iQIYI The Lead
Created by Zhang Yimou & Li Shaofei & Chen Yan · 2026 ·
The Lead (2026) earns a 90% Celluloid Score — Celluloid Pick. Recommended overall. Created by Zhang Yimou & Li Shaofei & Chen Yan; stream on iQIYI.
Calculated from four inputs (Celluloid editorial, Metascore, IMDb and TMDB fan rating). Audience sentiment is shown separately. See how we calculate scores.
Four-input score + separate audience snapshot
Where to watch The Lead
The Lead is catalogued under iQIYI — confirm current regional rights on the platform.
Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Is The Lead worth watching?
Yes — The Lead earns a 90% Celluloid Score. Celluloid Pick, created by Zhang Yimou & Li Shaofei & Chen Yan and streaming on iQIYI.
Celluloid Verdict
The Lead — a notable Celluloid catalog credit with strong audience discovery.
Celluloid editorial verdict
What is The Lead about?
Yi Qin'e is taken to the cultural troupe by her uncle Hu Sanyuan to learn to sing Qinqiang Opera. From then on, her life unfolds with ups and downs. She achieves glorious artistic accomplishments, yet also experiences a profound sense of loneliness beyond ordinary people's comprehension.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
The Lead Review (2026): Is It Worth Watching?
★★★★½
Zhang Yimou & Li Shaofei & Chen Yan's The Lead (2026) runs 1 season, 48 episodes on iQIYI — a drama series from China carrying a 90% Celluloid Score.
Essential television — one of the best in its genre.
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Most searched questions about The Lead
High-intent answers for seasons, streaming, cast, and whether The Lead is worth watching — built for search and AI overviews.
Yes — The Lead scores 91% on Celluloid. The Lead — a notable Celluloid catalog credit with strong audience discovery. Stream on iQIYI.
The Lead has 1 season and 48 episodes (2026). It is currently marked ended on Celluloid.
The Lead is catalogued under iQIYI and commonly streams on iQIYI. Availability varies by country — open the platform app or the Celluloid series page for regional notes.
The Lead stars Liu Haocun, Zhang Jiayi, Qin Hailu, Shawn Dou, and others. Created by Zhang Yimou & Li Shaofei & Chen Yan.
Yes — The Lead has ended (2026). You can watch the complete 1-season run without waiting on renewals.
The Lead is primarily in Mandarin (China). Subtitles/dubs depend on your streaming platform.
About 36 hours at ~45 minutes per episode across 48 episodes — a focused weekend binge for many viewers.
The Lead scores 90% from four inputs: Celluloid editorial 92/100, Metacritic 81/100, IMDb 9/10 and TMDB fan rating 96%. The separate audience snapshot is 96%. The Lead — a notable Celluloid catalog credit with strong audience discovery. See the full breakdown on the The Lead series page.
No — The Lead is not on Netflix. It streams on iQIYI, and on Celluloid it is catalogued under iQIYI. Streaming rights rotate by country, so confirm in your region before subscribing.
The Lead first aired in 2026 (2026). Created by Zhang Yimou & Li Shaofei & Chen Yan; it streams on iQIYI today.
The Lead stars Liu Haocun, Zhang Jiayi, Qin Hailu, Shawn Dou, Zhai Zilu, and others. Created by Zhang Yimou & Li Shaofei & Chen Yan.
The Lead has 48 episodes across 1 season (2026).