Taylor Sheridan began Yellowstone as a neo-Western drama of a ranch family, much like Dallas, but it has grown into a mammoth franchise now. There are five shows in the franchise as of now, with two more in active development, with the timeline spanning from the 1800s to the current day.
The saga of the Dutton family and their roots in Montana is extensive, and watching it in chronological order gives an experience that is akin to witnessing a saga and the building of an empire. Whether you are a first-time watcher or if you want to revisit the franchise, here is an ordered list of the Yellowstone franchise.
Chronological Order of the Yellowstone Franchise Series
The ranch in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount
For a quick, chronological look at the Yellowstone franchise, here is an ordered list of all the series.
1883 (2021-2022)
1923 (2022-2025)
Yellowstone (2018-2024)
Marshals (2026-Present)
Dutton Ranch (2026-Present)
Now that we have the ordered list, we move on to a detailed breakdown of each show and why it matters to watch in chronological order.
Complete Yellowstone Watch Guide
1. 1883
The cast of 1883 | Credits: Paramount+
This is the definitive origin of the Yellowstone ranch and the Dutton family’s firm roots in Montana. The series is set after the Civil War and sees the Dutton family travel from Tennessee to Fort Worth, Texas, to Oregon, and then finally to Montana, where we see the beginning of what we know as the Yellowstone ranch.
Though it came after Yellowstone, 1883 sets the emotional and literal foundation for the Dutton family’s story that we see in the flagship show. We see why the family is so protective of their roots and the sacrifice the family made to reach this place. It stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.
Show Name1883Created ByTaylor SheridanMain CastSam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel MayNumber of seasons1NetworkParamount
2. 1923
The cast of 1923 | Credits: Paramount+
The second spinoff /prequel series in the Yellowstone franchise sees the Duttons’ struggle for survival during the Prohibition era. While 1883 is a hero’s journey, 1923 is the hero’s survival. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren star as Jacob and Cara Dutton, and for the first time, their land faces threats from all sides.
It is a precursor to what happens in Yellowstone, with several of the conflicts that John Dutton would later face being hinted at here. 1923 also shows the ranch’s first conflict with industrialization and development, as well as the natural forces that are against them. Pity that the 1923 season 3 is not in the cards.
Show Name1923Created ByTaylor SheridanMain CastHelen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Brandon Sklenar, Julia SchlaepferNumber of seasons2NetworkParamount
3. Yellowstone
This is the flagship show that introduced audiences to Taylor Sheridan’s cowboy universe. Set in the modern era, the show sees John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, protecting the Yellowstone ranch against developers, rival ranchers, local reservations, and intra-family politics. If Succession were a Western, it would be Yellowstone.
Show NameYellowstoneCreated ByTaylor SheridanMain CastKevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly ReillyNumber of seasons5NetworkParamount
4. Dutton Ranch
Wheeler and Dutton in Dutton Ranch | Credits: Paramount+
Set after the events of Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch sees Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler start and manage a ranch outside the Yellowstone property. It is a direct sequel to the flagship show, and unlike Marshals, it follows a similar genre to Yellowstone. It is set to debut on May 15, 2026, on Paramount+ and already has positive reviews.
Show NameDutton RanchCreated ByChad FeehanMain CastKelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Jai CourtneyNumber of seasons1NetworkParamount
5. Marshals
Luke Grimes in Marshals | Credits: Paramount+
Another sequel, Marshals, shifts the focus to Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes, and sees his time as a US Marshal after the events of Yellowstone. Kayce, who is established as a former US Navy SEAL in the original show, puts his military training to use and protects Montana as a Marshal. The show premiered in March 2026 and has been airing on CBS. It has also been renewed for a second season (via THR).
Show NameMarshalsCreated BySpencer HudnutMain CastLuke Grimes, Logan Marshall-Green, Arielle Kebbel, Ash SantosNumber of seasons1NetworkParamount
What is the Release Order of the Yellowstone Franchise?
Rip and Beth in Dutton Ranch | Credits: Paramount+
While first-time viewers have the privilege of watching the franchise chronologically, fans had to watch it in the order of release, with Yellowstone releasing first. Here is a list of the franchise’s release order.
Yellowstone (Seasons 1,2,3,4; 2018-2022)
1883 (Season 1; 2021)
Yellowstone (Season 5 Part 1; 2022-2023)
1923 (Season 1; 2022)
Yellowstone (Season 5 Part 2; 2024)
1923 (Season 2; 2025)
Marshals (Season 1; March 2026)
Dutton Ranch (Season 1; May 2026)
Two additional shows are in development, namely, 1944, which is a prequel to Yellowstone and a sequel to 1923; 6666, on the other hand, will be set in the modern era and will follow the events in the Four Sixes Ranch.
What to Skip in Yellowstone?
A still from Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount
While watching the franchise in its entirety is preferred, there are definitely stretches in Yellowstone that feel irrelevant to the larger story. Seasons 1 to 3 in the flagship show are essential viewing, while seasons 4 and 5 have some skippable parts.
Episodes 3 to 6 on season 3 can be condensed and skipped. Watch the first episode of season 5, the mid-season finale, and the final few episodes to tie it all together.As for the other shows in the franchise, both 1883 and 1923 are pretty tight, while Marshals and Dutton Ranch are still ongoing. Never skip any finales.
Where to Watch the Yellowstone Shows?
The Ranch in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount
For US viewers, all the Yellowstone shows are available to stream on Paramount+, except for the flagship show, which is available on Peacock. Here is a list of platforms where the franchise is airing, depending on the region.
RegionStreaming PlatformUSYellowstone – Peacock1883, 1923, Marshals, Dutton Ranch – Paramount+UKParamount+IndiaJioHotstarAustraliaParamount+MexicoParamount+SingaporeAmazon Prime Video (Dutton Ranch is unavailable)CanadaParamount+
Here is a summary of all the shows in the franchise and the audience and critics’ response to them
Show NameRotten Tomatoes (as of May 15, 2026)IMDb (as of May 15, 2026)1883Tomatometer – 89%Popcornmeter – 78%8.61923Tomatometer – 94%Popcornmeter – 55%8.3YellowstoneTomatometer – 83%Popcornmeter – 76%8.6Dutton RanchTomatometer – 100%–MarshalsTomatometer – 42%Popcornmeter – 27%6.0
If you have any questions about the Yellowstone franchise and the watching order, refer to the FAQs below.
Should I watch 1883 before Yellowstone?
Yes. Starting with 1883 makes the Dutton family history far more emotionally powerful and helps the modern conflicts feel bigger and more tragic.
Is The Madison part of the Yellowstone universe?
No. Although it was originally developed as a spinoff, Paramount later confirmed it became a standalone series unrelated to the Dutton storyline.
What is the newest Yellowstone sequel in 2026?
Dutton Ranch and Marshals are the newest direct continuations of the Yellowstone timeline in 2026.
Which is your favorite show in the Yellowstone franchise? Comment below.
All Yellowstone shows are available to stream on Paramount+ (USA).
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
