Asphaltenes　notably　alter　the　oil–water　interface　properties.　However,　the　mechanisms　by　which　they　influence　droplet　electrocoalescence　remain　unclear,　hindering　advancements　in　electrocoalescence　technology.　This　study　compares　the　deformation,　motion,　coalescence,　and　bounce　behaviors　of　asphaltene-containing　droplets　and　pure　water　droplets　exposed　to　DC　electric　fields.　Findings　demonstrate　that　asphaltenes　exhibit　significant　interfacial　activity　and　film-strengthening　effects.　With　the　critical　micelle　concentration　(CMC)　as　a　transition　point,　the　reduction　of　interfacial　tension　and　the　film-strengthening　effect　by　asphaltenes　sequentially　dominate　as　their　concentration　increases.　Based　on　this　trend,　an　expression　for　the　interfacial　film　strength　controlling　droplet　deformation　was　derived.　Regarding　droplet　motion,　the　film-strengthening　effect　of　asphaltenes　inhibits　interfacial　synchronous　flow,　causing　a　gradual　transition　of　the　droplet　drag　model　from　the　fluid　sphere　model　to　the　rigid　sphere　model.　On　this　basis,　electrocoalescence　criteria　for　asphaltene-containing　droplets　were　obtained,　offering　theoretical　support　for　advancing　water-in-oil　electro-demulsification　techniques.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd