China’s hottest new show is a Sichuan-dialect micro drama set in the 1980s

The low-budget, Sichuan-dialect micro drama My Sweet Home has become an unlikely smash hit in China, racking up over 1 billion views within just three days of its release last week.

The free-to-air series – which runs over 79 episodes each lasting around just two minutes – has captivated viewers with its tale of two young single parents in 1980s China who defy social conventions to create a blended family.

It is the latest success story for China’s booming micro drama industry, which has achieved explosive growth over the past few years and now rivals the traditional film and television sectors in its ability to attract eyeballs and generate revenue.

But My Sweet Home, with its regional themes and wholesome lead characters, also represents a departure for an industry that has long been known for producing trashy romances filled with vampires, sadistic bosses and wicked stepmothers.

China’s micro drama market truly took off in 2022 and has been the fastest-growing segment of the film and television industry ever since, said Wang Pengyuan, founder of Fanfu micro drama studio, which is part of the leading Chinese micro drama production company Wenwu Media.

“With growing economic uncertainties, more capital and talent is flowing into micro dramas from other industries as investors seek to generate high returns from low-cost productions,” Wang said.