The West poster
Where to stream

The West

8.419961 seasonTV-PGTV SeriesDocumentary

The West, sometimes marketed as Ken Burns Presents: The West, is a documentary film about the American Old West. It was directed by Stephen Ives and the executive producer was Ken Burns. The film originally aired on PBS in September 1996.

DirectorStephen Ives
WritersGeoffrey C. Ward·Stephen Ives
ProducerKen Burns

Where to watch

Amazon Prime VideoAmazon Prime VideoDocPlayDocPlayDocPlay Amazon ChannelDocPlay Amazon ChannelAmazon Prime Video with AdsAmazon Prime Video with Ads
Availability shown for Australia · rights vary by country

Seasons & Episodes

E1
The People (1500-1806)
Sep 15, 1996 10.0
E2
Empire Upon The Trails (1806-1848)
Sep 16, 1996 10.0
E3
The Speck Of The Future (1848-1856)
Sep 17, 1996 10.0
E4
Death Runs Riot (1856-1868)
Sep 18, 1996
E5
The Grandest Enterprise Under God (1868-1874)
Sep 19, 1996
E6
Fight No More Forever (1874-1877)
Sep 20, 1996
E7
The Geography Of Hope (1877-1887)
Sep 21, 1996
E8
Ghost Dance (1887 -1914)
Sep 22, 1996
E9
One Sky Above Us (1887-1914)
Sep 23, 1996

Cast · Directed by Stephen Ives

PCPeter Coyote
Peter Coyote
Self - Narrator
NMN. Scott Momaday
N. Scott Momaday
Self - Writer
MGMurphy Guyer
Murphy Guyer
Self
JTJohn Trudell
John Trudell
Self
EWEli Wallach
Eli Wallach
Self
AMArthur Miller
Arthur Miller
Self
JLJohn Lithgow
John Lithgow
Self
GSGary Sinise
Gary Sinise
T. P. Eagan
JSJimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits
Self
KCKeith Carradine
Keith Carradine
Self
AAAdam Arkin
Adam Arkin
Self
MBMatthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Self - William Swain

More from Peter Coyote · Lead actor

The Simpsons
The Simpsons
1989 · 8.0
NCIS
NCIS
2003 · 7.6
Blue Bloods
Blue Bloods
2010 · 7.8
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001 · 7.6
Nature
Nature
1982 · 7.9
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters
2006 · 7.1
American Experience
American Experience
1988 · 6.5
American Playhouse
American Playhouse
1982 · 6.6
Deadwood
Deadwood
2004 · 8.1
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
1985 · 7.7
See all fromPeter Coyote

More from Stephen Ives · Director

American Experience
American Experience
1988 · 6.5
Citizen Hearst
Citizen Hearst
2021
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
2003 · 8.0
New Orleans
New Orleans
2007
Lindbergh
Lindbergh
1990 · 7.0
The Great War
The Great War
2017 · 9.0
Las Vegas: An Unconventional History: Part 1 - Sin City
Las Vegas: An Unconventional History: Part 1 - Sin City
2005 · 7.0
Panama Canal
Panama Canal
2011
Constitution USA with Peter Sagal
Constitution USA with Peter Sagal
2013
1964
1964
2014 · 6.4
See all fromStephen Ives

More like this

Top Gear
Top Gear
1978 · 8.0
Mysteries at the Museum
Mysteries at the Museum
2010 · 8.8
MegaStructures
MegaStructures
2004 · 7.5
Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson
Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson
2021 · 7.4
American Masters
American Masters
1986 · 7.0
STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces
STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces
2024 · 7.8
The Circus
The Circus
2016 · 6.5
Disney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Disney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian
2020 · 7.4
The Civil War
The Civil War
1990 · 7.9
Superpowered: The DC Story
Superpowered: The DC Story
2023 · 7.4
The Movies
The Movies
2019 · 6.6
The Story of God with Morgan Freeman
The Story of God with Morgan Freeman
2016 · 7.5

The West — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams The West?

The West is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and DocPlay in Australia, and available to rent or buy on Apple TV Store. It's not currently on Netflix.

Is The West on Netflix?

No, The West is not on Netflix in Australia as of September 2026. It's currently on Amazon Prime Video and DocPlay.

Is The West on Amazon Prime Video?

Yes — The West is included with an Amazon Prime Video subscription in Australia as of September 2026.

Where can I watch The West for free?

The West is available on Amazon Prime Video and DocPlay in Australia, but you'll need an active subscription — there's no free option right now.

How many seasons are in The West?

The West has 1 season in total (9 episodes). The series concluded in 1996.

Are all episodes of The West out yet?

Yes — all 9 episodes across 1 season of The West are out and available to stream.

Is there a Season 2 of The West?

No — The West ended after 1 season, so there is no Season 2.