I've Ranked Every Single Taylor Sheridan Western TV Show, and There's a Clear Winner

Ranking every single Taylor Sheridan series or movie wouldn't be fair. But what about his TV Westerns? Is Yellowstone truly the best of his creations? Where do the new spinoffs-Dutton Ranch and Marshals-fall? Every single person will have a very different ranking of their favorite Taylor Sheridan Yellowstone shows, or, in my case, Yellowstone-related shows. But, after consuming a ton of the Sheridan-verse recently, I decided to make my honest, gut-reaction rankings of all his TV Westerns.

Nobody is going to agree with all my rankings here, and in fact, I'm sure my number one choice will be controversial for some fans. But, as the spinoffs keep coming, here's a snapshot of how I feel about the Sheridan-verse TV Westerns, after consuming these shows nonstop for the past year. No major spoilers ahead.

9. The Last Cowboy

This is a reality show about cowboys and rodeos that has existed since 2019. Taylor Sheridan produces it, so it has to be included. But this is easily the least great of his Westerns, since it's not scripted. Still, it's sometimes watchable?

8. 1883

Perhaps the most underrated of the Yellowstone prequels, 1883 is unique, in a sense, because it actually takes place in what feels like the actual "Old West." A crucial series for understanding the lore of the Duttons, but not the best series overall.

7. Marshals

Not technically created by Taylor Sheridan, the character of Kayce Dutton is, of course, from Yellowstone. Of all the shows in this list, Marshals feels the least like a true Western, and despite taking place in the same part of Montana as Yellowstone, it is more of a police procedural. Like all the shows on this list, Marshals is very watchable and has an upbeat charm. But it's not number one. At least not yet.

6. Dutton Ranch

The most recent Yellowstone sequel, Dutton Ranch, attempts to capture the wheeling and dealing of its parent series, but instead of Montana, the action is located in Texas. Because Dutton Ranch is still airing new episodes, and its second season will have some creative shakeups, it's not really fair to rank it right now. In fact, it may end up much higher on this list in the future. But for now, Dutton Ranch represents an attempt to take Yellowstone characters into a new state, and to forge a new chapter in this neo-Western empire. So far, it's working.

5. The Madison

Don't sleep on this one! Although there's a certain amount of weird social commentary focused on the classic idea of city mice versus country mice, the performances in The Madison make it worth it. Kurt Russell's character, Preston Clyburn, in theory, is the center of the show, but it would be a huge spoiler to reveal what happens to him. Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn carries the show, but literally everyone here, including a late-in-the-game appearance from Will Arnett in one of his best roles ever, truly seals the deal.

As time goes by, and more seasons are released, this show might climb the ranks!

4. Lawmen: Bass Reeves

An underrated Taylor Sherida-produced gem. Lawmen: Bass Reeves was a miniseries starring David Oyelowo, who packs a punch as the titular Bass Reeves, a real-life historical figure. In reality, Bass Reeves captured over 3,000 criminals. Regardless of any historical inaccuracies, this show rocks.

3. 1923

As a prequel to Yellowstone, aspects of 1923 can be a little confusing, including whether or not the show actually reveals the origin of John Dutton or not. In truth, 1923 is best watched as its own thing, where you don't think too much about the bigger Yellowstone family tree. Anchored by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, 1923 also gave us the fan-favorite character of Spencer Dutton, as played by Brandon Sklenar. Of all the Duttons, other than maybe Kayce, Spencer is the most likable and heroic of them all.

2. Yellowstone

The show that started it all. Without Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone, we wouldn't be talking about any of this. While later seasons have some problems, the fact that this show exists and thrived despite not starting its life on a major streaming service is a minor miracle. If you haven't binged the first three seasons, at least, do so now.

1. Landman

Without a doubt, Landman is the absolute best Taylor Sheridan Western for one simple reason: It's so much fun. In some ways, each Sheridan show lives and dies by its leading man, and it's here where Landman absolutely wins. Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy Norton is the kind of guy you're glad that you're not, and yet, you somehow wish you had his problems. Thornton combines wit, swagger, and good-heartedness in a character that feels like your favorite person to get drinks with.

The stakes in Landman sometimes feel slightly too low for the level of drama in the show, but the charm of this series is off the charts. While Landman is not technically set in the Yellowstone universe, some of the Yellowstone characters would benefit from having a drink with Tommy.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 2:38 PM.