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The Rifleman

1958·Show
168Episodes in5Seasons·TV-PG
IMDb8.3
Episode ratings

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVPeacockPhiloThe Roku

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Rifleman fingerprint

Big heart, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension6
  • Fast Pace6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Nostalgic and wholesome

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Nostalgia9
  • Family Dynamics9
  • Wholesome8

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Situational Comedy1
  • Physical Comedy0

World

Family, history, and growing up

  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability6
  • Dialogue Centrality4

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Acting6
  • Direction5
  • Narrative Structure5

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Music Centrality8
  • Music Composition7
  • Cinematography5

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure Escapism

Skip it if

You want something to laugh atYou want dark or edgy material

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

Episode ratings

IMDb rating of every episode, one row per season
SeasonEpisode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4Episode 5Episode 6Episode 7Episode 8Episode 9Episode 10Episode 11Episode 12Episode 13Episode 14Episode 15Episode 16Episode 17Episode 18Episode 19Episode 20Episode 21Episode 22Episode 23Episode 24Episode 25Episode 26Episode 27Episode 28Episode 29Episode 30Episode 31Episode 32Episode 33Episode 34Episode 35Episode 36Episode 37Episode 38Episode 39Episode 40
IMDb rating of every episode, one column per season
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Episode 29
Episode 30
Episode 31
Episode 32
Episode 33
Episode 34
Episode 35
Episode 36
Episode 37
Episode 38
Episode 39
Episode 40

About

The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.
Classic Western AdventureFather-Son BondingWholesome Family DramaIconic Rifle Spin TechniqueNostalgic AmericanaMoral Clarity & JusticeHalf-Hour Episodic StructureGentle Patriarchal FigureFrontier Life Depiction

Crew

Directed by:
Joseph H. Lewis, Arthur H. Nadel, Gene Nelson
Written by:
Cyril Hume, Ed Adamson, Sam Peckinpah
Produced by:
Arthur H. Nadel, Jules V. Levy, Arthur Gardner

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Rifleman

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Rifleman legally?

PrimefuboTVPeacockPhiloThe RokuFandango at Home FreePure FlixPluto TV

The Rifleman is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock, and Philo in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Fandango at Home Free, Pluto TV, and Plex. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Rifleman worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77/100 (IMDb 8.3). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Rifleman rated?

TV-PGViolence

It's rated TV-PG in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How many seasons does The Rifleman have?

5 seasons

It has 5 seasons with 168 episodes of about 30 minutes each.

When did The Rifleman air?

It ran from 1958 to 1963 and has ended.

What language is The Rifleman in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Rifleman?

7AUBRCADEGBGGUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Rifleman in 7 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Rifleman use?

Anachronism StewEasily ForgivenIt Will Never Catch OnThe Seven Western PlotsTraumatic HaircutEvil TwinAbusive ParentsSuicide by CopThe LoadHeartbroken BadassBullying a DragonReformation Acknowledgementand 43 more

TV Tropes lists 55 storytelling tropes for The Rifleman, including Anachronism Stew, Easily Forgiven, It Will Never Catch On.