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In many ways, Yellowstone is the Platonic ideal of a Taylor Sheridan joint, combining a neo-western vibe with an incredibly detailed sense of place, a nonpolitical exploration of the tension between individual rights and the collective forces of society, and some really banger lines delivered by Kevin Costner as badass patriarch John Dutton. It’s no wonder the show was a huge hit that keeps spawning prequels and spinoffs.
If you can’t get enough Yellowstone, we’ve already offered up suggestions for other TV series you could be streaming. If you need more Big Sky-esque drama, the good news is there are plenty of books, movies, games, and podcasts that can emulate the show’s themes, setting, and storytelling.
The best books like Yellowstone
A good book is always the best way to immerse yourself in a vibe, and Yellowstone takes a novelistic approach to its story. Here are some terrific books that any fan of the show will love.
Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry
There is a direct line from this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to Yellowstone that Taylor Sheridan has openly discussed, which makes it the obvious literary choice. The story—about two retired Texas Rangers who embark on a dangerous, violent cattle drive to (where else) Montana—has everything fans of the show want: Complex, morally-gray characters, a story infused with and informed by its setting, and a sense of what it means to be a real cowboy in a world that is increasingly hostile toward that life.
Barkskins, by Annie Proulx
You want sprawling American experience drama that spans generations and involves building a family legacy? Dive into Barskins, the story of the Sel Family from René Sel’s arrival in 17th-century America (in the territory then known as New France) to the modern age. The ruthless, often violent determination to build something and protect it from forces that seek to acquire the fruits of your labor is a major theme here, slotting right into that Yellowstone vibe.
The Son, by Philipp Meyer
Following three generations of the McCullogh family as it builds an oil and ranching empire in Texas, The Son has all the drama, violence, and grit you find in Sheridan’s show—and then some. As they grow in power and wealth, the McCulloghs must decide what’s truly important and what can be sacrificed for the greater good of the family. If you’re pining for the Dutton family’s soapy travails, this will be a satisfying read.
Lone Women, by Victor LaValle
It’s an unexpected choice, but LaValle’s off-center western-horror hybrid is a great complement to Yellowstone. Adelaide arrives in Montana with something locked in a trunk and a determination to make a go of it in a remote area of Montana in 1915. She’s not afraid of hard work, which is an asset, because surviving and building a working farm in that beautifully harsh land isn’t easy. If you’re looking for a story about a willful person with their eye on building a legacy, this novel has the vibe you’re seeking.
Texas, by James Michener
You want western sprawl? Michener’s 1985 novel is inspired by the entire history of Texas. With a focus on generations of a few families, the story combines fictional characters with real historic personages to dramatize that story. If you’re looking for a story that parallels family history with the land they live and work on, you can’t get any more epic than this.
The best movies like Yellowstone
One of Yellowstone’s greatest pleasures are its visuals—that Montana setting and Yellowstone itself. To get a little more of that, here are some of the best movies for fans of the show.
Hell or High Water (2016)
Yellowstone is Yellowstone because of one man: Taylor Sheridan. He wrote the script for this 2016 heist movie set in West Texas, and the themes are spot on. Brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster) Howard are faced with losing their family’s ranch due to a reverse mortgage their mother took out, and set up a series of bank heists at the very bank that’s trying to foreclose on the ranch to get the money they need. Family, ranches, and fighting to keep what’s yours—what could be more Yellowstone? Rent Hell or High Water on Prime Video.
Open Range (2003)
Directed by John Dutton (Kevin Costner) himself, Open Range is set in Montana in 1882, where an “open range” cattleman named Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) attempts to drive his herd through land controlled by ruthless cattle baron Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon), sparking a range war that soon gets violent. If you love Yellowstone’s prequels as much as the show itself, this is for you. Stream Open Range on AMC or rent it on Prime Video.
Giant (1956)
James Dean’s final role before his tragic death is in a huge story set in early 1920s Texas. When wealthy rancher and oilman Jordan Benedict Jr. (Rock Hudson) brings his new wife, Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor), home from the East Coast, her culture shock at the patriarchal, hierarchal, and kinda racist world sets a series of dramatic events in motion that span the next few decades. It’s an epic in the same vein as the show, all about legacy, land, and soapy doings. Rent Giant on Prime Video.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Set in Montana in 1925, the film follows two brothers: Gentle, soft-spoken George (Jesse Plemons) and aggressive, brutish Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch). When the wealthy ranchers meet the widowed Rose (Kirsten Dunst), George marries her, much to Phil’s disdain. Phil is relentlessly mean to everyone, including Rose’s teenage son, Peter. Filled with family drama, breathtaking Montana vistas, and plenty of ranch life, this is a perfect pairing with Sheridan’s show. Stream The Power of the Dog on Netflix.
Montana Story (2022)
A sweeter, gentler Big Sky drama, Montana Sky still offers plenty of drama. Half-siblings Cal (Owen Teague) and Erin (Haley Lu Richardson) aren’t close. When their father falls into a coma, they both return to the ranch they grew up in. Slowly, the tragic family history comes into view as Erin and Cal deal with their father’s abusive legacy and impending death. It’s a slower burn and in a lower key than Yellowstone, but scratches the same itch. Stream Montana Story on Netflix.
The best video games like Yellowstone
If you want to have a more active role in your Yellowstone-adjacent entertainment, jumping into a video game where you can impact the story directly is the way. Here are some video games with similar themes.
Red Dead Redemption 2
The obvious choice: This sandbox western begins its story in 1899 and explores an open world western setting from the perspective of outlaw Arthur Morgan, who is very Rip-like in his role as a man loyal to a fault and used to implementing violence to achieve his goals. With gorgeous graphics (and some settings based on Yellowstone National Park) and moral complexity, this game’s vibes are right on point with the show.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox One, Steam
Wild West Legacy
If you love Yellowstone’s focus on building something and then defending that legacy against all comers, you’ll find much to love in this survival/builder game set in the Wild West. In the game, you wake up left for dead after a violent attack, and you have to rebuild your life from literally nothing in the unforgiving, lawless world you find yourself in. You explore, gather and grind out resources, and convince people to join with you to form a settlement that will (hopefully) grow into a rich and successful power base. John Dutton would approve.
What do you think so far?
Platforms: Steam
Western Rye
The upcoming Western Rye is another open world, survival game where you scrounge for resources and try to build something out of nothing in the Wild West. One aspect that will especially appeal to fans of Yellowstone is the ability to build a custom ranch house—that’s right, you can build your own log mansion to fulfill your dreams of actually being John Dutton.
Platforms: Steam
Manor Lords
Although this game is set in the middle ages and not the American West in the 19th, 20th, or 21st centuries, the themes here are exactly what fans of the show are looking for. The game is all about building a settlement in medieval times, and not only do you have to lay down roads, build structures, and attract peasants, you also have to raise a militia to defend from or attack your enemies as necessary—and some of those valuable people aren’t coming back. If you want to know what it’s like to actually build something and then have to devote your life to defending it from those who would take it from you, this game is it.
Platforms: Steam
Victoria 3
When it comes to building something on land you consider part of your very soul, why stop at a mere ranch or town? Go global. IN Victoria 3, you control an entire country between the years 1836 and 1936—you manage the economy, diplomatic corps, army, and everything else. There’s no clear winning or losing here, but you’ll know your success or failure based on how powerful your country is when you’re done—assuming you have the Dutton-style grit to do what’s necessary along the way.
Platforms: Steam
The best podcasts like Yellowstone
If you want an audio exploration of Yellowstone’s universe or a narrative that echoes the show’s themes and storylines, here are some podcasts to check out.
The Official Yellowstone Podcast
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Hosted by Jefferson White (who portrayed Jimmy Hurdstrom on the show), The Official Yellowstone Podcast is the obvious stop for anyone who craves behind-the-scenes tea about the show or a deeper dive into the research, writing, and production that make Yellowstone so distinctive. With access to the people who did the work and a long list of surprise guests, it’s an excellent resource for folks who want to know everything there is about Yellowstone.
Dutton Rules
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For a more fan-based perspective, the Dutton Rules podcast is the best choice. Hosts Billy Dukes and Adison Haager take a relaxed, conversational approach to dissecting the show that mimics the convos you probably have with friends and family who are also fans, all while offering smart analysis and lots of unexpected detail and background for each episode and the show in general.
Blood Ties
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It’s not set in Montana and has nothing to do with ranches, but Blood Ties has similar themes of family, legacy, and fighting against forces that want to destroy what you’ve built. When their father, famed cardiologist Dr. Richland, dies in a plane crash, his son and daughter discover that the family business has dark secrets. Setting things right takes three seasons and a lot of drama, including half-siblings, family secrets, and, naturally, some violence.
