‘1923’ is a huge hit, in more ways than one.
Although the Yellowstone prequel, 1923, is still avoiding any direct answers to its biggest mystery, the show itself is proving to be a bigger hit than anyone anticipated. According to a new press release straight from Paramount, the Season 2 debut of 1923 broke a “global viewership record as the biggest original premiere in Paramount+ history with 5.4 million viewers, up 146% from year one (2.2 million).” Results are based on internal streaming data for premiere day including CTV viewing, O&Os, Apple, Roku and Amazon channels.
The episode titled “The Killing Season” kicked off with the camera panning the snow-covered ranch made famous in Yellowstone, with Helen Mirren’s Cara Dutton narrating a letter to her son Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) about how it’s up to him to rebuild their little corner of the world after it’s been plagued with burdensome taxes. Cara and Jacob (Harrison Ford) are gutting out the winter while impatiently awaiting Spencer’s return with their son Jack (Darren Mann) and his wife Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph), last seen traipsing around in a bikini on Landman.
Spencer is trying to get back home to Montana while his wife Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) sets off on her own trans-Atlantic journey to reunite with him.
Because the parent series—the just-concluded Yellowstone—aired on the Paramount Network (different from Paramount+) its streaming performance has been a little harder to measure. Technically, Paramount+ itself has only existed for four years. Originally beginning its life as the fledgling streaming service known as CBS All Access, Paramount+ came into being following a re-merger of Viacom and CBS, which, back in the 20th century had previously been one company before.
In terms of big franchises, various Yellowstone spinoffs like 1923 are a major part of the Paramount+ brand. Previously, other Paramount+ originals that have broken streaming records included the streamer’s other massive franchise; Star Trek. In 2023, the legacy sequel series, Star Trek: Picard Season 3, landed Paramount+ in the streaming Nielsen top 10. At the time, it was only the second Paramount+ series to do so. The first one was 1923 Season 1.
So, with Season 2, 1923 has broken its own record. The irony, of course, is that this is the final season of 1923. Meaning, that if Paramount+ is to continue to dominate with its most popular western franchise, those upcoming spinoffs—like the Beth and Rip show—can’t come fast enough.
1923 drops new episodes on Sundays on Paramount+.
1923 is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ben Richardson, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox. The series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch Productions.
