show. Director of photography Christina Alexandra Voros told IndieWire in 2022, “[The land is] what everyone is fighting for and over and trying to protect, so it’s imperative to show that character in all her glory.” Wide establishing shots featuring open plains, rugged mountains, winding rivers, and sprawling ranches are skillfully balanced with close-ups to display the raw emotions of the characters.
Yellowstone’s score, composed by Brian Tyler and Breton Vivian, blends orchestral pieces and instrumentals with gritty country and folk songs, producing a unique sound that complements the plot line and mood of the series. During filming, Sheridan played the music for the cast to help them get into character prior to acting in scenes.
Prequels, spinoffs, and sequels
Paramount reported that the series’ finale drew more than 13 million viewers in the first three days of its airing, making it the show’s most watched episode. So it is no wonder that Yellowstone’s success led to the creation of two prequels. The first, 1883 (2021–22), features Tim McGraw as James Dutton and Faith Hill as Margaret Dutton. It follows the post-Civil War generation of the Dutton family on their westbound cross-country wagon-trail journey. The later prequel, 1923 (2022–25), stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton, respectively, as they face the country’s continuing westward expansion as well as the effects of Prohibition during the ’20s and the Great Depression in the decade following.
Additionally, as of 2025, one season of 1944, a prequel set during World War II, has been ordered, as well as one season of Y: Marshalls, a spinoff starring Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton. Paramount also announced a spinoff titled The Madison (originally 2024), which will feature Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn. It will follow a New York family that settles in Montana’s Madison River valley.