Taylor Sheridan is a name that’s become synonymous with the Western genre, and his projects range in quality. Taylor Sheridan is the screenwriter/TV mega-producer known for titles like the Yellowstone franchise, Landman, and more. He’s also worked on successful films like Sicario and Hell or High Water.
While Taylor Sheridan’s projects are evidently popular and entertaining, they haven’t been consistently popular with critics. Movies and shows he’s written have varied in their success, particularly ranging from season to season. For example, Yellowstone is his most popular title, but the five-season show has drastic highs and lows.
Sicario: Day Of The Soldado
To have Sicario 2 as a career-worst Western is essentially a compliment, as this is not a bad movie by any means. The only problem with Sicario: Day of the Soldado is that it’s not Sicario (2015), but not all movies can be directed by the mastermind that is Denis Villeneuve. Though Stefano Sollima does a solid job with the material, it’s just hard to compete with a legendary filmmaker.
Sicario 2 is still a solid neo-Western action movie, and it has many of the elements that make the first one so great. However, the meiocre 62% Rotten Tomatoes score is indicative of what this sequel is. Maybe the Sheridan/Villeneuve duo will reunite for a Sicario 3 to right the ship and end on a high note.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is a series that feels a lot like a Taylor Sheridan show, but it’s technically not his work. While Sheridan is an Executive Producer on the project, and it was originally conceived as a spinoff of 1883, the brain behind this one is Chad Feehan, and the series does not take place in the Yellowstone timeline.
The series is based on fascinating real-life source material, examining the historical figure Bass Reeves in an exciting way. However, the show doesn’t quite have the heart or the epic quality of 1883. Lawmen is an exciting weekend binge for Western fans and historical fiction TV lovers, but it’s not a Paramount+ hallmark.
Landman
Despite Landman season 1 being wildly popular with audiences, I’m not quite ready to place it too high. The series only has one season under its belt, and it came with a number of narrative issues. For instance, the series constantly struggled when Billy Bob Thornton wasn’t on screen. For this show to achieve the success of Yellowstone, it needs to demonstrate more depth.
Landman’s upcoming sophomore season could easily begin to right this wrong, with more screen time for Demi Moore and the addition of movie stars Sam Elliott and Andy Garcia. The series will also need to prove itself as a long-form narrative, as Sheridan’s multi-season shows have consistently struggled with redundant and contrived plotlines.
There is still great potential for Landman, as it offers a compelling, fresh take on the Western genre. The series has quickly become a landmark selling point for Paramount+, instantly becoming one of the biggest streaming titles of last year. If it improves upon its weaknesses and continues to excel in its strengths, it could become an all-time television hit and Sheridan’s opus.
Wind River
Wind River is one of Taylor Sheridan’s most subtle pieces and deserves recognition for that. This film offers some of the strongest performances in Sheridan’s filmography, with Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Jon Bernthal, and Yellowstone star Gil Birmingham all delivering some of the best work of their careers.
This movie falls under the neo-Western category, but for fans of murder mysteries or shows like Dark Winds or True Detective, this is an excellent option. Like many of Sheridan’s shows, Wind River’s Wyoming setting is a compelling character in and of itself. The film’s box office and critical success are commendable, but it still doesn’t compete with the juggernauts.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone is one of the most popular TV shows of the century, with Taylor Sheridan establishing his market of shows that blend prestige TV, classic network drama tropes, and soap opera elements. It could have easily been his masterpiece, but the show was consistently riddled with behind-the-scenes controversies and fluctuating quality.
Most fans will agree that seasons 2 and 3 were the peak of Yellowstone, with the final season marred by redundant storylines, melodrama, and Kevin Costner’s departure. While the show had a fantastic supporting cast of characters, the best in any Taylor Sheridan project by far, Costner’s John Dutton was the core of the show.
Kevin Costner was the marquee that brought the Yellowstone franchise to prominence, and his absence in the final episodes was difficult to ignore. Killing off John Dutton is one thing, but doing so off-screen during a two-year break was as dissatisfying as possible, leaving a sour taste in the show’s legacy.
1883
1883 is a series I had some personal grievances with, but it’s hard to deny the success. With an 8.7/10 on IMDb and an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, 1883 is one of the most unanimously praised titles in Taylor Sheridan’s arsenal, and it pays off for the show’s ambition. This is the most expansive, daring series he’s developed.
While Yellowstone laid the foundation for the Western franchise’s contemporary setting, 1883 offered a glimpse at the Dutton family’s roots, examining why this all matters. More than almost any project Sheridan has worked on, 1883 is a true Western for those who have loved the genre for decades. This is a frontiersman epic worth embarking on.
Hell or High Water
Hell or High Water is one of the most underrated neo-Western films of all time, worthy of being in the conversation with titles like No Country for Old Men, earning an Academy Award for Best Picture. The title is not only an outstanding piece of writing, but also proved Sheridan was capable of standing on his own without Denis Villeneuve’s help.
Whether it’s action, great dialogue, or Western themes, Hell or High Water is an excellent all-around option. The film boasts an outstanding 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics with an equally exceptional 88% score from audiences, affirming that this is not only one of Sheridan’s best projects, but also one of the best Westerns of the century.
1923
If you’re a fan of Taylor Sheridan’s work, 1923 is the best TV show he’s written. This pick is certainly influenced by personal preference, but there are plenty of accolades to back this take. The series has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and is one of the few Taylor Sheridan titles to find success at major awards shows, with two Golden Globe nominations.
1923 utilizes a unique Western setting, showing the Dutton Family during the Prohibition era. The characters are some of the strongest Sheridan has ever written, with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren managing to deliver some of the strongest performances of their careers. Stars Brandon Sklenar and Julia Schlaepfer also bring the series to life in a beautifully unexpected way.
Sicario
First, I’ll address the fact that there’s some debate regarding whether Sicario is a Western. It is. The film perfectly utilizes Western tropes in a contemporary setting, blending them with a top-notch, high-stakes crime thriller. This was Taylor Sheridan’s first screenwriting credit, and it’s still his best, with the expertise of Denis Villeneuve complementing his writing.
Sicario has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes with an 85% from audiences, making it another of the most widely-praised titles in his filmography. In terms of Taylor Sheridan’s screenwriting, Hell or High Water might have a slight edge, but the direction and all-star cast of Sicario make it the best project he’s been involved with.
