Top 10 Most Popular Donghua Live-Action Adaptations of All Time

While you might have heard of or even watched some of the donghua mentioned below, did you know that they also have popular live-action adaptations? It’s true that live-action adaptations often pale in comparison to their animated counterparts. Still, these 10 Chinese series deserve your attention.

This list features 10 of the most notable donghua live-action adaptations that you may wanna check out for yourself and discover why they’re so popular among fans. So, let’s dive right in.

1 The Untamed

In case you didn’t know, The Untamed is the live-action counterpart of the donghua series, Mo Dao Zu Shi. Yes, and both of them are pretty popular among the fanbase, as you can imagine. They’re especially popular among female audiences since they are adaptations of a Boys’ Love web novel.

The plot is also praised for its multi-layered storytelling. There’s a supernatural murder mystery unfolding behind the scenes as well. The live-action particularly excels because of its cast, and the costume designs are equally commended. Thus, it easily earns a place on this list. No questions asked.

2 Douluo Continent

The reason behind the astronomical popularity of Douluo Continent might just be the cast. Xiao Zhan (who also led The Untamed) is the protagonist of the series. That’s why Chinese fans are likely so enticed by this adaptation. That said, the source material is equally loved by readers.

Many fans of the series also credit the live-action world-building. Compared to the anime, Soul Land, the live-action pales a little. Still, the franchise’s already massive popularity helped Douluo Continent earn a place on this list. Sure, there is plenty of CGI, but the overall production budget behind it is huge.

3 The King’s Avatar

The King’s Avatar is inarguably one of the best when it comes to delivering a storyline centered around eSports. Of course, the donghua already had a massive fanbase and multiple seasons, but the live-action is equally, if not more, loved by viewers. There are hardly any major complaints about it.

The character chemistry among the players built into the live-action really grabs fans’ attention. It makes us invested in the characters’ motivations and goals. Even the visual effects in the live-action are surprisingly good. All of this helped the series achieve massive mainstream popularity.

4 Sword Snow Stride

The fairly recent donghua adaptation of Sword Snow Stride has gained much popularity, and a big part of the credit must go to the 2021-2022 live-action series of the same name. Once again, the world-building takes the storyline to another level. Plus, the character interactions are just as well executed.

While the donghua might appear better due to its stellar animation, the plot remains mostly the same in the live-action. The political intrigue in the storyline elevates the series’ appeal even further. Also, the overall gritty aesthetic of the live-action makes Sword Snow Stride a unique watch.

5 I Am Nobody

The 2023 live-action series, I Am Nobody, has arguably been one of the most successful adaptations of a Chinese donghua. It did not drop the ball when it came to capturing the donghua’s storyline with human actors. Everything came together almost perfectly. The writing and action choreography are top-notch.

The live-action also managed to portray the deep cultural roots of the narrative really well. Online fan reviews also claim that it has elevated the source material in some ways, especially through the casting and the actors’ phenomenal performances. Even the CGI looks the part in the series.

6 Rakshasa Street

Rakshasa Street as a franchise is widely successful in China and even outside it among fans of Chinese media. The donghua itself is often claimed to be a staple of modern Chinese animation. Though the live-action could not quite match the quality of the donghua, it still gained much commercial popularity.

Even with bits and pieces of an altered plotline here and there, the live-action remains an enjoyable watch. The star power in the show also pulls in many viewers. Especially notable is the series’ historical lore-building, which is quite apparent in both the live-action and the donghua, making it such a hit.

7 The Blood of Youth

Within the Chinese drama community, The Blood of Youth is popularly considered a massive hit. In fact, it is even known as one of the best wuxia series of recent years. The way the live-action pulled off the donghua’s fast-paced action is really commendable, to say the least.

Interestingly, both the drama and the donghua are produced by the same company. This ensured that the presentation would not diverge much. Although CGI can never be directly compared to traditional animation, in The Blood of Youth, it looks truly beautiful. Thus, it deserves to be on the list.

8 The Great Ruler

While the franchise was already quite massive, the star power and the overall live-action adaptation brought The Great Ruler to another level. It gained a significant boost in viewership across East and Southeast Asia. Starring Roy Wang and Ouyang Nana may have been the real trick.

Furthermore, the action CGI used in the adaptation looked quite the part. Interestingly, the author of its source material also wrote other mega-hits like Battle Through the Heavens and Martial Universe. So, naturally, even more fans were drawn to give it a try after following those series.

9 The Immortal Ascension

One of the major issues fans often find with donghua live-action adaptations is the pacing. But The Immortal Ascension left little room for such criticism. The original donghua’s dense and slow-burn pacing is captured really well in the live-action, along with a strong leading cast.

It did not turn the storyline into another love triangle. Instead, the live-action remained faithful to the original storyline. The drama also delivers the fantasy atmosphere exceptionally well. The production budget must have been huge, given its high-effort special effects & elaborate costumes.

10 Fighter of the Destiny

Although fans often consider the animated version of Fighter of the Destiny to be superior, which is usually the case, the live-action still enjoys massive popularity because of its commercial value. The show starred Lu Han in his first television role, which was huge for his fans.

The already popular source material further catapulted its success. The storyline in the live-action also remains enjoyable for regular Chinese soap opera viewers. It has everything that makes a TV show stand out. However, some of the narrative nuance from the donghua can still be missed.

TITLE	IMDb RATING (as of June 11, 2026)	WHERE TO WATCH
The Untamed	8.7/10	Netflix, Prime Video
Douluo Continent	8.1/10	Rakuten Viki, Prime Video
The King’s Avatar	8.1/10	Netflix
Sword Snow Stride	7.8/10	Rakuten Viki
I Am Nobody	7.6/10	Amazon Prime (Japan)
Rakshasa Street	6.6/10	Rakuten Viki
The Blood of Youth	8.3/10	Rakuten Viki
The Great Ruler	6.9/10	Rakuten Viki
The Immortal Ascension	7.5/10	Rakuten Viki
Fighter of the Destiny	6.5/10	TOKU

Apart from the titles listed above, many other donghua live-action counterparts have received significant praise, such as Psychic Princess, Martial Universe, Fights Break Sphere, and many others. Still, the titles we mentioned in the list are arguably more popular due to their franchise longevity, widespread recognition, and the overall popularity of their respective IPs as a whole.

What do you think, though? Do you agree with our entries, or is there another donghua live-action adaptation that deserves a spot on the list? Let us know in the comments below.