Taylor Sheridan is often credited as being the one who almost single-handedly brought back the wild west to popularity on American television. Sheridan is one of the most sought after writer and showrunner in the business today, and his output has been as prolific as ever. Sheridan is often in the habit of committing to several projects in a single year, to the effect that he is always making headlines whether his films/shows are a hit or miss.
The past four years have seen Taylor Sheridan producing and writing almost a dozen new shows including Tulsa King, Landman, Lawman: Bass Reeves and the Yellowstone spin-off shows 1883 and 1923. Sheridan's obsession with the wild west has earned him the fitting moniker of being television's favorite cowboy.
Although he was already on the Hollywood map following his work as a writer on Dennis Villeneuve's Sicario, it was Yellowstone that catapulted him to new heights of fame.
Yellowstone had Taylor Sheridan as the showrunner and focused on the ups and downs of a family and their ranch in Montana, starring Kevin Costner in the leading role. Apart from writing, Sheridan has also forayed into direction, donning the director's hat for films such as the Sicario prequel and Hell or High Water.
Here are 10 films and television shows by Sheridan, ranked.
10 most watchable films and TV shows by Taylor Sheridan, ranked
Keep reading to know more about the top ten films and TV shows created by Taylor Sheridan
1) Yellowstone
It's no wonder that Yellowstone tops the list. Taylor Sheridan really touched numerous hearts with this neo-Western show set in Montana. This story about a damaged family was positively received across the board and eventually became one of the most watched shows on American television.
The Dutton family happens to own the largest ranch in the country and are riddled by numerous internal conflicts to boot. The show also led to a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Drama win for Kevin Costner last year.
2) 1883
Sam Elliot stars in this spin-off based on Yellowstone and is joined by popular Country stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. This limited series potrarys the earliest members of the Dutton family while they traverse the Oregon trail and settle down in Montana. The show depends for a large extent on Elliot's ability to carry himself as a bonafide Westerner of the past.
3) Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Based on the real-life lawman, who was the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshall, this stars David Oyelowo, who delivers a fine performance in the titular role.
It is a fitting tribute to the legendary historical character and does a good job of reviving his legacy to a new generation of audience. Bass Reeves was a runaway slave turned lawman, who navigated the early wild west.
4) Special Ops: Lioness
This one is another of Taylor Sheridan's works that is based on real life, drawing inspiration from the real life CIA undercover program. Taking a departure from his usual cowboy fare, Sheridan delved into a show that depicted American policy.
In doing so he ended up creating a narrative that didn't always have clearly defined heroes and villains, often harboring on the gray space in between. Another interesting fact about the show is that it was female-driven.
5) Sicario (2015)
This was arguably Taylor Sheridan's first career highlight and the film that got him on the map. Emily Blunt is an FBI agent who is drawn into a plan devised by a CIA operative (Josh Brolin) and a ruthless assassin (Benicio Del Toro) to take out a Mexican cartel boss. The film was directed by Dennis Villeneuve and has made it to several lists pertaining to the top thriller films of it's day and age.
6) Hell or High Water
Sheridan earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay for this film that follows two bank robbers trying to outwit the Texas Rangers. Chris Pine and Ben Foster are the two outlaws who are constantly on the run from law enforcement and this calls for quite a few nail-biting moments replete with suspense. It is interesting to note that following the success of this film, Taylor Sheridan had Yellowstone greelit by Paramount.
7) 1923
Another spin-off on the Yellowstone universe. This one has Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren making appearances. It is too early to judge whether this show is among the best written by Taylor Sheridan as it is stil in the middle of it's second season arc.
However, it has provided the audience with a lot to chew on. Spencer Dutton, played by Brandon Sklenar is a tough character that rides the oceans and partakes in perilous adventures, once seen locked in a fight against a lion!
8) Tulsa King
Sylvester Stallone stars as a New York mafioso who is sent to Oklahoma to stir things up and that he does! After Stallone is released from prison, he is handed over a bizarre assigment to go out and bring in some extra cash for the mob family.
Although there isn't much going on in Oklahoma, Stallone gets the ball rolling with his unique abilities. This is a must watch for all Taylor Sheridan fans.
9) Wind River
This one explores the conditions of indigenous women in America and marked the collaboration between Sheridan and Jeremy Renner. Although it does not entirely under-deliver, it was apparent from the outset that this project came to Taylor Sheridan when he was going through a relatively dry phase in terms of his creativity.
The themes touched upon on this film would subsequently be explored in greater detail by Sheridan in 1923, where the scope of the show allowed for a more nuanced approach.
10) Sicario: Day of the Soldado
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Although it doesn't quite match up to the original film, it's still an important watch for the fans of the franchise. Making a sequel to an already successful film is never easy.
In this case, the sequel failed to live up to the expectations. However, Sheridan holds his own in terms of the screenplay and delivers an engaging narrative. The original cast comprising Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro returned for this sequel, which was released in 2018.
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