Netflix viewers are spoiled for choice as the platform has an abundance of Western dramas available to stream. Entertainment Weekly rated this series as one of the best Westerns streaming on Netflix right now. However, you may not have heard of this little-known series that was released in 2024. Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War is a gritty docudrama that focuses on the violent aftermath of the shootout at the OK Corral, which served as a catalyst for a long-standing feud.
The series synopsis reads: “Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War is a docudrama series that explores the legendary feud between Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton, culminating in the iconic gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The series uses a combination of dramatic reenactments and interviews with historians to delve into the events surrounding the conflict, highlighting the power struggle between the Earp brothers and the Cowboy faction for control of Tombstone, Arizona.”
With a solid 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience is hailing this docodrama as a “must-see”.
One reviewer said: “This wasn’t on my watchlist but when I saw Ed Harris’ credit, I turned it on. I had the minimum knowledge about Wyatt Earp, mainly from that famous shootout and the film Tombstone. Did I know of the sequence of events that followed? Nope. Hearing the (mostly) true story of the violence that followed was an eye opener, for sure. It really gave context and texture to the vengeful aftermath. I was very entertained.”
Another reviewer said: “Well thought out and shows the nuance and wider picture behind the gunfight at the OK Corral. Captivating!”
“Having barely read about Wyatt Earp in school and leaving much of my opinion on the man to the 1993 Hollywood portrayl by Kurt Russell, one of my favorite films, this was fascinating to watch, the true account of America’s most famous Old West legend. Very little of the ’90s movie is accurate, which was disappointing, but this docuseries does a good job explaining the value in that relationship, and a lot more I never knew or thought possible for such a time. Very cool indeed. More of this, Netflix; yes,” a third added.
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War is available to watch on Netflix.