The Best Order To Watch Yellowstone & Its Many Spinoffs

With so many shows in Taylor Sheridan's neo-Western universe, it can be confusing to figure out where to start and to know in what order to watch Yellowstone. Taylor Sheridan's Western drama has become one of the best TV Westerns of all time, quickly branching into a multi-series universe that follows the Dutton family tree at various points in history.

Each series in the Yellowstone universe follows the trials and tribulations of the Duttons, a family of ranchers who settled in Montana in the late 19th century. The first two Yellowstone spinoff shows, 1883 and 1923, are prequels, making the chronological viewing order relatively straightforward. However, with more Yellowstone spinoffs on the way, this won't be the case for long.

How To Watch Yellowstone In Chronological Order

For those who want to discover (or rewatch) the entire Yellowstone story, the chronological order provides an epic sweep of the Duttons' legacy. Seeing what the family endured to settle on their land, the enemies they had to fight against, and the people they lost along the way, makes John Dutton's modern struggles a single chapter in a multigenerational saga.

Watching Yellowstone in chronological order is the simplest way to enjoy the show. Whereas viewing in release order means navigating overlapping dates, Yellowstone and its spinoffs have a straightforward timeline. 1883 and 1923 are prequels, each set during their titular year, Yellowstone itself is set across the last decade, and Kayce Dutton's sequel series Marshals set in the present day.

However, simplicity isn't the only reason watching the Yellowstone franchise in chronological order has its perks. There are also aspects of seeing the story play out this way that are perhaps more impactful than seeing them in release order. This includes the flashbacks in season 4 of Yellowstone, showing James Dutton and his family.

This was a nice teaser for 1883 when it happened initially, in Yellowstone itself. However, when viewing the franchise in chronological order, with the audience having already seen James' journey and knowing his fate, it makes for an emotional return for the character. Yellowstone is peppered with moments like this — moments that lose impact if viewed in release date order.

How To Watch Yellowstone In Release Date Order

Watching Yellowstone and its spinoffs in release date order is a little more complex than the chronological order, and there's a key reason why. Unlike many shows whose spinoffs arrive after the main story is concluded, Taylor Sheridan released both Yellowstone spinoffs before the main show had concluded its run.

1883 and 1923 came out in the midst of Yellowstone's run on the air. This means that, in order to stay true to the release dates, watching Yellowstone in release order means dipping out of the main show to view 1883 and 1923 in between Yellowstone seasons.

There are even areas of overlap where Yellowstone was on the air at the same time as a spinoff, leaving which to view first in release date order open for debate. The technical release date viewing order is Yellowstone seasons 1–4, 1883, Yellowstone season 5, pt 1, 1923 season 1, Yellowstone season 5, pt 2, and finally 1923 season 2.

While this can be confusing, some fans recommend an alternative approach to the release dates of the Yellowstone franchise. The soft release-date viewing order would be to watch the shows in the order they arrived, rather than dipping between seasons of each. This means watching all of Yellowstone first, followed by the entirety of 1883, and then 1923.

Do You Need To Watch All The Yellowstone Series?

All the series in the Yellowstone franchise are loosely connected, but none are required viewing to enjoy the narratives of the others. 1883, 1923, and Yellowstone can all be viewed independently without confusion. However, it's when watching all three shows that the true genius of Taylor Sheridan's extended universe can be appreciated.

Each Yellowstone show contributes to the viewing experience of the others, providing nuance and background information that can increase the viewing experience. However, since each chapter in the wider Yellowstone story focuses on a different segment of the Dutton family tree, it's possible to enjoy each separately.

The Best Order To Watch The Yellowstone Shows In

There's no real best way to watch Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone, as it depends on viewer preference. For those who genuinely wish to experience the Yellowstone timeline in chronological order, the viewing order would start with 1883, move to 1923, and then round off with all five seasons of Yellowstone.

The chronological viewing order of Yellowstone creates a multigenerational tapestry that chronicles the rise of the powerful Dutton family. It's a different experience than the release order, which introduces audiences to the modern Duttons, then uses 1883 and 1923 to add impact to their struggles in the present day.

However, to catch the nuances of the prequels and understand what they're referencing, it would be best to start with Yellowstone before moving on to the prequel spinoffs. With this in mind, the soft release-date order is perhaps the closest to Taylor Sheridan's intentions with the wider Yellowstone story. Watching all of Yellowstone sets the stage for 1923 and 1883.

On the other hand though, watching the prequels first means that when John Dutton waxes lyrical about the importance of the Dutton legacy, viewers know the struggles of characters like Elsa Dutton from 1883 and 1923's Jacob Dutton. John's words and why he cares take on new weight if watching Yellowstone after 1883 and 1923.

He doesn't want the Dutton name to continue simply because he wants to live up to some financial legacy — he holds on to power because he (and the audience) know that his ancestors died brutal deaths to obtain it. This impact doesn't come across when watching Yellowstone and the spin-offs in release date order.

Every Upcoming & Rumored Yellowstone Spinoff

There are four prospective Yellowstone spinoff shows at various stages of production and development: Y: Marshals, Dutton Ranch, 1944, and 6666. The Madison, another Taylor Sheridan series previously billed as a spinoff of Yellowstone, has now been separated entirely from the franchise's TV universe, and will be released as a standalone show.

The next Yellowstone spinoff is Marshals, which will debut on CBS on March 1, 2026. It's focused on Kayce Dutton's new life working for the U.S. Marshal Service, after leaving the Dutton ranch behind. The show will see the likes of Luke Grimes and Gil Birmingham returning from the Yellowstone cast.

Meanwhile, the second spinoff that's already penciled into TV schedules for 2026 has Yellowstone stars Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Finn Little reprising their roles from the original series. The Dutton Ranch has been highly publicized, and is expected to portray Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler's life on their new ranch after leaving the family homestead behind.

Aside from these confirmed spinoffs, another series entitled 1944 is currently in active development. But things start to get complicated when we come to the fourth franchise spinoff in the pipeline, which has provisionally been referred to as 6666.

6666 is the name of a ranch in Yellowstone, where Jefferson White's character Jimmy Hurdstrom goes to work in season 4. The show was announced by Paramount in February 2021, but it's since stalled in development. In fact, White recently suggested that 6666 might not happen at all.

When Future Yellowstone Spinoffs Are Set (And How It Changes The Watch Order)

When each Yellowstone spinoff arrives, there's a good chance that it changes the chronological viewing order within the franchise significantly. The four spinoffs that we know about are a mix of prequels, sequels, and shows that will run concurrently with one another.

Marshals, for instance, will step away from the world of ranching to explore Kayce's life as a law enforcer protecting Montana. However, it's expected to be set at the same time as The Dutton Ranch, as a sequel to Yellowstone. Likewise, 6666 will be set in the aftermath of Yellowstone season 5, if it happens.

Little is known about 1944 at this stage, although the show's title suggests that it will be another prequel starring older versions of Spencer and Alexandra Dutton, as well as Teonna Rainwater, from 1923. This show would change the chronological watch order in the franchise significantly, as there will be another show to watch between 1923 and Yellowstone.

With as many as four new shows on the way, Taylor Sheridan's flagship TV franchise continues to go from strength to strength. On the other hand, the Yellowstone viewing order is about to become much more complex when viewing both chronologically and in order of release date.