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iQIYI International's 2025 Global Content Strategy

On January 20, iQIYI, renowned for its online entertainment offerings in China, proudly announced its 2025 global trending content for its international audience. With an impressive increase of 114.5% in global viewership over the previous year, fueled largely by rising demand for both Chinese narratives and Thai dramas, iQIYI International is reshaping how viewers engage with Asian storytelling.

New Ranking System for Global Content

Starting January 20, viewers will witness the debut of iQIYI International's innovative ranking system, which evaluates global content across six diverse genres, including both Chinese language and international dramas, films, and animation. This feature aims to grant consumers and partners alike an enriched perspective on the rapidly evolving trends in viewing preferences worldwide.

Dominance of Dramas and Original Productions

Dramas have undoubtedly emerged as the star performers on the platform. In the year 2025, among the top 10 Chinese language series, an impressive nine were home-grown productions from iQIYI, including the standout romantic tale, "The Best Thing," which adeptly fused elements of traditional Chinese medicine with a contemporary plot. Moreover, the romantic feature "Speed and Love" made headlines by achieving a spot in the annual top 10 charts just 20 days post-launch.

Thai dramas have also made significant inroads, with the supernatural series "Khemjira" leading the non-Chinese programming. The longstanding series “KinnPorsche The Series La Forte” continued to captivate audiences, demonstrating the resilience and high caliber of Thai storytelling.

Animation and Film Breakthroughs

The year 2025 has been particularly momentous for Chinese animation, with eight out of the top ten titles showcasing adventurous fantasies. Works like "Urban Miracle Doctor" and "Super Cube" are gaining traction for their modern storytelling approaches, appealing to a broader global audience. Meanwhile, films within the "Ne Zha" franchise led as top contenders in the Chinese-language film charts. This continued interest underscores the universal allure of traditional Chinese myths, as adaptations like "The Legend of the Condor Heroes: What Is Love" and "Monkey King Fights Lion Camel" resonate with diverse audiences.

Tailoring Content to Regional Preferences

iQIYI International's growth is partly attributed to its nuanced understanding of regional audience preferences. Audiences in Southeast Asia exhibit a strong predilection for localized and dubbed content. In contrast, viewers from North America indulge in a vast array from Chinese and Thai dramas to reality shows centered around music and animation. East Asian viewers are gravitating towards suspense and detective genres, while the Middle East and North Africa showcase an inclination towards military-themed Chinese content.

Future Endeavors for 2026

With a booming overseas sector that has rapidly become a crucial growth engine for iQIYI, the media giant is set on deepening its commitment to Asian content production. The aim for 2026 focuses on delivering high-quality content that resonates with a global audience while nurturing creative talent on a world stage. According to the Q3 2025 financial report, this strategy has remarkably propelled average daily subscriptions to record-breaking levels.

As iQIYI forges ahead, this leading entertainment platform is positioning itself as a vital player in the global media landscape, uncovering narratives that connect with diverse viewers and embracing the vibrancy of Asian storytelling on an international scale.