Taking place against a picturesque Montana backdrop, Yellowstone follows a powerful and complicated ranch family through their business and personal dramas. 

Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton, the family's widowed patriarch and owner of the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Running the ranch comes with challenges, and over the course of the show, the Duttons face conflicts with land developers, a Native American reservation, and the neighboring eponymous national park. The modern Western is known for its serious tone, and blends intense family drama with social issues, including water usage concerns and Native sovereignty. And yes, there is violence (even murder) among the characters, despite (and sometimes specifically because of) their close ties to one another.

Co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, the series first premiered on the Paramount Network in 2018 and has four seasons out now, with a fifth season premiering on Nov. 13, 2022. The show has received mixed reviews from critics and currently has a Metascore of 54. However, Yellowstone has become a hugely popular show with a large following that has only grown over time. Its most recent season finale lassoed in more than 11 million viewers on the first night it aired. 

The show's success gave rise to a wider franchise, also helmed by Sheridan. Spin-off shows 1883 and 1923 are both set decades before the events of Yellowstone (each in the titular year), examining the complexities of ranch life in very different social, political, and environmental climates. The already-released 1883 has a Metascore of 69 and stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, while 1923 is expected to debut at the end of 2022. Another planned spin-off called 6666 will take place on a present-day Texas ranch. 

If you're counting down the days until Yellowstone's fifth season and need something new to watch in the meantime, Metacritic has got you covered. The below list will especially appeal to Yellowstone fans searching for more modern Westerns, crime dramas, and tense family dramas. 

Here, Metacritic highlights 10 shows like Yellowstone to watch next. 

The Sopranos

Metascore: 94
Best for: Fans of family crime and mafia series 
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 6

The Sopranos follows Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), as he navigates his daily life and life as a mob boss. The show follows Tony as he faces the challenges of mob life, along with his relationships with his dutiful wife, his troubled son, his daughter, his mentally disturbed uncle, his mistress, and his therapist. Fans of Yellowstone might appreciate the intense family drama and themes of juggling multiple parts of a high-stakes life.  

"The Sopranos ... has depth, dark humor, and even a latent charm. The characters, unavoidably stereotypical at times, are believable and honest." — Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Wire

Metascore: 91
Best for: Fans of cop dramas and those who want a look into perspectives of criminals and law enforcement
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 5

The Wire follows a multi-generational family business selling illegal drugs and the Baltimore police as they try to stop the trade. The similarities in family drama, societal issues, and an inside look into law enforcement might appeal to Yellowstone fans. This highly-favored series by both critics and audiences was nominated for only two Emmy Awards in 2005 and 2008 — both for Best Writing for a Drama Series — but lost to House and Mad Men, respectively.

"There's humanity in its victims and dark humor in the goal-oriented drive of its villains. With or without a strike, this is a show to treasure." — Robert Bianco, USA Today

Breaking Bad

Metascore: 87
Best for: Action lovers, crime drama fans
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes, Netflix,
Seasons: 6

Created by Vince Gilligan, this iconic crime drama follows high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston). After he learns he has lung cancer, Walter becomes a drug dealer to secure his family's financial future, tapping former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) as his partner. The show chronicles Walter's descent into the criminal underworld and has been described as the most dramatic mid-life crisis you'll ever watch. Breaking Bad earned widespread critical and awards acclaim, earning 16 Emmy Awards amid 58 nominations. It was followed by a sequel film, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, and a prequel spin-off series, Better Call Saul.  

"A radical type of television, and also a very strange kind of must-watch: a show that you dread and crave at the same time." — Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker

Justified

Metascore: 86
Best for: Fans of Westerns with a modern take
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 6

Justified follows the life of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), who goes out to enforce his own idea of justice. During his exploits, he becomes a target for criminals and a problem for his Marshal service bosses. Because of this, things truly start to hit home when he gets reassigned to the U.S. District back in his hometown. With all the makings of a Western, Justified is bound to be a show that captivates Yellowstone fans.

"An immediately addictive brew of action, suspense, and wry humor, the show is grounded in Olyphant's low-key but high-impact star-making performance." — Matt Roush, TV Guide Magazine

Deadwood

Metascore: 85
Best for: Lovers of gritty Westerns
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 3 (and a movie)

Deadwood takes place during the classic American gold rush and follows the titular town where misfits and outlaws are drawn to make their fortune. This series follows the ruthless power games that erupt out of the town's lawlessness.  To set the scene, the story takes place just two weeks after Custer's defeat at Little Bighorn. Plus, it's set in Black Hills Indian Cession, where Deadwood isn't so much a town as it is an illegal settlement. The colorful little settlement attracts a wide variety of characters from many backgrounds to find their fortune. This show stands as a natural choice for Yellowstone fans, as it's another Western, with an outlaw vibe.

"When you care about everyone in a town like Deadwood, every hot argument, every passionate embrace, every sudden murder is liable to delight, disgust, or surprise." — David Bianculli, Daily News

Succession

Metascore: 83
Best for: Fans of intense family dramas
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 3 (so far)

Logan Roy (Brian Cox) takes a step back from running his family's international entertainment business, and an epic feud results between his four children as each of them fights to reign as the business' next CEO. Just when you think you know who the next "successor" will be, the show's twists and turns will soon have you constantly guessing who Logan will choose. Jam-packed with complex family dynamics, jaw-dropping betrayals (the Season 3 finale anyone?), and the ebbs and flows of keeping a business thriving, Succession shows just how complicated family matters can be.

"Most of the characters in Succession suffer from a litany of faults: arrogance, greed, ignorance, cowardice, selfishness, delusions of grandeur, but the show has a potent combination of virtues that makes up for these sins." — Allison Keene, Collider

Dark Winds

Metascore: 80
Best for: Fans of neo-noir thrillers and Western crime dramas
Where to watch:

, , , , Vudu 
Seasons: 1 (so far)

Set in 1971 near Monument Valley, Dark Winds tells the story of two Navajo Tribal Police officers whose personal beliefs are challenged during an unsettling investigation. Not long after a bank robbery in a nearby New Mexico town, two Native residents are found murdered. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) leads the search for clues but is still haunted by the death of his son. Joining him is new deputy Jim Chee, (Kiowa Gordon), who's actually an undercover FBI agent. The pair clash but gradually develop a unique bond. The show is based on the Leaphorn & Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman. 

"From the gorgeous, stark southwestern setting to the mystery to the main characters to the hint of dark magic, everything works to heighten the drama and keep the action compelling despite a comfortable pace that matches the '70s aesthetic." — Shane Ryan, Paste Magazine

Godless

Metascore: 75
Best for: Crime drama fans
Where to watch: Netflix 
Seasons: 1

If you're looking for shows like Yellowstone with a more limited and contained story, try Godless. The seven-part series from Scott Frank follows Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell) hiding out in the woman-controlled mining town of La Belle, N.M. Roy is on the bad side of his criminal outlaw mentor, who is chasing him for revenge. Another modern Western, Godless is a natural pick for anyone who enjoys Yellowstone for its wild outlaw chases, and all the drama and intensity that comes with them.

"Frank takes delicious care in writing multidimensional, irresistibly engaging characters." — David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle

Sons of Anarchy

Metascore: 75
Best for: Fans of crime dramas that depict anti-hero transformations 
Where to watch:

, , , , Vudu 
Seasons: 7

Yellowstone boss Sheridan portrayed a sheriff in the first three seasons of this contemporary Western crime drama, which Linson also executive produced. Created by Kurt Sutter and loosely inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet, Sons of Anarchy follows an outlaw motorcycle club in the illegal arms business that also strives to protect its small California town from threats. The action centers on Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), whose late father was one of the club's founding members. Disillusioned by the club's growing violence, Jax must juggle his personal life with the organization's demands. Spin-off series Mayans M.C. follows another motorcycle club introduced in the series. 

"If you're really just in the mood for a tightly plotted character drama, the show delivers on that score. And if you like to see bikers busting heads, well, SOA has some of the best bone-crunching action in the business." — Maureen Ryan, The Huffington Post

Hatfields & McCoys

Metascore: 68
Best for: Fans of famous feuds and historical docudramas
Where to watch:

, , ,
Seasons: 1

Before Costner led the Duttons, he starred as another family patriarch in this Western inspired by real events. The Hatfields & McCoys depicts the infamous feud between the titular families, which spanned multiple decades in the late 1800s and caused multiple deaths. The three-part miniseries chronicles the initial fallout between former friends Devil Anse Hatfield (Costner) and Randall McCoy (Bill Paxton) after the Civil War and how the escalating tension affected their Kentucky and West Virginia homes, even leading to a U.S. Supreme Court trial. Hatfields & McCoys won five out of 16 Emmy nominations, including a win for Costner's performance.  

"Overall, Hatfields & McCoys is engrossing, and enlightening about a feud that proves to be a lot more than the bumpkin brawl of pop legend." — Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly