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| Weibo Drops Its 2025 High-Score Chinese Drama Ranking, Business Drama Takes the Crown (Photo: Weibo/Sina) |
Weibo has officially unveiled its much-talked-about 2025 High-Score Chinese Drama Ranking, and the result is already sparking heated debate online. Leading the chart is the business-themed drama Legend of the Magnate, which clinched first place with an impressive score of 9.3, making it the most highly rated C-drama on the platform this year.
Starring Chen Xiao and Sun Qian, Legend of the Magnate didn’t have the smoothest start. Early on, it trailed behind the age-gap romance Sniper Butterfly in audience buzz. However, as the series progressed, its large-scale production, tightly written storyline, and strong ensemble cast gradually won viewers over.
By the end of its run, the drama had firmly secured its position at the top, proving that solid storytelling still carries weight in the ratings race.
Interestingly, the top three dramas on Weibo’s list all share the exact same score of 9.3, making this year’s ranking especially competitive.
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Sitting in second place is the crime drama Narcotic Operation, led by Duan Yihong and Qin Hao. The series stood out for its intense cat-and-mouse narrative and its clear stance on justice and moral accountability, which resonated strongly with viewers who favour realistic crime stories.
Third place goes to Man’s Inhumanity To Man starring Jiang Qilin, Zhang Yu, and Yin Zheng. The mystery drama drew attention for tackling heavy historical subject matter and portraying humanity under extreme circumstances.
While praised for its courage and acting performances, it also became one of the most discussed entries on the list due to its serious tone and challenging themes.
Moving down the ranking, fourth place is claimed by Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 3: To Chang’an with a score of 9.2. Featuring Yang Zhigang and Yang Xuwen, the detective series was widely applauded for its complex cases, consistent pacing, and casting choices that felt spot-on for long-time fans of the franchise.
In fifth place, with a score of 9.1, is the romance drama Shine On Me, starring Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai.
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| Tencent Video |
Its gentle storytelling and believable chemistry made it a favourite among romance fans, especially viewers looking for something warm and easy to watch amid heavier genres dominating the chart.
Position six is held by In the Name of Justice (以法之名), led by Zhang Yi, Li Guangjie, and Jiang Xin. The drama earned recognition for weaving social reflection into its courtroom narrative, with many viewers praising its grounded tone and mature performances.
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The remaining spots from seventh to tenth all share a score of 8.9, showing how tight the competition is even outside the top tier. Seventh place goes to the revenge-driven historical drama Legend of Zang Hai, starring Xiao Zhan and Zhang Jingyi, which had strong anticipation even before airing.
Eighth is the mystery series Watch Your Back, featuring Guo Jingfei and Qin Lan.
Ninth place belongs to the costume drama In the Name of Blossom, the second season of Guose Fanghua, starring Yang Zi and Li Xian.
Rounding out the list at number ten is the era drama This Thriving Land, led by Yang Mi and Ou Hao.
As soon as the ranking dropped, fan reactions across Weibo and other platforms quickly split into different camps. Supporters of Legend of Magnate celebrated its rise, calling it a win for serious, well-produced business dramas.
Crime drama fans argued that Narcotic Operation deserved the top spot for its realism, while others felt romance titles like Shine On Me were underrated due to genre bias.
Some netizens also questioned whether scores were influenced more by discussion volume than pure storytelling quality, keeping the debate alive well after the announcement.
With so many genres packed into one list, Weibo’s 2025 ranking has clearly struck a nerve. Do you agree with the final order, or is your favourite missing from the top?