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Rainfed agriculture is crucial for global food security, with plastic film mulching a widely adopted practice in this domain. However, the impact of plastic film mulching varies significantly across different crop species. This study conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the overall effects of plastic film mulching on the yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP) of 13 different crop species. Plastic film mulching significantly enhanced crop yield (26%), WUE (33%), and NPFP (26%) compared to non-mulched conditions. However, the promotional effects varied significantly among different crop species, with noteworthy improvements observed in soybean (44%, 41%, and 45%, respectively) and millet (42%, 57%, and 39%, respectively). For China's major staple crops, plastic film mulching improved the yield, WUE, and NPFP of wheat (29%, 23%, and 27%, respectively), rice (12%, 36%, and 12%, respectively), maize (25%, 29%, and 26%, respectively), and potato (27%, 29%, and 27%, respectively). Regional suitability for plastic film mulching varied among different crops, with rice, maize, soybean, sunflower, linseed, and millet showing increased benefits in cold, semi-arid and arid areas (mean annual temperature (MAT) ≤ 10°C, mean annual precipitation (MAP) < 450 mm, and aridity index (AI) < 0.5). Conversely, peanut and wheat performed better in warm, moist and semi-humid regions (MAT > 10°C, MAP > 450 mm, and AI > 0.5). Moreover, nitrogen fertilizer application influenced the efficacy of plastic film mulching. For soybean, linseed, and millet, the optimal outcome of plastic mulching was observed under low nitrogen application (<110 kg ha–1). For sorghum, sunflower, sweet potato, rice, peanut, potato, and wheat, the optimal outcome of plastic mulching was found under moderate nitrogen application (110–220 kg ha–1). As for maize, cotton, and oilseed rape, the optimal outcome of plastic mulching was observed under high nitrogen application (>220 kg ha–1), but there was no significant difference between moderate and high nitrogen application. A tailored approach considering specific crop requirements and nitrogen application rates is essential for maximizing the benefits of plastic film mulching across diverse local conditions. This study offers valuable insights into optimizing crop productivity under plastic film mulching management systems. [Display omitted] • Plastic film mulching (PFM) enhanced the yield, WUE, and NPFP of all 13 crops. • PFM improved soybean and millet yields the most among the 13 crops. • Most crops exhibited heightened promotional effects under PFM in cold, semi-arid and arid regions. • Peanut and wheat performed better under PFM in warm, moist and semi-humid regions. • Nitrogen fertilizer application can be reduced when using PFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]