Taylor Sheridan movies and shows are basically westerns with Glocks and better budgets—they are gritty, high-stakes, and usually the best version of "competence porn" on your TV. If your teen is into tactical gear, survivalism, or stories where people are actually good at their difficult jobs, Sheridan’s work is their Super Bowl, but you need to be ready for the R-rated consequences that come with it.
TL;DR: Taylor Sheridan’s thrillers like Sicario and the Netflix series Untamed are masterclasses in tension and moral ambiguity. They are perfect for older teens who have outgrown standard action tropes, but the violence is heavy and the worldviews are cynical. If they want high-stakes survival, start with Those Who Wish Me Dead or check out our best movies for kids list for slightly gentler entries in the genre.
Taylor Sheridan has a specific brand. He writes about "the modern frontier"—places where the law is thin, the landscape is beautiful but wants to kill you, and the characters are usually world-weary experts. This is why his work lands so well with older kids and teens. It doesn't talk down to them. It assumes they can handle a plot where there aren't always "good guys," just people trying to survive a bad situation.
For a teen who is tired of the sanitized, CGI-heavy action of superhero movies, Sheridan’s thrillers feel like a promotion to the adult table. They are tactile, loud, and grounded in a way that feels authentic.
Netflix has been leaning hard into the "Sheridan-verse" vibe, and the big arrival is Untamed. Set in the rugged wilderness of Yosemite, the series is expected to follow a National Park Ranger (Eric Bana) as he navigates a brutal crime in a place where help is hours away.
Based on the premise and Sheridan’s track record, Untamed will likely be a slow-burn thriller that trades cheap jump scares for a constant, low-level dread. It’s the kind of show that makes for a great shared watch with a high schooler because it invites questions about justice versus the law.
While Sheridan is the king of Paramount+ with Yellowstone, his movies often cycle through Netflix's Top 10. You’ll frequently see Sicario pop up, which is arguably his best work. It follows an FBI agent pulled into the "war on drugs" at the border. It is incredibly intense—the border crossing scene alone is a masterclass in tension—but it is also a very dark look at geopolitical ethics.
If you want something a bit more focused on survival and "man vs. nature," Those Who Wish Me Dead is the move. It features Angelina Jolie as a smokejumper protecting a kid from assassins during a forest fire. It’s a bit more of a traditional "action movie" than his other work, making it a solid entry point for a 14- or 15-year-old.
Sheridan doesn't do "cartoon violence." When someone gets shot in a Sheridan movie, it’s loud, messy, and has lasting consequences for the characters. He earns his R ratings.
The question isn't just about the blood, though—it’s about the intensity. These movies are stressful. If your kid is sensitive to "hopeless" vibes or intense peril involving younger characters (like in Wind River), you might want to screen them first.
However, for a teen who is already navigating the internet, these films can actually be a useful tool. They show that violence isn't a "cool" solution; it’s usually a desperate, tragic one. It’s a great jumping-off point for talking about how media portrays "the hero" and whether the ends ever justify the means.
If you decide to watch one of these together, don't just let the credits roll and walk away. Sheridan’s work thrives in the gray areas.
- The "Grey" Hero: Ask them who they think the "good guy" was. In movies like Hell or High Water, the bank robbers are often more sympathetic than the system they are fighting.
- Competence Porn: Why is it so satisfying to watch someone be really good at their job, even if that job is dangerous?
- The Setting: How does the environment (the desert, the mountains, the fire) act like a character in the story?
Q: What age is Sicario appropriate for?
Sicario is a hard R. It features graphic violence, including bodies being found in walls and a very intense dinner table scene. It is best suited for 16+ or mature 15-year-olds who can handle heavy themes and realistic tension.
Q: Is Yellowstone on Netflix?
No. Despite Sheridan's movies often appearing on Netflix, the Yellowstone flagship series is usually on Peacock, and its spinoffs (like 1883 and 1923) are on Paramount+. Netflix is where you'll find his standalone thrillers and the upcoming Untamed.
Q: Are Taylor Sheridan movies too violent for a 14-year-old?
It depends on the 14-year-old. Those Who Wish Me Dead is probably the most "accessible" for that age group. Sicario and Wind River are much heavier and deal with more disturbing subject matter.
If your teen is ready for the heavy stuff, Sheridan is the gold standard. But if you want to dial the intensity back a notch while keeping the "wilderness survival" or "mystery" vibes, check out our digital guide for middle schoolers for some PG-13 alternatives.
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