The 13 Best Taylor Sheridan TV Shows, Ranked
Taylor Sheridan’s turn from television actor to one of the most successful writers, directors, and producers in Hollywood started with an insulting response to a request for a raise.
At the time, Sheridan was playing Deputy Chief David Hale on Sons of Anarchy, but studio brass didn’t think he deserved more money for his work, as he recalled to Deadline in 2022.
“When my attorney said, ‘Look, there are kids on the Cartoon Network making more than you’re offering this guy,’ this jerk business affairs attorney goes, ‘He probably deserves to make more, but we’re not going to pay him more, because guess what? He’s not worth more. There are 50 of him. He is 11 on the call sheet. That’s what that guy is, and that’s all he’s ever going to be,’” Sheridan said.
So, the Texas native got to writing, penning the scripts for the films Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River (which he also directed). And in 2018, he launched what has become a TV empire with the premiere of Yellowstone, the Paramount Network drama he co-created, produced, wrote, directed, and even acted in.
Sheridan’s latest Yellowstone spinoff, 1923, ended in April 2025, but the franchise continued in March 2026 with Marshals, with Dutton Ranch set for release later in 2026. His most intimate drama to date, The Madison, also debuted in March 2026.
Scroll down to see all of Sheridan’s small-screen productions, ranked by IMDb score.
Marshals
The first broadcast spinoff of the Yellowstone universe stars Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, who joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty, and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence. The series was renewed in the blink of an eye after airing just two episodes on CBS, but viewers on IMDb only give it a 6.2 rating after its third episode aired on March 15, 2026. It began with a huge change to Kayce and Monica’s (Kelsey Asbille) love story, one that redefines the cowboy’s life forever.
The Road
Sheridan’s TV empire isn’t limited to scripted fare. He’s one of the executive producers of this CBS singing competition series set on a Keith Urban concert tour. The Road followed 12 emerging musicians vying for a $250,000 prize, a Country Road Records recording contract, and Stagecoach Country Music Festival and Red Bull Jukebox slots. IMDb users gave it an average score of 6.4. “I love the concept of giving these artists the opportunity to perform as opening acts to a huge star,” one said. Another posted a less positive review, saying, “I was really hoping this would line up with The Voice or American Idol. … Don’t get your hopes up.”
The Last Cowboy
Sheridan is also the creator of this CMT competition series, which follows the riders and trainers in the sport of horse reining as they make circles, rundowns, and rollbacks on their way to the Run for a Million in Las Vegas. It has a 6.6 rating on IMDb, with one user saying the show is “easy enough to follow for novice horse folks, but detailed enough for those that live in the horse world” but another complaining that it “does not show near enough riding.”
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Sheridan executive-produces this series alongside David Oyelowo, who also took on the title role. It tells the untold true story of the first Black U.S. Marshal, who was later the reported inspiration for The Lone Ranger. Lauren E. Banks, Donald Sutherland, Dennis Quaid, and more also star in the series, which IMDb viewers gave an average rating of 7.3. One user said, ‘There have been a few portrayals of this character over the years but David Oyelowo is by far the best yet.” Another shared, “The casting is outstanding. No caricatures, and everyone plays the role right on the money, neither under- nor over-playing it. This is smart writing that doesn’t insult the intelligence of the viewer.”
Lioness
Lioness is a military drama as opposed to Sheridan’s typical Westerns. It stars Zoe Saldaña as Joe, a CIA agent trying to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the agency’s spear in the war on terror. Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) is recruited into the Lioness Program to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism, and Season 2 brings Carrillo (Genesis Rodriguez) into the program. The star-studded cast also features Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Jill Wagner, and Yellowstone universe alums Dave Annable and LaMonica Garrett. Fans enjoy it for its gripping drama and sharp storytelling, giving it a 7.8 rating.
Tulsa King
Sylvester Stallone enters the TV landscape with this Paramount+ series, playing a New York City mafia boss who starts a new crime family in Tulsa, OK, after getting exiled there following his release from a 25-year prison term. With an IMDb rating of 7.9, Tulsa King “delivers,” according to one fan. “Stallone hits the mark with a brooding, no-nonsense performance that blends humor and violence to near perfection,” that IMDb user adds. Another reviewer writes that Stallone “deserves the upmost respect for his craft.”
The Madison
The Madison is a profound love story channeled through a deeply personal family drama about resilience and transformation. It unfolds across two distinct worlds — the beautiful landscape of Montana and the vibrant energy of Manhattan — as it examines the ties that bind families together after an unexpected tragedy. It stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell as the central couple, Stacy and Preston Clyburn, whose love story is the foundation of their New York City-based family. The first three of six episodes came out on March 14 on Paramount+, with the last three to follow on March 21. It has a 7.9 rating on IMDb after the release of Part 1. Season 2 has already been filmed.
Mayor of Kingstown
With Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, and co-creator Hugh Dillon in the cast, this Paramount+ series tracks the shifting power dynamics in a Michigan town entrenched in the prison-industrial complex. It gets an 8.1 rating overall, though reviews for episodes late in Season 4 have soared up to 9.5. One viewer calls the show “dark, gritty, smart, [and] unnerving at times” and recommends it to fans of Sons of Anarchy, Bloodline, and The Sopranos. “The series has a real life-feel,” another person said. “Corruption exists, as we all know it exists, but in Kingstown, we get to see who is managing the scales of justice.”
Landman
Set in present-day Texas, Landman stars Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, a man navigating a world where everyone from roughnecks to billionaires tries to get rich quickly through oil drilling. Tommy is fighting to make his company land on top of this fuel boom. Fans enjoy the show for its familiar Sheridan style, drama, and occasional humor, giving it an average IMDb rating of 8.2. But many of the fan reviews cite the portrayal of Tommy’s ex-wife, Angela (Ali Larter), and their 17-year-old daughter, Ainsley (1923‘s Michelle Randolph), as the show’s major flaw. Several reviews say that Angela and Ainsley are unnecessarily and strangely sexualized in a way that detracts from the story and disappoints the viewer.
Willie Nelson & Family
Sheridan executive-produced this four-episode Paramount+ docuseries about the life, lyrics, and legacy of an outlaw country superstar now in his 90s. It gets an 8.2 average on IMDb, with one user raving, “This was an in-depth ride. Honest, and heartfelt.” Another said, “Willie fans, the merely curious, and those who haven’t a clue about this American icon will enjoy watching this jewel.”
1923
After 1883, Sheridan jumped four decades in the family history for this Paramount+ title featuring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Dutton family members fighting for survival amid famine, pandemics, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. The Paramount+ series has an average user rating of 8.3/10 from around 96,000 voters. One praised the “beautifully shot, promising first episode” and another observed that “everything [Sheridan] touches turns to gold.”
Yellowstone
Paramount Network’s biggest hit, which Sheridan co-created with John Linson, tracks the Dutton clan as they defend their Montana property, the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the country, from threats inside and outside the family. IMDb voters have given Yellowstone a rating of 8.6, with one saying it “has the feel and cinematography of Longmire, the plotting and grim outlook of The Sopranos, and the dramatic dynamics of shows like Dynasty,” and another saying that star Kevin Costner capably fills the boots of “a world-wearied man who has seen too much and lied too often.”
1883
Narrowly edging out Yellowstone with an IMDb rating of 8.7, the first spinoff in the franchise shows how the Dutton family settled in Montana in the first place, with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill playing ancestors who journeyed into the American West and Sam Elliott a Civil War veteran leading their expedition. “It’s just you and an eclectic group of pioneers, learning their way as they embark on a relentless and unforgiving journey,” one IMDb user wrote. Another called 1883 “a no-holds-barred story about emigration to the Far West by groups displacing the native people” and “a real eye-opener to a reality usually glossed over or romanticized in productions of this sort.”
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CyanPopcorn
Pleased to see the classic Western series 1883 made #1-- so beautifully written and acted.
OliveFan
absolutely loved 1883. I especially like the love story between Elsa and Sam. Hated that they didn't end up together
OrangeBus
If you don't like any of these shows, why do you keep watching them?
PP
1883 was great.
GreenRocket
Sheridan is probably the best writer on Television. His shows have cohesion, drama and give good actors a chance to act. Television in America is really terrible, aimed at lightweights who don’t want to interrupt their snacking with thinking. Without sex and gratuitous violence there would be nothing. We watch British series almost exclusively because they are worth our time and are intelligent and well written.
CyanCandy
What about 68 Whiskey? We enjoyed it and thought it deserved a second shot.
Lyn
Lioness is so good.
Eva Merrick
I like Mayor of Kingston the best so far, Tulsa King next. I don't like 1923, although the actors are great. The storyline is just too dark. Yellowstone jumped the shark about 3 seasons ago. A very attractive cast, but the material is just too melodramatic and unrealistic. 1883 was good, well cast and very cinematographic, but too many characters with promise bit the dust. I'm reminded how good the miniseries Centennial was, done in the early 80s. Am very happy that a follow up to Wind River is in the works. My favorite Taylor Sheridan western.
jazznut
Couldn't agree more about 1883 being #1-- a masterpiece!
GreenCupcake
We want Yellowstone to go ahead. If 1883 is 1, why stop with the future. My family loves this show. We own all the dvds.Maybe the right offer $ Cayce and family will stay for tates inheratance.With the world gone crazy.Give us a happy ending. Cosner made BIG mistake.Yes for 6! Maybe 7!!!
OrangeBus
Are you by chance the studio brass who refused him a raise and told him he wasn’t going to amount to anything? How’s that weekly paycheck gig working out for you?
Derek St. John
My top three are: Yellowstone, Lioness, and Landman. It's the stars/actors for me; and these three have the best--in Tayloe Sheridan shows.
BlueHelmet
I do not like Mayor of Kingston. the acting was great, but they cuss too much. I love Yellowstone, and I love Tulsa King. Sylvester Stallone does a great job with the character. I also thought 1923 is really good. and 1883 was good too. My favorite was Tulsa King and then Yellowstone. I watched all of Yellowstone twice, and I'm not one to watch a show more than once. all were good though. I loved Bass Reeves too. all the actors did a great job.
debbieb
My top 5 are Yellowstone, Landman, The Madison, Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown, not necessarily in that order. I love the writings of Taylor Sheridan. He knows how to tell a story from every angle.
Bill
Machine guns in Wyoming lol
PurplePizza
Lioness should be way higher, particularly after that last season. Kingstown and Tulsa King both had great first seasons but dipped in quality big time after that.
GreenCupcake
Stallone is almost a cartoon character.
OrangeBus
Unwatchable in anything. He should stay home and paint.
GreenCupcake
All the Taylor Sheridan shows are about the same. Great acting by most, great production values but horrible soap opera writing and storylines with totally unbelievable action. 1883 and 1923 are good. Yellowstone and Mayor are of course totally fictional and unbelievable. The reason Taylor Sheridan is a flash in the pan is his storylines are so ridiculously unbelievable that all of his series will end sooner rather than later because he can’t come up with anything more to say in his stories than he has already said. There are only so many scenes of gunfights, hangings, stabbing, fights you can repeat per hour. It’s tiresome. And a few of his buddies he keeps injecting as actors and or exec producers in multiple shows like Hugh Dillion are just lightly talented cast that are more overacting than acting. Dillon in particular needs to take a sedative before the camera rolls, both in Yellowstone and Mayor. I mean really? Sheridan couldn’t find a competent actor? And the guy he has playing Kyle in Mayor is just plain unbelievable.
Bottom line, Sheridan shows are entertaining but they’re soap operas. Which mean after a while they not only test credibility but one’s patience. Sheridan clearly has little respect for his audiences. Maybe he’s right, maybe we are all stupid, gullible slugs that will accept anything as entertaining regardless.
OrangeBottle
Tulsa King is the dumbest show ever
OrangeGuitar
Get some culture, Ronny