'Yellowstone' Season 4 finale SHATTERS records to become most-watched show on TV since 2017

Season 4 of 'Yellowstone' broke its own Season 3 record as well
Kevin Costner as Joh Dutton in 'Yellowstone' (Paramount Network)
Kevin Costner as Joh Dutton in 'Yellowstone' (Paramount Network)

2021 saw the revival of the entertainment world as production could finally pick up and new materials churned out. One of these was the much-awaited and highly anticipated western drama 'Yellowstone' which stars Kevin Costner as the patriarch John Dutton of the Dutton family, owner of the biggest ranch in Montana.

'Yellowstone', which left screens with a major cliffhanger in Season 3, addressed it all in Season 4. The show had its fourth season finale aired on January 2, and the explosive ending to the season ended up breaking records. It broke its own Season 3 finale record as well.

RELATED ARTICLES

'Yellowstone' Season 4 Episode 10: Beth and Rip FINALLY say 'I do'!

'Yellowstone' Season 4 Episode 10: Beth blackmails Jamie, gets him to execute Randall

'Yellowstone' becomes the most-watched show on TV since 2017 with 11 million+ viewership for the Season 4 finale

In a surprising yet not so surprising feat, the nail-biting drama shattered television records and earned the title of the most-watched TV show since 2017. Season 4 which had a great run ended on an even bigger note as more than 11 million viewers tuned in live to watch the last episode of the season. This effectively set new rating records and got the highest views since the 2017 'Walking Dead' Season 8 premiere. The Paramount series, which first aired in 2018, has been besting cable TV mainstays with over 7 million viewers on the week of December 6. It was only surpassed by the 13 million attracted to the New England Patriots versus Buffalo Bills football game, outpacing the FOX channel's The Five, Special Report with Brett Baer and Tucker Carlson Tonight. 

Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in 'Yellowstone' (Paramount Network)

'Yellowstone' breaks its Season 3 finale record

The western drama, created by the brilliant Taylor Sheridan, soared to new heights with Yellowstone's finale, which was aired on Paramount Network and CMT. The show was viewed by 10.3 million people, while the Paramount Network encores boosted the figures to more than 11 million viewers, which is 81 percent higher than its season three finale's 5.2 million. In a testament to the amount of power, the show holds social media mentions of the Season 4 finale were also seen up by 115 percent, and was the most-mentioned show across platforms, according to Deadline.  If you're feeling the blues since 'Yellowstone' ended, Taylor Sheridan has got you covered with a Dutton origin story sequel series '1883' as well.

Sam Elliott as Shea Brennan in '1883' (Paramount+)

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

After feeling discomfort, Jules takes Simone for an ultrasound, which reveals unexpected results.
2026-10-30T08:02:34.000Z
With multiple characters from different multiverses traveling across, Season 2 ended with Box’s destruction.
2026-10-30T06:15:36.000Z
The ‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 finale ties together the show’s iconic storylines with a battle that could change everything
2026-10-30T05:17:25.000Z
Stephen Glover joins his brother as writer and executive producer on the battle royale adaptation
2026-10-30T04:01:16.000Z
Chris Black and Matt Fraction created the series that has followed Monarch across two timelines
2026-10-30T03:18:03.000Z
Michael C. Hall returns as Dexter Morgan faces two dangerous killers in Season 2 of Paramount+ thriller ‘Dexter: Resurrection’.
2026-10-30T01:19:39.000Z
Paramount+’s corporate thriller 'Ascent' adds two actors as one plays a powerful executive and another takes on a charismatic business titan.
2026-10-29T19:24:23.000Z
‘9-1-1: Nashville’ is bringing help to its call center, but the new arrival comes with dark secrets.
2026-10-29T18:57:53.000Z
Philomena Cunk quizzes Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Bay as she takes on the history of movies.
2026-10-29T18:04:58.000Z
‘The Diplomat’ has unfinished business after Season 4, and Netflix has news about what comes next.
2026-10-29T14:27:49.000Z