When Taylor Sheridan first announced Tulsa King, many fans assumed it would be a smaller-scale project compared to the cultural juggernaut of Yellowstone. After all, Yellowstone had sprawling landscapes, multi-generational drama, and Kevin Costner at the center of it all. But three seasons later, Tulsa King is proving it’s no lightweight. In fact, the upcoming Tulsa King Season 3 now holds a record that even Sheridan’s beloved Yellowstone couldn’t break—a fact that has fans buzzing with excitement and raising expectations to new heights.

So, what’s the record that Tulsa King has managed to snag? According to streaming and network data reports, Tulsa King has officially become the fastest-growing Sheridan-created series in terms of year-over-year audience expansion. While Yellowstone grew steadily over multiple seasons and gradually turned into a cultural force, Tulsa King has exploded almost immediately. Its combination of crime drama, humor, and Sylvester Stallone’s powerhouse charisma has made it a phenomenon, particularly with audiences who might not have been drawn to the cowboy-epic vibes of Yellowstone.

The numbers paint a clear picture: Season 1 of Tulsa King started strong with curiosity-driven viewers who wanted to see Stallone in his first major television role. By the end of Season 2, ratings and streaming data revealed a massive spike in consistent viewership—far outpacing the growth Yellowstone achieved between its first and second seasons. Now, as Season 3 approaches, Tulsa King is entering the rare territory of being a breakout hit that shows no signs of slowing down. Sheridan has many successful titles (1883, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown), but even among this powerhouse portfolio, Tulsa King stands out for breaking through cultural and generational divides so quickly.

One of the reasons behind this record-breaking success is accessibility. Yellowstone often leaned heavily into Western traditions, ranching culture, and rural land disputes—fascinating for many, but occasionally alienating for urban or international audiences unfamiliar with those themes. Tulsa King, on the other hand, takes the universal appeal of a mafia crime drama and injects it with humor, fish-out-of-water storytelling, and Stallone’s larger-than-life presence. Dwight “The General” Manfredi, an aging mobster trying to rebuild his empire in Oklahoma after prison, immediately gave audiences a character they could both root for and laugh with.

That balance of comedy and grit has proven magnetic. Critics who once doubted Stallone’s ability to carry a television series are now praising him as one of the most unexpected but effective leads in Sheridan’s universe. His chemistry with the supporting cast—ranging from law enforcement to unlikely allies—adds texture to the show, making it more than just a gangster tale transplanted to Tulsa.

Another factor is timing. While Yellowstone built its empire slowly, Tulsa King launched in an era where Sheridan’s name was already synonymous with high-quality television. Audiences who were already invested in Sheridan’s world eagerly tuned in, giving Tulsa King a boost that Yellowstone never had at its start. From there, Stallone’s star power took over, pulling in not just Sheridan fans but also decades-long Stallone loyalists from franchises like Rocky and Rambo.

The record also underscores Sheridan’s versatility as a creator. For years, critics speculated that his strength lay primarily in Westerns and frontier morality tales. But Tulsa King proves he can stretch into urban crime drama, dark comedy, and even light satire without losing his storytelling edge. Season 3 is expected to push these boundaries further, with reports suggesting Dwight will face bigger rivals, higher stakes, and an even deeper exploration of how an old-school mobster adapts—or refuses to adapt—to a modern world.

What makes this record particularly impressive is how it reshapes the narrative around Sheridan’s empire. For years, Yellowstone was seen as the crown jewel, the project that defined Sheridan’s storytelling empire. Now, Tulsa King is emerging as a contender, not only matching Yellowstone in popularity but breaking records Yellowstone never touched. Fans of Sheridan’s work are beginning to see Tulsa King as the wild card—the series that could actually outlast or outshine its predecessors by appealing to the broadest audience yet.

For Tulsa King Season 3, anticipation is higher than ever. Fans want to know if Dwight can maintain control of his empire, how his criminal empire will evolve, and whether his old-school tactics will stand a chance against new-school rivals. Season 2 ended with cliffhangers that hinted at betrayals, shifting alliances, and law enforcement finally closing in. Season 3 promises to raise the stakes to unprecedented levels, and with record-breaking momentum behind it, expectations are sky-high.

In many ways, Stallone himself is part of the record. At 78, he’s one of the oldest leading men to carry a hit television show with such energy and charisma. His involvement adds another layer of uniqueness, showing that Hollywood legends can still reinvent themselves and thrive in the age of streaming. Stallone’s Dwight is not only a character but also a symbol of endurance, reinvention, and timeless star power.

Of course, Sheridan’s fingerprints remain all over the show. His knack for morally complex characters, sharp dialogue, and layered conflicts ensures that even with its humor and lighter moments, Tulsa King still packs the emotional and thematic punch fans expect from his work. But what truly excites viewers is the sense that Sheridan has given Stallone a playground where his larger-than-life persona can shine while still telling a grounded, character-driven story.

Ultimately, the record-breaking achievement of Tulsa King Season 3 proves that Sheridan’s creative universe is not defined by one style or one story. Yellowstone may have put him on the map, but Tulsa King is rewriting the narrative. It’s a reminder that Sheridan thrives not by repeating himself, but by pushing into new territory—even if that territory is the gritty streets of Tulsa instead of the sweeping ranches of Montana.

For fans, the excitement is palpable. Breaking a record that even Yellowstone couldn’t touch isn’t just a bragging point—it’s a promise that Tulsa King is only getting bigger, bolder, and funnier. Season 3 isn’t just another chapter in Sheridan’s empire; it’s a turning point, a signal that this show might just end up being the most enduring and widely beloved of them all.