Sony has entered early development on a film based on the wildly popular Labubu plush doll line, reports indicate. The Culver City studio has secured feature rights to the Chinese designer toy, although details regarding the director, writer, or production team have yet to be announced. It also remains unclear whether the film will be live-action or animated.
Labubu was created in 2015 by Hong Kong-born, Europe-based artist Kasing Lung and was initially produced by How2Work. The toy line gained global attention after Chinese retailer Pop Mart took over in 2019.
Labubu is part of Lung’s The Monsters series, which draws inspiration from Nordic folklore. What began as a cult favourite in East and Southeast Asia has since become a worldwide phenomenon, with rare figures sometimes selling for six-figure sums on the US black market.
Pop Mart’s innovative “eyeless box” strategy, in which buyers do not know which figure they will receive until opening the package, has contributed to the dolls’ rarity and desirability. The brand’s popularity has been further boosted by celebrity endorsements, including appearances by Blackpink’s Lisa wearing Labubu accessories.
The financial success of the Monsters line has been notable. According to Pop Mart’s 2024 report, the series generated $430 million in revenue, representing 23.3% of the company’s annual income.
In the first half of 2025, the line’s revenue surged to $670 million, accounting for roughly 35% of Pop Mart’s total revenue.
The announcement of Sony’s film adaptation signals the growing influence of designer toys on global pop culture, as well as the potential for viral collectibles to transition into mainstream media.
While the project remains in its early stages, fans of Labubu and designer toys worldwide are likely to be eager to see how the beloved plush dolls are translated to the big screen.
With no production team yet attached, details on casting, storyline, and release date remain under wraps, but the buzz surrounding the project is already significant, reflecting Labubu’s status as a major cultural and commercial phenomenon.
