A Labubu movie? Pop Mart, Sony team up to bring viral toy to life.
A Labubu movie? Pop Mart, Sony team up to bring viral toy to life.
Julia Gomez, USA TODAYThu, March 19, 2026 at 1:46 PM UTC
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Pop Mart and Sony Pictures Entertainment are reportedly teaming up to bring Labubu to life in a film that is a live-action and CGI hybrid.
Paul King, who was behind "Paddington," "Paddington 2" and "Wonka," is set to produce and direct the film, Reuters reported. King will co-write the movie's screenplay with award-winning writer Steven Levenson, best known for "Dear Evan Hansen."
Sony reportedly acquired the movie rights in November, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting. However, an official announcement was just released. And soon, the dolls will come to life after going viral in 2025 and being seen hanging from collectors' purses, backpacks, and more.
A release date for the movie has not been set, according to the BBC.
USA TODAY has reached out to Pop Mart and Sony for more information.
Hello Kitty-themed Labubus? See the new dolls.
What is a Labubu?
Labubu is a doll that resembles a monster, featuring a large head, sharp teeth, and prominent eyes. The Labubu keychains everyone is obsessed with are furry and come in different colors, shapes, and sizes.
Pop Mart has sold small Labubus, some shaped like shrimp tempura, carrying Coke products, dressed as pumpkins, and more.
Most Labubu dolls come in blind boxes, meaning consumers take a risk and won’t know which Labubu they have until they open their box. They come in a variety of colors and designs.
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Some people might say the doll looks a bit scary, while others think it’s downright adorable.
The doll was designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung around 10 years ago, according to Business Insider.
But today, Labubus are sold worldwide by the Beijing-based toy maker Pop Mart, as part of their “The Monsters” line.
Labubus are getting a movie after they went viral in 2025.Labubus made popular by celebrities
Olivia Atwood, Simone Biles, and others joined in on the 2025 Labubu craze, contributing to its popularity.
Lisa from BLACKPINK's obsession with Labubus was also documented in a 2024 Vanity Fair interview.
During the interview, the K-pop star confessed her "secret obsession" was blind boxes from Pop Mart, the retailer that sells Labubus.
Rihanna and Dua Lipa have also been seen with Labubus, which helped give the toy a boost in popularity, Emily Brough, POP MART North America's head of licensing, previously told USA TODAY in a statement.
Contributing: Reuters
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A Labubu movie has been officially announced by Pop Mart, Sony
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
