Yellowstone’s series finale has set a new viewership record for the popular Taylor Sheridan show. First airing in 2018, the Paramount neo-Western series chronicles the lives of the Dutton family as they attempt to retain control of their ranch in Montana. After five popular seasons – and a great deal of drama involving John Dutton actor Kevin Coster, who did not return for season 5, part 2 – theYellowstoneseries finalebrought the show to a close on Sunday, December 15.
The Wrapnow reports thatYellowstonewent out on a high note, with the series finale drawing 11.4 million viewers. This makes it the most-watched episode in the show’s history. As for how season 5, part 2, compared to part 1, the new episodes were up by 4% overall, according to data from VideoAmp. The second half of season 5 also had the biggest international premiere in Paramount+’s history, with 21 million U.S. viewers watching the premiere over its first three days of availability.
When looking at social media engagement,the second half of season 5 was also an improvement over its predecessor, with views up by 103% and engagement up by 68%. In total,Yellowstone’s series finale drew 575 million views on social media and 22 million engagements.16.4 million viewers tuned in for theYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, premiere and encore showings across eight cable networks, which represents a total bump of 3% over season 5, part 1.
What Yellowstone’s Viewership Success Means For The Franchise
Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western Universe Will Continue
It’s clear that, behind-the-scenes drama aside,Yellowstonehas been a massive hit for Paramount. The show’s success has led to a variety of new Sheridan universe projects, both inside and outside the world ofYellowstone. With the flagship show now at an end,Sheridan’s partnership with Paramount is not set to end anytime soon.
Though not yet officially announced, Sheridan’sLionessshow seems likely to be renewed for season 3, andLandmanis currently in the midst of airing new episodes.1923season 2, which serves as a prequel toYellowstone,is set to premiere on August 01, 2025.AnotherYellowstonespinoff calledThe Madisonis currently in the works, with that show set to star Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, and Beau Garrett.
The Madison: Cast, Story & Everything We Know About The Yellowstone Spinoff
Taylor Sheridan’s TV empire is expanding with the announcement of The Madison, a new series which is officially a spinoff of Yellowstone.
Finally,theYellowstoneseries finale also sets up a sequel showstarring Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser).Deadline’s reporting on the new show suggests other familiar faces from theYellowstonecastcould also appear in the project. It doesn’t currently have a release date, but the world of Sheridan’s neo-Western isn’t going anywhere.
AnotherYellowstonespinoff called1883aired in 2021, but it serves as a contained story and won’t be getting a season 2.
Our Take On Yellowstone’s Series Finale Ratings
Sheridan Concluded The Saga On A High Note
Though it seemed like the Costner drama was in danger of overshadowingYellowstoneitself, audiences were still evidently interested in seeing how the grand saga concluded.The reception to the final episode seems to be generally positive overall, and it was clearly designed to keep the door open for future projects. Though there does seem to be a danger ofYellowstoneoverload (if not Sheridan overload), it’s clear that point hasn’t yet arrived, and the Dutton story isn’t set to vanish for good just yet.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 24, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
