In many ways, Yellowstone is the Platonic ideal of a Taylor Sheridan joint, combining a neo-western vibe with an incredibly detailed sense of place, a nonpolitical exploration of the tension between individual rights and the collective forces of society, and some really banger lines delivered by Kevin Costner as badass patriarch John Dutton. It’s no wonder the show was a huge hit that keeps spawning prequels and spinoffs.

If you can’t get enough Yellowstone, we’ve already offered up suggestions for other TV series you could be streaming. If you need more Big Sky-esque drama, the good news is there are plenty of books, movies, games, and podcasts that can emulate the show’s themes, setting, and storytelling.

The best books like Yellowstone

A good book is always the best way to immerse yourself in a vibe, and Yellowstone takes a novelistic approach to its story. Here are some terrific books that any fan of the show will love.

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Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry

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Barkskins, by Annie Proulx

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The Son, by Philipp Meyer

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Lone Women, by Victor LaValle

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Texas, by James Michener

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Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry

There is a direct line from this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to Yellowstone that Taylor Sheridan has openly discussed, which makes it the obvious literary choice. The story—about two retired Texas Rangers who embark on a dangerous, violent cattle drive to (where else) Montana—has everything fans of the show want: Complex, morally-gray characters, a story infused with and informed by its setting, and a sense of what it means to be a real cowboy in a world that is increasingly hostile toward that life.

Barkskins, by Annie Proulx

You want sprawling American experience drama that spans generations and involves building a family legacy? Dive into Barskins, the story of the Sel Family from René Sel’s arrival in 17th-century America (in the territory then known as New France) to the modern age. The ruthless, often violent determination to build something and protect it from forces that seek to acquire the fruits of your labor is a major theme here, slotting right into that Yellowstone vibe.

The Son, by Philipp Meyer

Following three generations of the McCullogh family as it builds an oil and ranching empire in Texas, The Son has all the drama, violence, and grit you find in Sheridan’s show—and then some. As they grow in power and wealth, the McCulloghs must decide what’s truly important and what can be sacrificed for the greater good of the family. If you’re pining for the Dutton family’s soapy travails, this will be a satisfying read.

Lone Women, by Victor LaValle

It’s an unexpected choice, but LaValle’s off-center western-horror hybrid is a great complement to Yellowstone. Adelaide arrives in Montana with something locked in a trunk and a determination to make a go of it in a remote area of Montana in 1915. She’s not afraid of hard work, which is an asset, because surviving and building a working farm in that beautifully harsh land isn’t easy. If you’re looking for a story about a willful person with their eye on building a legacy, this novel has the vibe you’re seeking.

Texas, by James Michener

You want western sprawl? Michener’s 1985 novel is inspired by the entire history of Texas. With a focus on generations of a few families, the story combines fictional characters with real historic personages to dramatize that story. If you’re looking for a story that parallels family history with the land they live and work on, you can’t get any more epic than this.

The best movies like Yellowstone

One of Yellowstone’s greatest pleasures are its visuals—that Montana setting and Yellowstone itself. To get a little more of that, here are some of the best movies for fans of the show.

Hell or High Water (2016)

Yellowstone is Yellowstone because of one man: Taylor Sheridan. He wrote the script for this 2016 heist movie set in West Texas, and the themes are spot on. Brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster) Howard are faced with losing their family’s ranch due to a reverse mortgage their mother took out, and set up a series of bank heists at the very bank that’s trying to foreclose on the ranch to get the money they need. Family, ranches, and fighting to keep what’s yours—what could be more Yellowstone? Rent Hell or High Water on Prime Video.

Hell or High Water (2016)

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The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Check Out After Watching ‘Yellowstone’