The global Labubu craze is officially making its way to the big screen. Sony Pictures has acquired the screen rights to develop a feature film based on the wildly popular collectible dolls, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed this week. The deal marks the latest example of Hollywood capitalizing on viral toy trends, following the massive success of films like Barbie and The LEGO Movie.
What Is Labubu?
Labubu is a collectible plush toy character created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung in 2015. The character is part of Lung’s story series The Monsters, which draws inspiration from Nordic folklore and mythology that captivated him during his childhood in the Netherlands.
Characterized by rabbit-like ears, large expressive eyes, and a toothy grin featuring nine sharp teeth, Labubu has a distinctive appearance that blends whimsical charm with slightly mischievous energy. The character belongs to a larger family of creatures including fellow monsters Zimomo, Mokoko, Tycoco, Yaya, Spooky, and Pato.
Originally manufactured by How2Work, Labubu exploded in popularity after Chinese toy retailer Pop Mart began producing and distributing the dolls in 2019. The company sells Labubu through “blind boxes,” meaning buyers don’t know which specific design they’re getting until they open the package. This scarcity-driven model has created a booming secondary market where rare editions can resell for thousands of dollars.
The Labubu Business Boom
Pop Mart’s financial success tells the story of Labubu’s meteoric rise. In 2024, The Monsters line generated approximately 3 billion yuan ($430 million), accounting for 23.3 percent of the company’s annual revenue. By the first half of 2025, that figure skyrocketed to 4.8 billion yuan ($670 million), representing a staggering 668 percent increase year-over-year.
Overall, Pop Mart’s revenue doubled in 2024 to nearly $2 billion, driven largely by Labubu’s viral popularity. The company’s third-quarter 2025 results showed revenue surging as much as 250 percent year-over-year, with overseas markets driving explosive growth. Sales in the Americas jumped an astonishing 1,265 to 1,270 percent, fueled by the Labubu frenzy in the United States.
Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning stated the company is on track to achieve revenue of over $4 billion in 2025, calling it “quite easy” given current momentum. The company now operates over 570 stores worldwide, with rapid expansion planned for North America, where it currently has approximately 40 locations.
Celebrity Endorsements Fuel the Craze
Labubu’s transformation from niche collectible to global phenomenon can be traced directly to celebrity endorsements. Blackpink member Lisa is widely credited with kick-starting the trend after she began posting photos with Labubu dolls on Instagram in April 2024. The K-pop superstar regularly showcased the toys attached to her designer bags, giving Labubu instant cool-girl credibility among her massive fanbase.
Rihanna amplified the trend when she was spotted with a lychee berry Labubu clipped to her Louis Vuitton bag, transforming the toy into a bonafide fashion statement. Other A-list celebrities who have embraced Labubu include Dua Lipa, Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian, Madonna, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
The celebrity endorsements created a feedback loop: as more stars flaunted Labubu on social media, demand surged, leading to sold-out launches and frenzied shopping scenes at Pop Mart stores worldwide.
Sony Pictures Movie Development
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures closed the deal to acquire Labubu’s screen rights this week, placing the project in very early development. No producer, director, or cast members have been attached yet, and it remains unclear whether the film will be live-action, animated, or a hybrid format.
Given Sony Pictures’ track record with successful animated features like the Netflix sensation KPop Demon Hunters and franchises spanning multiple genres, industry observers are optimistic about the project’s potential. The studio is reportedly planning to develop Labubu as a franchise rather than a standalone film.
The move follows the broader Hollywood trend of adapting popular toys into major film franchises. The LEGO Movie launched a successful series a decade ago, while 2023’s Barbie became a cultural phenomenon and billion-dollar box office hit. The upcoming Masters of the Universe film is expected to be one of summer 2026’s biggest releases.
Pop Mart’s Own Animated Plans
Interestingly, Pop Mart itself has already been developing Labubu content independently of Sony. The company established its own film studio and completed the first draft of an animated series titled Labubu and Friends in January 2025, with copyright registration finalized in March. The series is planned as the first step before launching a feature-length film.
It remains unclear how Sony’s movie project will coordinate with Pop Mart’s in-house development efforts, or whether the two initiatives will proceed on separate tracks.
Nordic Mythology Meets Modern Pop Culture
Kasing Lung’s creation draws heavily from the Nordic folklore he absorbed growing up in Utrecht, Netherlands, after moving from Hong Kong as a child. The character embodies elements of elves and forest spirits from Scandinavian mythology—mischievous yet inherently good creatures who spread joy through playful antics.
Lung has described Labubu as modern mythmaking, blending ancient storytelling traditions with contemporary artistic vision. The result is a character that feels both familiar and fresh, tapping into timeless archetypes while maintaining distinctly modern appeal.
This rich mythological foundation provides fertile ground for cinematic adaptation, offering storytelling possibilities that extend far beyond simple toy commercials. A film could explore the whimsical world of The Monsters, delve into Nordic-inspired fantasy adventures, or create entirely new narratives around Labubu’s mischievous personality.
What’s Next for Labubu
While no release date has been announced for Sony’s Labubu film, the project signals Hollywood’s continued interest in leveraging viral consumer products as intellectual property. With Labubu already generating nearly $700 million in revenue during the first half of 2025 alone and showing no signs of slowing down, the commercial potential is undeniable.
For fans worldwide who have embraced Labubu as more than just a toy—transforming it into a fashion accessory, status symbol, and cultural phenomenon—a feature film represents the next evolution of the character’s journey from artist’s sketchbook to global icon.
Whether Sony opts for animation, live-action, or a hybrid approach, the Labubu movie will face high expectations from a devoted fanbase that spans continents and generations. If executed successfully, it could become the next major toy-to-film franchise, cementing Labubu’s place in pop culture history.
