A process for hydroprocessing a heavy oil feedstock, the process employing a plurality of contacting zones and separation zones, wherein the process comprises a plurality of slurry reactors for contacting zones, the process comprising: providing a heavy oil feedstock, a hydrogen containing gas, and a slurry catalyst; combining the heavy oil feedstock, the hydrogen containing gas, and the slurry catalyst in a first contacting zone under hydrocracking conditions to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products; sending a mixture comprising the upgraded products, the slurry catalyst, the hydrogen containing gas, and unconverted heavy oil feedstock to a first separation zone, whereby the upgraded products are removed with the hydrogen containing gas from the first separation zone as a first overhead stream, and the slurry catalyst, heavier hydrocracked liquid products and unconverted heavy oil feedstock are removed from the first separation zone as a first non-volatile stream; sending the first non-volatile stream to a contacting zone other than the first contacting zone, which is maintained under hydrocracking conditions with additional hydrogen containing gas feed to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming additional upgraded products; sending a mixture comprising the additional upgraded products, slurry catalyst, hydrogen containing gas, and unconverted heavy oil feedstock to a separation zone other than the first separation zone, whereby the upgraded products are removed with hydrogen containing gas as an overhead stream, and the slurry catalyst and the unconverted heavy oil feedstock are removed as a second non-volatile stream; and wherein the slurry catalyst to the first contacting zone comprises at least a portion of the non-volatile stream from one of the separation zones as a recycled catalyst stream, and wherein the recycled catalyst stream is between 35 to 50 wt. % of the heavy oil feedstock; wherein the first contacting zone is operated at a temperature of at least 10°F (5.56°C) lower than the next contacting zone. providing a heavy oil feedstock, a hydrogen containing gas, and a slurry catalyst; combining the heavy oil feedstock, the hydrogen containing gas, and the slurry catalyst in a first contacting zone under hydrocracking conditions to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products; sending a mixture comprising the upgraded products, the slurry catalyst, the hydrogen containing gas, and unconverted heavy oil feedstock to a first separation zone, whereby the upgraded products are removed with the hydrogen containing gas from the first separation zone as a first overhead stream, and the slurry catalyst, heavier hydrocracked liquid products and unconverted heavy oil feedstock are removed from the first separation zone as a first non-volatile stream; sending the first non-volatile stream to a contacting zone other than the first contacting zone, which is maintained under hydrocracking conditions with additional hydrogen containing gas feed to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming additional upgraded products; sending a mixture comprising the additional upgraded products, slurry catalyst, hydrogen containing gas, and unconverted heavy oil feedstock to a separation zone other than the first separation zone, whereby the upgraded products are removed with hydrogen containing gas as an overhead stream, and the slurry catalyst and the unconverted heavy oil feedstock are removed as a second non-volatile stream; and wherein the slurry catalyst to the first contacting zone comprises at least a portion of the non-volatile stream from one of the separation zones as a recycled catalyst stream, and wherein the recycled catalyst stream is between 35 to 50 wt. % of the heavy oil feedstock; wherein the first contacting zone is operated at a temperature of at least 10°F (5.56°C) lower than the next contacting zone.