Sony Greenlights a ‘Labubu’ Movie: Here’s What We Know

Labubu is heading toward Hollywood. Sony Pictures has acquired the screen rights to the popular Chinese doll brand, aiming to create a movie that could eventually grow into a franchise.

No director, producer, or cast has been attached yet, and it’s unclear whether the project will be animated or live-action. Sony declined to comment on the project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born, European-based artist Kasing Lung and first produced by How2 Work as a line of collectible monster figurines. The toys gained traction when Chinese retailer Pop Mart took over production and sales in 2019.

The recent surge in Labubu’s popularity comes from two main factors. First, Pop Mart sells the toys in “blind boxes,” so buyers don’t know which figure they’ll get until they open it. This approach drives demand and has created a hot secondary market, where collectors pay high prices online, at pop-up shops, and in stores. Limited editions have even sold for six-figure sums at auctions.

Second, celebrity influence has boosted the brand. In 2024, Blackpink member Lisa showcased the toys as accessories, helping push Labubu into global attention. The toys first became popular in Southeast Asia before expanding worldwide. Pop Mart’s profits reportedly jumped 350 percent earlier this year.

Labubu is the lead figure of the line, which also includes characters like leader Zimomo, companion Mokoko, and boyfriend Tycoco. While it’s too early to say if Labubu will have the staying power of Hello Kitty or fade like Beanie Babies, the toy line’s explosive growth has clearly caught Hollywood’s eye.

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