It’s one of, if not the biggest TV show in the US right now, but there’s a lot to digest if you’re just starting to dive into the world of the Dutton family. Luckily, we can tell you how to watch every Yellowstone TV show in order, and where the various series are all streaming.
Who would have thought that in the year 2025, the Western genre would be alive and kicking once more? You quite literally can’t keep a good horse down, and this resurgence is mostly down to two men: Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner.
Sheridan created the hit TV series that brought cowboys back to the fore, while Costner was the man to front Yellowstone’s mainline show from the very beginning. The Yellowstone franchise has expanded since then, though, and anyone planning to stream the series may be wondering what the best approach is.
Luckily, there are two ways to solve this dilemma, and we’ve got both answers for you.
How to watch Yellowstone in release order
The good news is that simply watching Yellowstone in the order the show was released works just fine. Yes, there are prequel series at play here, but the context they give us is not integral to understanding the present day timeline.
If you want to get really specific with it, you can watch Yellowstone seasons 1-4 first. This will allow you to get acquainted with the most prominent members of the Dutton clan, including the patriarch, John (Costner), and his children, Beth, Jamie, and Kayce, as they battle to keep control of their beloved ranch.
Then, you can take a detour to enjoy 1883 – arguably the very best Yellowstone show of them all. As you may have guessed, this spin-off takes place over 130 years before present day events. 1883 introduces us to James and Margaret Dutton as they lead their family on a migration across post-Civil War America to find a new place to settle, while their headstrong daughter, Elsa, contends with her own search for purpose in life.
You’ve time for another spin-off before the main timeline comes to an end, with 1923 taking us 40 years further along in the Dutton journey. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren lead the cast here, as Jacob and Cara Dutton, while the rest of their clan is divided and their ranch appears to be slipping away from underneath them.
All good things come to an end, sadly, and the core storyline of Yellowstone was wrapped up in 2024, with season 5 split into two parts. Costner called time on his involvement with the franchise after a dispute with Sheridan and Paramount, which changed the course of the story, but somehow, it still managed to find a satisfying conclusion.
And finally, 1923 season 2 began airing in February 2024, running through until April. So, if you want to get caught up in time, you’d better hit play right now.
How to watch Yellowstone in chronological order
Another way to tackle Yellowstone would be to watch the various iterations in chronological order. Taking this approach would be very straightforward and would enable you to get stuck into the present-day storyline equipped with a comprehensive knowledge of the Dutton family tree.
1883 would kick things off if you go down this route, giving an insight into how the Duttons first settled in Montana all those years ago, and the price they paid for their pilgrimage.
Then, fast forward to 1923 and witness the struggle of the Dutton family to hold onto their land as predators close in and try to snare it away from them. Which, incidentally, is a common theme that bleeds into the modern day and the main Yellowstone show.
It’s interesting, then, to arrive at the core timeline knowing the sacrifices made by the ancestors of John Dutton over the years to attain and protect the ranch. It informs so much about the motives John has for fighting tooth and nail to keep the wolves from the door throughout the five seasons of Yellowstone, making a chronological watch very rewarding indeed.
Where to watch Yellowstone and the spin-offs streaming online
Every season of Yellowstone, plus 1883 and 1923, are available to stream on Paramount Plus.
