Yellowjackets (TV series)

Yellowjackets is an American thriller drama television series created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson for Showtime. The series follows two primary storylines: the first involves a group of teenagers as they strive to survive in the wilderness after their plane crashes in 1996, while the second takes place 25 years later and focuses on the survivors' attempts to piece their lives back together. It stars a large ensemble cast led by Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, and Samantha Hanratty as the core teenage survivors, while Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Juliette Lewis, and Christina Ricci portray their adult counterparts.

The premise of the series was inspired by the Andes flight disaster and the Donner Party. Lyle and Nickerson wanted to explore some of the best and worst in humanity, with their concept informed by interpersonal dynamics in social hierarchies, preconceived notions of behavior, and how trauma can shape one's life. The duo pitched their story to over a dozen networks, receiving offers from five. A number of networks passed on it due to the darkness of the story with teenage protagonists and no IP attached. Showtime supported the creators' vision and acquired the rights in May 2018. The first season premiered on November 14, 2021, and the second on March 26, 2023. Production of the third season was halted due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes and premiered on February 16, 2025. In May 2025, the series was renewed for its fourth and final season, which is set to premiere in 2026.

Yellowjackets has received critical praise for its performances, mystery elements and exploration of the past and present timelines. Its accolades include 10 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Lynskey and Ricci; three Writers Guild of America Award nominations; five Television Critics Association Award nominations, a Peabody Award nomination, and a Critics' Choice Award. Yellowjackets is the second-most streamed series in Showtime history, and its third season drew the series' highest viewership to date.