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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
WritersStephen Ives·Geoffrey C. Ward
ProducerKen Burns

Where to watch

PBS Documentaries Amazon ChannelPBS Documentaries Amazon Channel
Availability shown for United States · 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

Peter Coyote
Peter Coyote
Self - Narrator
N. Scott Momaday
N. Scott Momaday
Self - Writer
Murphy Guyer
Murphy Guyer
Self
John Trudell
John Trudell
Self
Eli Wallach
Eli Wallach
Self
Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller
Self
John Lithgow
John Lithgow
Self
Gary Sinise
Gary Sinise
T. P. Eagan
Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits
Self
Keith Carradine
Keith Carradine
Self
Adam Arkin
Adam Arkin
Self
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Self - William Swain

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The West — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams The West?

The West is streaming on PBS Documentaries in United States, and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. It's not currently on Netflix.

Is The West on Netflix?

No, The West is not on Netflix in United States as of August 2026. It's currently on PBS Documentaries.

Is The West on Amazon Prime Video?

The West isn't included with a Prime Video subscription in United States, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

Where can I watch The West for free?

The West is available on PBS Documentaries in United States, 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.