10 shows to watch if you liked Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War on Netflix

Netflix's new series, Wyatt Earp and The Cowboy War is a historical docudrama that deconstructs one of the most notorious feuds in American West history. The six-part series dramatizes the fight for power between the Earp brothers and the Clanton-McLaury Cowboys. It was released on Netflix on August 21, 2024.

The series is directed by filmmaker Patrick Reams, known for the period film A Very British Sex Scandal and the miniseries The Men Who Built America.

Those who liked Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War, are probably looking for shows with a similar feel for American frontier life, alongside the personalized stories of redemption.

Here is a list of ten shows and movies with thematic elements similar to those in Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. These shows are available to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, and other OTT platforms.

Old West shows that are reminiscent of Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War

1) Deadwood

This HBO series follows how the South Dakota camp of Deadwood developed into a town in the 1870s. The story is told via historical figures like Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen. The show has a large ensemble cast with established actors like Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Jim Beaver, and others.

The hard-bitten view of frontier life and lawlessness across Deadwood applies to the setting of Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. The series, which has three seasons, is available on HBO Max.

2) Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels centers on Cullen Bohannon, a Confederate soldier thirsting for revenge for the murder of his wife and young son during the American Civil War. Cullen initially works as the "railroad man" at the First Transcontinental Railroad project, but eventually becomes the chief engineer.

The show details the rough life and the conflicts that emerge in the mobile encampment, called Hell on Wheels. The series is available on AMC+ and Prime Video.

3) Godless

In the series Godless, Roy Goode, an outlaw on the run, takes refuge in La Belle, New Mexico, an entirely female-run town. The seven-episode miniseries is created, written, and directed by Scott Frank. The series is bound with themes of revenge and survival set in the Old West, similar to what is portrayed in Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. Godless is available on Netflix.

4) Longmire

This is a modern Western crime drama series that follows the life of Walt Longmire, the sheriff of Wyoming, as he diligently works to maintain law and order amidst challenges at both a personal and professional level.

Although the set is in the modern era, the six seasons of Longmire manage to capture the same essence as that of Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War in American law enforcement and justice. The series is available on Netflix.

5) Justified

Justified follows the story of Marshal Raylan Givens, played by Timothy Olyphant, dispensing his brand of justice in his hometown in Kentucky. It is a fusion of a modern crime thriller with a Western drama.

Raylan Givens' law enforcement and execution of justice evoke elements reminiscent of Wyatt Earp's style. Throughout its six-season run, Justified was nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards. The series is available on Hulu.

6) The Son

The Son tells the story of ranger Eli McCullough, who is played by Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan was kidnapped by the Comanches, a Native American tribe, and raised as their own. He then becomes a tough rancher and oilman in Texas and struggles to maintain his business empire against several challenges.

This TV series is based on a 2013 novel of the same name by Philipp Meyer. Plunging through themes of survival, power, and brutal realities of frontier life, The Son is not so different from Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. The series can also be streamed on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

7) Yellowstone

Yellowstone (Image via Paramount Network)

Yellowstone is a neo-Western drama that follows the Duttons family, with John Dutton at the helm, played by Kevin Costner. Its plot surrounds the many conflicts that occur along the shared borders of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the Broken Rock Indian reservation, and Yellowstone National Park.

The series does not shy away from showing serious problems between the land developers and the community encircling their massive holding. This show epitomizes the Western frontier and the struggle to maintain control and order, much like in Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. The series is streaming on Peacock and Paramount+.

8) Westworld

This dystopian science fiction series is set in a Wild-West-themed amusement park where guests can indulge their wildest fantasies as they interact with life-like robots for a hefty price. The show is based on the 1973 film of the same name.

The Western setting and themes of lawlessness and survival in Westworld are similar in atmosphere to those of Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. The series is streaming on HBO Max.

9) 1883

1883 is an American Western drama miniseries created by Taylor Sheridan. (Image via Paramount Network)

This is the prequel series to Yellowstone. It follows the Dutton family as they move west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. The show has received positive reviews since its release in December 2021. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 1883 has an approval rating of 89%.

Much like in the case of Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War, this series gives a sense of how life was hard and often dangerous during the Old West. The series is available on Paramount+.

10) The English

The English is a miniseries set in the American West during the 1890s. It focuses on Cornelia Locke, an Englishwoman, coming to settle scores regarding her son's murder. She makes a pact with Eli Whipp, a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout, and together they face off against an uncaring, often cruel environment. It's streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.

These series and movies can help feed one's hunger for Western-themed storytelling and characters similar to Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War.

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Edited by Niharika Dabral