Taylor Sheridan’s hit TV series,Yellowstone, aired its finale just a few months ago, and fans of the Western series who are already feeling its loss should check out the Clint Eastwood movie that inspired it. SinceYellowstone’s premiere in 2018,Taylor Sheridan has expanded his Western empire, becoming the foremost name in the genre. Following the original series' conclusion,Sheridan has severalYellowstonespinoffs in the worksthat will ensure that the Dutton’s universe will remain popular for years to come.
Even beyondYellowstoneand its direct spinoffs, Sheridan has several other shows and movies that are very clearly inspired by Western classics. While Western shows had waned in popularity over previous decades, Sheridan helped bring them back, and he had some very clear inspiration from another Western legend. Before Sheridan made his mark on the genre,Clint Eastwood had long been the name that many associated with Westerns, so it feels very fitting that one of his films inspiredYellowstone’s creation.
How Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Was Influenced By Clint Eastwood
Eastwood’s Westerns Are More Subversive Than The Genre’s Early Films
Clint Eastwood’s Western movieshave been influential on the genre for decades, and Sheridan has citedUnforgivenas a particular inspiration.Unforgivenfollows an aging outlaw named Will Munny (Eastwood) as he decides to go after one last bounty to save his farm and take care of his children. Though Will is a talented enough marksman to ensure that he can get the bounty,Unforgivenis actually much more focused on the toll that his past actions and profession have taken on him, often giving the film a somber tone.
Just as Eastwood’s Will Munny is a very morally gray character, so too are many of the characters that Sheridan created forYellowstone.
Now thatUnforgivenis streaming on Paramount+, it is certainly worth watching to understand just how much Taylor Sheridan was inspired by the movie. Just as Eastwood’s Will Munny is a very morally gray character, so too are many of the characters that Sheridan created forYellowstone. In a profile forThe Atlanticin 2022, Sheridan stated thatUnforgiven"let the sheriff be a bully and the hero be this drunken, vicious killer,“while highlighting how this nuance also runs throughYellowstone’s characters.
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Indeed, many traditional Western shows and movies presented the American West as having very clear black-and-white, good guys versus bad guys narratives. Real life is much more complicated, andUnforgivenis a very good example of the genre at its most complex and reflective. The characters ofYellowstone, particularlythe Dutton family, face the consequences of their actions in a way that takes inspiration from the message of Eastwood’s movies – the line between good guys and bad guys is often not so straightforward.
Yellowstone Even Used The Iconic Theme From Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven
“Claudia’s Theme” Can Be Heard In Yellowstone Season 1, Episode 6
Beyond taking inspiration fromUnforgiven’s themes and morally complex characters, Taylor Sheridan’s other inspiration that comes from the film is even more apparent.Sheridan used “Claudia’s Theme” from the end ofUnforgivenduring the first seasonofYellowstone. “Claudia’s Theme” can be heard inYellowstoneseason 1, episode 6. The emotional theme music fits perfectly with the stunning visuals of theYellowstoneranch and creates a contrast with the emotional turmoil of the characters.
Unforgivenwon four Academy Awards; Best Picture and Best Director for Clint Eastwood, Best Supporting Actor for Gene Hackman, and Best Film Editing for Joel Cox.
Eastwood had never let anyone use the song before, and Sheridan shared withCinema Blendthat he initially approached the famed actor-director thinking that nothing would come of it. Sheridan highlighted once again thatUnforgivenwas the film that made him want to become a directorand that the scene was essentially “a 90-second homage to Clint Eastwood.” Sheridan ended up shooting the clip and sending it to Eastwood, who miraculously approved, allowingYellowstone’s audiences to enjoy the song in a new way.
Another Clint Eastwood Movie Led To A Big Yellowstone Actor Casting
Sheridan Was Impressed By Luke Grimes’s Work In American Sniper
On top of Clint Eastwood’sUnforgivenserving as the inspiration for the series itself and its theme song making an appearance in an early episode ofYellowstone, another Clint Eastwood movie is actually responsible for Taylor Sheridan casting one ofYellowstone’s main characters. Prior to joining the cast ofYellowstoneas Kayce Dutton, Luke Grimes starred in Clint Eastwood’s 2014 movieAmerican Sniper. In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter,Luke Grimes confirmed that it was this role that initially piqued Taylor Sheridan’s interest.
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Grimes’s role inAmerican Sniperis that of Marc Lee, a Navy SEAL who was killed in combat. The intense role served as proof that Grimes would be able to portray Kayce, who is also a former Navy SEAL and is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of those experiences. Grimes was undoubtedly great as Kayce and embodied the complexity and imperfect nature of Sheridan’sYellowstonecharacters, once again highlighting just how much inspiration the showrunner drew from Eastwood’s movies.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 22, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
Unforgiven
Unforgiven follows retired gunslinger Will Munny as he is drawn back into his former life for a final mission, seeking justice with his old partner and a young outlaw called The Schofield Kid.
