Top 5 Western TV Shows of 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

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Westerns are becoming incredibly popular on TV again. Recent miniseries have really grabbed viewers’ attention, with shows like AMC’s Dark Winds consistently performing well and Taylor Sheridan’s expanding series drawing in a wider audience. 2025 saw even more new Westerns premiere, further solidifying the genre’s comeback.

As a Western fan, I’ve been keeping track of all the new series this year, and honestly, it’s been a pretty interesting mix. While I’d say only one of them really stands out as a top-tier Western show of the last ten years, they’ve all offered something for fans like me to enjoy – each in its own unique way.

While most of the buzz about Westerns in 2025 has focused on new movies and returning shows, a couple of series that premiered this year have also gotten people talking – sometimes positively, sometimes not. We’re also seeing a change in which companies are releasing these TV Westerns, and who’s leading the way.

Netflix has really stepped up its game with new Western shows this year, becoming a major competitor to Paramount, which has recently led the way in this genre. Much of Paramount’s success has been thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s consistent work, so the fact that he’ll be leaving Paramount in 2029 gives Netflix an even bigger advantage.

5. Ransom Canyon

Netflix

Anna Kooris / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Premiering in 2025, Ransom Canyon is a new Netflix series—the first of three on this list—that feels very similar to Yellowstone. Created by April Blair and featuring Josh Duhamel and Minka Grady, the show tells the story of three powerful ranching families fighting for control of their land.

Ransom Canyon feels a lot like a copy of the Dutton family from Yellowstone, almost as if Netflix tried to create two similar families. While it doesn’t quite measure up to the original, it leans into the dramatic, over-the-top storylines even more. The show does offer some stunning views of the New Mexico landscape, though.

4. The Abandons

Netflix

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

The first season of The Abandons ends in a way that suggests a second season is planned, and it’s likely Netflix will renew the show since it’s been very popular with viewers in the US. However, critics haven’t been impressed, finding it to be an over-the-top and unrealistic portrayal of life in the Old West.

As a total cinema lover, I have to say The Abandons is a beautiful show to look at. They clearly spent a lot of money making everything feel authentic, especially the sets and the costumes. It’s set just before the Civil War, out in the Washington Territory, and really captures the feeling of the Old West – even if it doesn’t always get the historical details exactly right, it’s brimming with the social conflicts of the time.

3. Schwarzes Gold

ARD Mediathek

This German series, titled Schwarzes Gold (which means “Black Gold”), is set during an oil boom in the Lüneburg Heath around the turn of the 20th century. It’s similar in tone to the American film There Will Be Blood, though less focused on a single, driven character. Think of it as a European take on the classic American Westerns about gold rushes.

As a huge Western fan, it always blows my mind that some of the greatest films ever made in the genre were directed by a German, Anthony Mann. So, this new series isn’t exactly Germany jumping into Westerns for the first time. But honestly, Schwarzes Gold is something special for 2025 – a TV Western focused on oilfields that really stays focused. Someone should definitely show this to the Landman team!

2. Sitting Bull

History

Currently streaming, Sitting Bull is considered one of the best documentaries available, across all genres. This two-part TV show, executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and his Appian Way studio, offers a fascinating look at the life of the legendary Lakota chief, going beyond his famous win at the Battle of Little Bighorn to explore the man himself.

Similar to many History Channel documentaries, this program combines insights from experts with dramatic reenactments of important moments in Sitting Bull’s life, featuring speeches in the Lakota language. It’s a well-made show that anyone interested in Westerns – or the true history of the American West – will likely enjoy.

1. American Primeval

Netflix

Debuting in 2025, American Primeval is the best of the new Western TV shows. It’s a moving and exciting depiction of the Utah War, a conflict between Mormon settlers and other residents of the area. Unlike typical Westerns focused on cowboys and Native Americans, this miniseries offers a fresh perspective on the Old West.

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The actors in American Primeval all give strong performances, but Kim Coates is particularly captivating as Brigham Young, the historical leader of the Latter Day Saints Church. Coates portrays Young as a truly intimidating figure – a fiery preacher who doesn’t hesitate to use violence to enforce his strict beliefs.

This show doesn’t shy away from portraying the often-brutal conflict between the Mormon church and early Utah settlers. What truly makes it stand out, though, is the complex character of Brigham Young – a leader who is both a powerful military commander and a cunning strategist.

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2025-12-21 16:12