The Perfect Chronological Order for Watching Yellowstone & Its Spinoffs
Wondering which order to watch all the Yellowstone franchise shows? Read on to find all you need to know.
Summary
- The franchise charts more than 140 years of Dutton family history.
- Each show exists as a separate entity, but all are linked.
- Different time periods see unique challenges for generations of Duttons.
Whether you're new to Yellowstone or an avid fan, the good news is that there's no particular order in which to watch its various spin-offs. Each one works on its own and you don't need to watch any of the others to get any of them.
But let's face it, we all love watching sequels and prequels that get us closer to the worlds our favourite fictional characters inhabit. So, if you're after some advice on how to best immerse yourself in the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, check out this guide.
Order of Release
As it stands, the Yellowstone franchise spans 140 years. But most of the action takes place in modern times. Yellowstone premiered in 2018 and was set in that year. The following four seasons of the show took us through 2019 and into 2023.
The two prequels currently available are called 1883 and 1923. They are set on the same ranch, but in the years of their titles.
If you want to watch them in order of release, your best bet is to binge all five seasons of Yellowstone, followed by 1883 (released in 2021) and 1923 (released in 2022).
Viewing them in this order will bring you up to date and allow you to appreciate the nuances of the prequels.
It will also prepare you for the upcoming prequel, 1944, and two more modern shows, 2024 and 6666 (pronounced Four Sixes), which is set at the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas.
Chronological Order of the Shows
For those who prefer to watch the shows in chronological order, the titles of the spin-offs don't make life much easier. Start with 1883, then watch 1923 before moving on to Yellowstone. If that is your preference, you might want to wait for 1944, which, unsurprisingly, is set in... you guessed it, 1944.
Both 2024 and 6666 are set in the present day. However, largely due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, it's not yet known when either of these shows will hit our screens.
What are the Shows About?
Each show follows the lives of the Dutton Family:
Yellowstone: Starring Kevin Costner as John Dutton III, the original focuses on the family's trials and tribulations against the backdrop of tensions over borders between Yellowstone, the national park of the same name, and Broken Rock Indian Reservation.
It scores 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and is available to watch on Peacock, Prime, Apple TV and Vudu.
1883: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill star as James Dutton and his wife Margaret. The show takes us back to where it all began as the couple flee poverty in Texas and move to Montana to start a new life.
Tom Hanks and Billy Bob Thornton both make brief appearances in the series, which has an 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating and is available on Paramount, Apple TV, Prime and Vudu.
1923: Another show full of big stars. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren play Jacob and Cara Dutton. It chronicles the lives of the Dutton family during hard times, including drought and financial hardship in America that would eventually lead to the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression.
The show has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is available on Paramount, Prime, Apple TV and Vudu.
Information on the 1944 and 6666 spin-offs is still sketchy. 2024 was announced in 2023 after months of wrangling and Kevin Costner's decision to leave Yellowstone. Matthew McConaughey will take the lead role.