Taylor Sheridan gave Paramount+ a new lease of life with Yellowstone, but the streaming charts suggest that the neo-Western franchise and its creator have taken over one of the most legendary franchises of all time. According to Flix Patrol, Sheridan’s Yellowstone and a host of other shows surpassed the new season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Sheridan has made a name for himself catering to a key demographic of the US audience, telling stories that Hollywood generally did not represent. With multiple shows under his belt and a movie deal with NBCUniversal in the pipeline, Sheridan might just be the new superstar filmmaker on the block.
Taylor Sheridan is the Ultimate King of Paramount+ Shows
Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount
Actor-turned-screenwriter and filmmaker Taylor Sheridan has been steadily growing as a creator worth exploring. After writing acclaimed films like Sicario and Hell or High Water, Sheridan made it to long-form TV with Yellowstone. The neo-Western revolutionized the genre and was a major hit.
The Kevin Costner-starrer has spawned multiple spinoff shows and prequel shows, and Sheridan has expanded his filmography with a bunch of original shows made for Paramount. Four of them are in Paramount+’s top 10 streaming charts for August 21, 2026. FlixPatrol reported that Sheridan’s Lioness ranks at the top, with its third season releasing recently.
Apart from the Nicole Kidman-starrer, other Sheridan shows are also on the list, including Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and Dutton Ranch. Crazily enough, the shows have surpassed some legacy franchise shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is in its fourth season, The Legend of Korra, and Criminal Minds.
With the streamer being dominated by Sheridan-created shows, he seems to be the official king of Paramount+. The writer has a deal with the studio until late 2028, after which he will be moving to NBCUniversal (via Deadline). He will probably be developing a whole catalogue for the streamer by then and retain his throne.
Star Trek Ranking Low Despite Having a New Show is a Problem for the Franchise
Captain Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Credits: Paramount+
One of the most harrowing aspects of Taylor Sheridan’s takeover on Paramount+ is that it beat Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The show is one of the best-rated ones in the franchise and is currently in its fourth season. The fact that a show that ended last year (Yellowstone) is surpassing a new Star Trek show is a problem.
Lately, the future of Star Trek has been put into question. A recent report mentioned that Paramount head David Ellison was looking to reset the franchise and hopes the upcoming movie would turn the tide. Paramount+’s Head of Originals Jane Wiseman also mentioned that they were looking for new writers to take the franchise in a new direction (via Deadline).
Star Trek is a 60-year-old franchise and has a lasting legacy that took the sci-fi genre to the next level. However, its sorry state is definitely a sign of changing times and a warning that if some new blood does not enter it, either as an audience or as a creator, it might go on a temporary hiatus yet again.
No franchise ever dies. But they can always be forgotten, and a franchise like Star Trek losing to a newer show like Yellowstone is concerning.
What do you think about Star Trek’s future? Comment below.
All Star Trek shows and Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone shows are available to stream on Paramount+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
