Yellowstone season 5 premiere breaks record with 12.1 million viewers

The Duttons have returned for a new season of family drama and political backstabbing, and it seems that there was quite an audience for the Yellowstone season 5 premiere.

Yellowstone has seen its ratings steadily rise over the last four seasons, and the first two episodes of the latest season have continued that trend. The Yellowstone season 5 premiere saw 8.8 million viewers on Paramount Network, which marks a 10% increase from the season 4 premiere. Across all four networks, Paramount Network, CMT, TVLand, and Pop, the premiere pulled in 10.3 million viewers, an 8% increase over last year’s 9.5 million. That number climbed to 12.1 million when the encore presentations were included. The premiere also shattered records in all demographics, each up by double digits. It’s safe to say that audiences are pretty pumped about Yellowstone.

Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner). The Duttons control the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S. and must contend with constant attacks by land developers, clashes with an Indian reservation and conflict with America’s first national park. The fifth season picks up as John Dutton is elected governor of Montana. As John settles into the power of his new office, he makes a bold move to protect the Yellowstone Ranch from his opponents.

In addition to Kevin Costner, the series also stars Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham, Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty, Wendy Moniz, Jen Landon, and Kathryn Kelly. In his review of the Yellowstone season 5 premiere, our own Alex Maidy said, “With a pulse-pounding two-hour premiere, Yellowstone is back with more wrangling, backstabbing, political machinations, and more. Everything you love about Taylor Sheridan’s flagship series is back even if it is not quite as flashy as last season’s debut. With a two-episode premiere, Yellowstone brings everything you love about the series back for more.” You can check out the rest of Maidy’s review right here.