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| Lighthouse Reveals China’s Top 10 Most-Watched Dramas of 2025 by Total Viewership (Photo: Upmedia) |
China’s drama market had a fiercely competitive year, and the numbers are finally in. According to Lighthouse, a major Chinese film and TV industry analytics platform, Coroner’s Diary has officially emerged as China’s most-watched drama of 2025, based on cumulative viewership across the year.
Pulling in an impressive 1.773 billion views, the period mystery drama didn’t just lead the chart — it set the tone for what audiences gravitated towards in 2025: gripping plots, emotionally layered characters, and high replay value. Costume dramas and fantasy titles continued to dominate, but modern romance still proved it has serious staying power.
China’s Most-Watched Dramas of 2025 (Lighthouse ver)
What’s even more interesting is how tight the race was at the top, with the first and second place separated by just a slim margin. Here’s a closer look at how each drama performed.
1. Coroner’s Diary – China’s Most-Watched Drama of 2025
Total views: 1.773 billion
Leading the Lighthouse rankings is Coroner’s Diary, a period mystery drama that blends forensic investigations with romance. Set in an ancient setting, the series follows an unlikely partnership that slowly turns into trust, affection, and emotional depth.
The drama stood out for its tightly written cases, steady pacing, and character-driven storytelling. Week after week, it kept audiences guessing, sparking strong discussion and repeat viewings throughout its run.
2. The First Frost – Modern Romance with Massive Reach
Total views: 1.751 billion
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Coming in a very close second, The First Frost proved that modern romance still holds enormous appeal. With its emotionally grounded storytelling and relatable relationship dynamics, the drama connected strongly with younger viewers and urban audiences.
Its near tie with the top-ranked title also highlighted the ongoing genre battle between costume dramas and contemporary love stories in 2025.
3. Feud (Lin Jiang Xian) – Tragedy-Driven Costume Romance
Total views: 1.589 billion
Ranking third, Feud leaned heavily into emotional tension and dramatic twists. The story centres on an immortal couple separated by misunderstandings, loss, and repeated conflict, delivering a narrative packed with heartbreak and high stakes.
Its consistent plot momentum helped maintain strong viewership across its entire broadcast.
4. Moonlight Mystique – Fantasy Romance with Staying Power
Total views: 1.467 billion
Moonlight Mystique secured fourth place with its fantasy-driven storyline and visually rich world-building. Mixing romance, destiny, and supernatural elements, the drama appealed strongly to fans of high-concept fantasy series.
With two titles ranking in the top four, this drama also helped cement its leading cast as standout performers of the year.
5. The Demon Hunter’s Romance – Emotional Fantasy Love Story
Total views: 1.425 billion
Landing in fifth place, The Demon Hunter’s Romance told a bittersweet story of fate and connection. Centred on a bond between a human girl and a demon hunter, the drama traced their relationship from childhood into adulthood, weaving together loyalty, sacrifice, and emotional growth.
Its nostalgic tone and tragic undertones resonated deeply with long-term drama fans.
6. The Immortal Ascension – High-Fantasy Adaptation Success
Total views: 1.407 billion
Ranking sixth, The Immortal Ascension delivered classic cultivation fantasy on a grand scale. Packed with training arcs, rivalries, and spiritual growth, the series appealed strongly to fans of long-form fantasy adaptations.
Its steady performance reflected strong source material loyalty and consistent viewer engagement.
7. The Journey of Legend – Epic Adventure Costume Drama
Total views: 1.393 billion
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Just behind at seventh place, The Journey of Legend blended martial arts, destiny, and emotional growth. With an adventure-driven narrative and layered character arcs, the drama maintained stable popularity throughout its broadcast period.
8. The Prisoner of Beauty – Political Marriage Turns Romantic
Total views: 1.371 billion
Eighth place went to The Prisoner of Beauty, a costume romance centred on a strategic marriage between rival families. What starts as political tension slowly evolves into trust and affection, making it a favourite among viewers who enjoy slow-burn romance with power dynamics.
9. Love in the Clouds – Light Fantasy Romance Appeal
Total views: 1.188 billion
At ninth place, Love in the Clouds offered a softer fantasy romance with an emphasis on emotional comfort and visual charm. While lighter in tone, it still managed to pull solid numbers and a loyal audience base.
10. The Glory – Costume Drama Closing the Top Ten
Total views: 1.101 billion
Rounding out the list is The Glory, which crossed the one-billion-view mark to secure tenth place. Its inclusion confirms that well-produced costume dramas continue to attract large-scale audiences, even in a crowded market.
What the 2025 Lighthouse Rankings Tell Us
The Lighthouse rankings once again underline a clear trend: costume and fantasy dramas remain the backbone of China’s streaming market, while modern romance continues to compete strongly at the top. Viewers are clearly drawn to stories that combine emotional depth, long-form storytelling, and rewatch value.
Lighthouse calculates its annual drama rankings by aggregating total cumulative viewership across major Chinese streaming platforms throughout the year. Rather than focusing on short-term popularity or premiere buzz, the system tracks long-term audience consumption, including repeat views and sustained watch activity over time.
This method allows Lighthouse to reflect a drama’s real market reach and staying power, offering a broader picture of what viewers actually watched — not just what trended briefly online.
Now it’s your turn. Which of these cdramas did you finish, drop, or rewatch twice? Do you agree with Coroner’s Diary taking the top spot, or was another title your personal number one this year?