Wanted: Dead or Alive

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Josh Randall: Bounty Hunter

On CBS

1958–19613 seasons94 episodes25 min7.0 / 10

A classic 1950s Western procedural following a lone bounty hunter across the frontier, built on action and pursuit rather than psychological depth or serialized character development.

Wanted: Dead or Alive is an American Western television series starring Steve McQueen as the bounty hunter Josh Randall. It aired on CBS for three seasons from 1958–61. The black-and-white program was a spin-off of a March 1958 episode of Trackdown, a 1957–59 western series starring Robert Culp. Both series were produced by Four Star Television in association with CBS Television. The series launched McQueen into becoming the first television star to cross over into comparable status on the big screen.

Questions people ask

  • Is Wanted: Dead or Alive violent? Somewhat. More violent than 71% of series.

  • Is Wanted: Dead or Alive sad? Not especially. Less sad than 68% of series.

  • Does Wanted: Dead or Alive leave you hopeful? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Wanted: Dead or Alive scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Wanted: Dead or Alive easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

63/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity72

How unlike any other series this one feels

Surprise74

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love46

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Wanted: Dead or Alive

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Wanted: Dead or Alive

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Wanted: Dead or Alive, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Wanted: Dead or Alive, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Wanted: Dead or Alive, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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