With the recent arrival of Marshals Season 2 on streaming, many would think that the wildly popular Yellowstone spin-off would become the talk of the town among fans of Taylor Sheridan‘s TV universe. But as it turns out, another epic thriller from the writer and producer has also climbed the Netflix charts to become one of its biggest hits globally. Following the conventions of the crime thriller genre, the series is one of Sheridan’s most interesting ventures into other worlds aside from Westerns, proving that his talent transcends genres and familiar settings.
‘Mayor of Kingstown’ Becomes One of the Biggest Shows in the World
As everyone waits for its fifth and final season, the crime thriller Mayor of Kingstown returns to the rankings among the most popular shows in the world. Starring MCU star Jeremy Renner, it tells the story of Mike McLusky, a middleman and fixer whose influence allows him to operate between the prison system, law enforcement agencies, and the government. Forced to take over the family business after his older brother is killed, McLusky is an authoritative figure who tries his best to bring stability to chaotic Kingstown, as questions of morality arise.
According to the latest update to the charts, the 40-episode series has become one of the biggest titles worldwide. Although it’s a Paramount+ original, 
Netflix has licensed it for international distribution as well, and viewers are clearly taking notice. At the time of writing, it sits at No. 4 on the streamer’s rankings, below newer releases such as East of Eden and Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. It also ranks No. 4 in the U.S. charts.
‘Mayor of Kingstown’ Season 5: This Is What We Know
Mayor of Kingstown premiered on Paramount+ in 2021, right as Sheridan was beginning to expand his TV empire beyond the borders of Yellowstone and its spin-offs. It was his first scripted TV series outside the Western genre and the world of the Duttons, officially entering the arena of modern crime thrillers alongside a brilliant cast. Despite a good audience reception, Mayor of Kingstown was largely panned by critics, and today, it holds a 31% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest-rated season of the show. Over time, its fanbase stayed consistent, and the critical reception became more positive. Season 4 is currently at 100% on the critics’ rating.
|
Season |
Year of Release |
Critics’ Score RT |
Audience Score RT |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
2021 |
31% |
86% |
|
2 |
2023 |
50% |
83% |
|
3 |
2024 |
78% |
80% |
|
4 |
2025 |
100% |
88% |
Four seasons later, Mayor of Kingstown remains an audience favorite and one of Sheridan’s most distinctive and tonally consistent shows (the show was co-created by Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, who also plays Ian Ferguson in the series). Although the show won’t run as long as originally planned, the final season is in production at the moment, with Renner returning to the lead role. Season 5 does not yet have a confirmed release date, but given its production progress in early 2026, we’re looking at a potential 2027 premiere. Stay tuned for updates.
- Release Date
-
November 14, 2021
- Network
-
Paramount+
- Showrunner
-
Dave Erickson