If you've been following the chaotic rollout of the Dutton family saga, you know that keeping track of the schedule is basically a full-time job. Between the behind-the-scenes drama, the Hollywood strikes, and Kevin Costner’s very public departure, the question of how many episodes in Yellowstone Season 5 has become a bit of a moving target.
Honestly, the way Paramount handled this season was kinda unusual. Instead of a standard ten-episode run like we saw in the middle seasons, they decided to supersize the fifth outing. But then they chopped it in half.
The final count for Season 5
So, let's get right to the point. Yellowstone Season 5 consists of 14 episodes total. That’s the biggest season in the show's history. For context, Season 1 only had nine episodes, while Seasons 2, 3, and 4 all stuck to a strict ten-episode diet. Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the "Sheridan-verse," clearly needed more real estate to wrap up the sprawling war for the Montana wilderness.
But those 14 episodes didn't arrive all at once. Not even close.
The season was split into two distinct blocks:
- Part 1 (8 Episodes): These aired way back starting in November 2022 and wrapped up in January 2023.
- Part 2 (6 Episodes): After a nearly two-year hiatus that felt like an eternity, the final six episodes finally hit screens starting November 10, 2024.
The Part 2 release schedule (The Final Six)
If you're catching up now, here is exactly how the back half of the season—often called Season 5B—breaks down. These episodes were released weekly on Sundays:
- Episode 9: "Desire Is All You Need" (Nov 10, 2024)
- Episode 10: "The Apocalypse of Change" (Nov 17, 2024)
- Episode 11: "Three Fifty-Three" (Nov 24, 2024)
- Episode 12: "Counting Coup" (Dec 1, 2024)
- Episode 13: "Give the World Away" (Dec 8, 2024)
- Episode 14: "Life Is a Promise" (Dec 15, 2024)
That final episode on December 15 served as the massive series finale. Sorta. (More on that "sorta" in a minute).
Why the long wait?
You’ve probably heard the rumors. The gap between Episode 8 and Episode 9 was roughly 22 months. That’s insane for a show at the peak of its popularity.
Basically, it was a "perfect storm" of problems. First, there was the double-whammy of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, which put every writer's room and film set in a deep freeze. Then, you had the "Costner vs. Sheridan" showdown.
Kevin Costner was busy pouring his heart, soul, and a lot of his own money into his western epic Horizon: An American Saga. Scheduling conflicts turned into creative differences. Eventually, it was confirmed: John Dutton would not be returning for the final episodes.
The Kevin Costner shaped hole
If you haven't watched Part 2 yet, be prepared. The show handles his absence immediately. Like, in the first few minutes of Episode 9.
Fans were pretty divided on how it went down. Some felt it was a brutal, necessary end to the patriarch's story, while others thought it felt a bit rushed given everything John Dutton had survived—colon cancer, assassination attempts, and more political schemes than a DC thriller.
Because Costner didn't film new footage for Part 2, the production had to get creative. They used body doubles and strategic camera angles in a few flashback and discovery scenes. It’s effective, but you can definitely tell the energy of the show shifted. It became much more about the war between the siblings—Beth and Jamie—than about the father holding them together.
Is Season 5 really the end?
This is where things get tricky. For a long time, Paramount marketed Season 5, Episode 14 as the "Series Finale."
But money talks.
Yellowstone is a juggernaut. Even without John Dutton, the ratings for the 2024 episodes were through the roof. There’s been a lot of credible reporting from places like Deadline and TV Guide suggesting that a "Season 6" might actually happen under a different name or as a direct continuation.
Kelly Reilly (Beth) and Cole Hauser (Rip) have reportedly been in talks to lead the next chapter. Whether it's called Yellowstone: 6666 or The Madison or just simply Yellowstone Season 6, the 14 episodes of Season 5 might not be the last time we see the ranch.
How to watch all 14 episodes
If you're looking to binge the whole thing, you have to navigate a weird streaming map.
- Cable/Live TV: All episodes aired on Paramount Network.
- Peacock: Since March 16, 2025, the entirety of Season 5 (all 14 episodes) has been available to stream on Peacock in the US.
- International: If you're in the UK, Canada, or Ireland, you usually find it on Paramount+.
Don't confuse Paramount+ with Paramount Network in the US. It's a licensing headache that has frustrated fans for years, but as of right now, Peacock is your one-stop-shop for the Duttons.
Next Steps for Fans: If you've finished the 14th episode and feel that Western-shaped void in your life, start 1883 or 1923. They provide the historical context for why the family is so obsessed with that specific plot of land. Also, keep an eye out for official announcements regarding the "2024" spinoff, which is expected to pick up the narrative threads left dangling in the Season 5 finale.
