How to watch

Dallas follows the wealthy and feuding Ewing family, oil barons living at Southfork Ranch in Texas. Larry Hagman's scheming J.R. Ewing became one of TV's most famous villains. The show inspired the spin-off Knots Landing, following Gary and Valene Ewing in California, the prequel TV movie The Early Years, two reunion movies, and a TNT revival that continued the story with a new generation of Ewings.

🕐 Release Order

Release order is how audiences followed the Ewings, including a famous season-long dream retcon.

1. Dallas (1978–1991)
2. Knots Landing (1979–1993)
3. Dallas: The Early Years (1986)
4. Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996)
5. Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998)
6. Dallas (2012–2014)

The Early Years is a prequel about Jock Ewing and the origins of the Ewing-Barnes feud, so it moves to the front of the timeline. Note that the 2012 revival ignores events from the two reunion movies.

📖 Story Chronology

Chronologically, the Ewing saga starts with Jock's early days and ends with the next generation's battles over Southfork.

1. Dallas: The Early Years (1986) — 1930s to 1950s
2. Dallas (1978–1991)
3. Knots Landing (1979–1993) — runs alongside Dallas
4. Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996)
5. Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998)
6. Dallas (2012–2014) — revival

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch the original Dallas in release order, adding Knots Landing alongside it if you want more Ewing drama. The Early Years is a great bonus once you know the families. The reunion movies are optional, while the 2012 revival is a satisfying final chapter for J.R.

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