1923 Smashes Records, Proving Yellowstone Prequel’s Unstoppable Popularity

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The universe of ‘Yellowstone‘ remains supreme on Paramount+, with the debut of its prequel series, “1923“, dominating the streamer’s platform and breaking new records in the process. Starring Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton, the first season introduced a fresh era for the ‘Yellowstone’ franchise. Now, the premiere of Season 2 of this spin-off has outperformed all previous shows by Taylor Sheridan, even surpassing the original hit series itself.

As a movie enthusiast, I was utterly captivated by the impressive debut of “1923” Season 2 on Paramount+. According to recent data from TheWrap, this Western saga by Taylor Sheridan continues to thrive, proving that it’s far from its sunset even after the conclusion of “Yellowstone” last year. The second season premiere attracted a staggering 5.4 million viewers, making it the biggest debut ever on the streaming platform – just nudging past the 5.2 million viewers for “Landman” in 2024. To put things into perspective, this viewership is more than double the 2.2 million viewers that tuned in for the first season of “Yellowstone”, demonstrating the remarkable growth of this captivating franchise.

For Sheridan, this latest success is significant, considering the uproar surrounding the end of Yellowstone, Kevin Costner’s unexpected exit from the series, and the letdown many felt about how the final season unfolded. Yet, despite these issues, fans remain captivated by the worlds Sheridan creates, particularly those rooted in the Western genre.

‘1923’ Has the Attraction of Big Stars and a Big Story

In the core of what makes “1923” a hit, there’s an outstanding ensemble cast that Sheridan effortlessly draws into his universe. The prequel to “Yellowstone” boasts the return of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, portraying the tenacious Jacob Dutton and passionate matriarch Cara respectively. This series unfolds in the era of Prohibition, presenting a stark contrast to the time depicted in “Yellowstone,” but as a follow-up to the earlier-set “1883,” it further expands the generational saga of the “Yellowstone” ranch.

I can’t help but be captivated by Sheridan’s grand, all-encompassing storytelling, which has consistently delivered one successful series after another effortlessly. The premiere of 1923 was met with positive Rotten Tomatoes reviews, a welcome change following some lower ratings that Yellowstone received in its last season. Fans seem to be getting exactly what they were hoping for as the Duttons continue their unwavering support and defense of the ranch that plays such a crucial role in their lives.

The exceptional talent of writer/director Taylor Sheridan for crafting vast fictional worlds has been a significant advantage for Paramount, as they’ve enjoyed the benefits of hosting his shows on their platform. Among these are “Yellowstone,” “1923,” and “1883,” but Sheridan’s contributions also extend to “Landman,” “Special Ops: Lioness,” and “Tulsa King.” For quite some time now, these series have consistently ranked in the Top 10 on the streaming service. With additional seasons of “Lioness” and “Tulsa King” planned, as well as more spinoffs of “Yellowstone” like “The Madison,” it seems that Sheridan’s fictional universe has no bounds, which is fantastic news for his numerous fans.

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2025-02-27 16:33