10 Best Shows Like ‘Yellowstone’ That Bring Grit, Family Drama & Frontier Justice
If you’re hooked on the wild ride of ‘Yellowstone,’ you’re not alone. We all crave that mix of rugged landscapes, family loyalty tested to the breaking point, and a raw sense of justice that doesn’t always play by the rules. The Dutton family’s saga has set a high bar, blending the beauty of Montana with the messy drama of power struggles. Lucky for us, there are other shows like ‘Yellowstone’ out there that capture that same gritty vibe, keeping you glued to the screen just as much.
I get it—sometimes you need more than a single series to fill that void. Shows like that don’t come around every day, but there’s a solid lineup of options that bring the same heat. Whether it’s the clash of kin, the law of the land, or folks taking matters into their own hands, these picks deliver. After digging around, I’ve got ten series that match that rough-edged spirit, and they’re ready to pull you in with stories you won’t forget. Stick with me, and let’s dive into what makes them worth your time.
‘Longmire’
This modern Western follows Walt Longmire, a Wyoming sheriff played by Robert Taylor, who’s picking up the pieces after losing his wife. He’s a quiet, determined guy, solving crimes in Absaroka County with his deputy Vic and best friend Henry Standing Bear. The show ran for six seasons, starting on A&E before Netflix took it over, and it’s based on Craig Johnson’s novels. Expect wide-open plains, small-town secrets, and a lead who’s as tough as nails.
What ties it to ‘Yellowstone’? It’s all about that Western soul—land matters, family (even the makeshift kind) drives everything, and justice bends when it needs to. Walt’s battles with local politics and Native American reservation issues feel like John Dutton’s fights, just with a badge instead of a ranch. The stakes stay personal, and the scenery’s just as breathtaking.
‘1883’
Think of ‘1883’ as the Dutton family’s origin story. This prequel to ‘Yellowstone’ stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as James and Margaret Dutton, trekking from Texas to Montana in the late 19th century. Sam Elliott’s grizzled Shea Brennan leads their wagon train through a brutal frontier. It’s a one-season tale from 2021-2022, packed with hardship, hope, and raw survival.
It’s a no-brainer why this fits. The Dutton bloodline ties it directly to ‘Yellowstone,’ showing how their land obsession started. The frontier justice here is unforgiving—bandits and nature don’t care about lawbooks. Plus, the family drama? It’s just as fierce, with every step shaping their legacy.
‘Justified’
Raylan Givens, played by Timothy Olyphant, is a U.S. Marshal with a cowboy streak, sent back to his Kentucky roots after a messy shooting in Miami. Airing for six seasons on FX, this show dives into the Appalachian hills, where Raylan dishes out his own brand of law against crooks like Boyd Crowder. It’s got a sharp edge and a knack for tense standoffs.
Like ‘Yellowstone,’ it’s got that frontier justice vibe—Raylan’s quick draw mirrors the Duttons’ ruthless streak. Family ties twist through old grudges and loyalties, much like the ranch clan. The rural setting and moral gray zones keep it gritty and real.
‘Sons of Anarchy’
This FX series ran seven seasons, following Jax Teller, portrayed by Charlie Hunnam, as he navigates life in a California motorcycle club. It’s a world of illegal deals, brotherhood, and betrayal, with Katey Sagal as his fierce mom, Gemma. The club’s a family, dysfunctional and all, fighting to protect their turf in Charming.
The ‘Yellowstone’ connection? It’s the family-first mentality, where loyalty’s everything until it’s not. Both shows thrive on power struggles—replace cattle with bikes, and you’ve got similar stakes. Justice here is club law, bloody and personal, echoing the Duttons’ way.
‘Deadwood’
Set in the 1870s, ‘Deadwood’ brings South Dakota’s lawless gold rush town to life across three HBO seasons. Timothy Olyphant’s Seth Bullock and Ian McShane’s Al Swearengen lead a cast of outcasts and schemers. It’s rough, real, and wrapped up with a 2019 movie after its abrupt end in 2006.
It’s ‘Yellowstone’ in a time machine—land’s the prize, and justice is whatever you can enforce. The Duttons’ ranch wars feel tame next to Deadwood’s chaos, but the family-like bonds and power plays line up. Both paint the West as beautiful and brutal.
‘Succession’
HBO’s ‘Succession’ swaps ranches for boardrooms, tracking the Roy family’s fight over their media empire. Brian Cox plays Logan Roy, the aging titan, while his kids—Kendall, Shiv, and Roman—claw for control. Four seasons of dark humor and backstabbing make it a standout since 2018.
Sure, it’s not Western, but the family drama screams ‘Yellowstone.’ The Roys are Duttons with private jets—same infighting, same legacy obsession. Justice bends to power, not law, and every episode’s a showdown over who rules the roost.
‘Ozark’
Jason Bateman and Laura Linney star as Marty and Wendy Byrde, a couple dragged into money laundering for a cartel in Missouri’s Ozark region. Netflix ran this tense drama for four seasons, starting in 2017. It’s a slow burn of crime, family, and survival in a rural trap.
The ‘Yellowstone’ link is the family under fire. The Byrdes, like the Duttons, protect their own at all costs, bending rules and morals. The rural setting fuels the grit, and justice? It’s whatever keeps them alive, much like the ranch’s hard choices.
‘1923’
Another ‘Yellowstone’ prequel, ‘1923’ stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton, holding the ranch through Prohibition and the Great Depression. Launched in 2022 on Paramount+, it’s got a second season coming. The cast’s star power lifts this tale of grit and endurance.
It’s Dutton DNA again—land’s sacred, family’s everything, and justice is DIY. The early 20th-century struggles mirror ‘Yellowstone’s’ modern ones, just with more dust and less tech. The stakes feel just as high, and the drama’s just as thick.
‘Godless’
This Netflix gem from 2017 is a seven-episode run set in 1880s New Mexico. Jack O’Connell’s Roy Goode hides out in La Belle, a town mostly run by women after a mining disaster. Jeff Daniels plays the ruthless Frank Griffin hunting him down. It’s stark, stunning, and female-forward.
Think ‘Yellowstone’ with a historical twist. The frontier justice is fierce—Roy’s flight and Frank’s wrath match the Duttons’ stand-your-ground ethos. Family’s less blood here, more found, but the land and survival drive it all, just as fierce.
‘Landman’
Taylor Sheridan’s latest, ‘Landman,’ hit Paramount+ in 2024 with Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, an oilman in West Texas. It’s a fresh take on roughnecks chasing crude, juggling family life with cutthroat deals. Jon Hamm and Demi Moore add some heft to the cast.
It’s ‘Yellowstone’ with oil rigs—Sheridan’s stamp is clear. Tommy’s world swaps cattle for derricks, but the family drama and frontier spirit hold strong. Justice bends to whoever’s toughest, and the land’s still the heart of the fight.