‘Landman’ star Billy Bob Thornton on why the Fort Worth-filmed show’s so popular
Billy Bob Thornton and the cast of “Landman” are opening up about why the Fort Worth-filmed series is so popular.
The show, co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, returned for its 10-episode second season in November 2025 and aired weekly until mid-January. Over 9 million viewers tuned in for the season 2 premiere, a 262% increase from the first episode of season 1, according to Paramount+.
Over the weekend, Thornton was joined by his “Landman” co-stars Sam Elliott and Andy Garcia and director Stephen Kay at a panel discussion for Deadline.
When asked why the show resonates with so many people, Thornton said he had believed it would be huge with viewers the middle of the country, but not the rest of the world.
“We didn’t think the coasts would go for it,” Thornton said. “We certainly didn’t think it would become this huge international hit.”
‘Landman’ cast on why the show is popular
Thornton pointed to the show’s characters being unabashedly themselves and honest.
Normally, Sheridan-created shows have a vibe, and “Landman” has several, Thornton said. There’s humor, emotion, drama, danger, absurdity and more.
“I think the variety on it appeals to people,” Thornton said.
Elliott answered the question next with a smile and simply said, “It’s a mystery to me.”
Next up was Kay, who agreed with Thornton and additionally said that there’s a lot of love in making the show that translates to the final product. Garcia noted that there’s a shared respect for the character and material.
Finally, Elliott chimed in with his real answer, saying that “Landman” is a reflection of what people would like to deal with day-to-day.
“People that you want to be around, people you love, people that are decent to each other,” he said. “Today, more than any time, that’s what we’re all craving.”
More on ‘Landman’
“Landman” is described as a “modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of West Texas oil rigs.”
“As oil rises from the earth, so do secrets – and Tommy Norris’s (Thornton) breaking point may be closer than he realizes. Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller (Demi Moore), and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble – it’s brutal. And sooner or later something’s got to break,” the show’s second season synopsis reads.
In addition to the previously mentioned cast, “Landman” stars Demi Moore, Ali Larter, Paulina Chávez, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Kayla Wallace, James Jordan, Colm Feore and Mark Collie.
Both seasons of “Landman” are streaming on Paramount+
