Labubu dolls are officially getting their own movie

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It was inevitable! Now that Sony Pictures owns the rights, they’re partnering with Pop Mart to create a Labubu movie, and early signs suggest it could be as successful as ‘The Minecraft Movie’.

Labubu, a unique plush toy created by artist Kasing Lung in 2015, became incredibly popular in April 2024 after Blackpink’s Lisa was seen carrying a Labubu keychain.

It’s honestly wild how big this whole thing has gotten! People are seriously obsessed – I’ve seen fans spending crazy amounts of money, and these ‘toy surgeons’ who open boxes and resell them are making a fortune. The founder of Pop Mart, Wang Ning, is now a billionaire! It’s reached a point where even South Park made a joke about Labubus – that’s when you know something has truly become a pop culture phenomenon.

Now that movies based on popular toys and video games – like Barbie, Super Mario Bros., and Minecraft – have been huge successes, it’s no surprise Hollywood is looking to make more of them.

Labubu movie confirmed with Paul King directing

Sony and Pop Mart are reportedly starting to develop a movie based on the Labubu character. Paul King, known for directing the quirky British comedy series The Mighty Boosh, is set to direct.

He’s no stranger to working with popular franchises. He previously directed the 2014 and 2017 Paddington movies, and most recently, directed and co-wrote the 2023 film Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet.

The movie based on Labubu was announced on Wednesday, March 18th, in Paris. The announcement happened during a special exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Monsters. It was also revealed that King will write the screenplay with Steven Levenson, who is known for his work on Dear Evan Hansen.

Considering Levenson’s background in musical theater, that’s a possibility for this project, though it’s still just an idea. Kasing Lung, the creator of Labubu, will be an executive producer on the film.

Pop Mart, known for its Labubu figures, is growing its presence in the UK with plans to open seven new stores by 2026. The company has also chosen London as its base for European operations, a decision made following a visit to China by the Prime Minister.

— TopMob (@TopMob) January 31, 2026

According to Kim Dayoung, a marketing lecturer at the National University of Singapore, today’s younger shoppers – Gen Z and Millennials – see shopping as part of the content they consume, and vice versa. She shared this with the BBC when discussing the project’s growth possibilities.

As a fan, I just love getting completely lost in a good story. It’s amazing when you really connect with a character and then feel like you’re actually in their world – it all just flows together so naturally. Honestly, I think there’s so much potential for creators to really grab us like that!

We don’t have many details right now, but people online are already sharing their reactions, and some are comparing the situation to the movie The Studio.

One Reddit user commented that the rumored ‘Kool Aid’ movie—a fictional project from the Apple TV series—seems increasingly likely, while another said the situation felt like a plot point straight out of ‘The Studio,’ also a show on Apple TV.

Man, seeing this new movie announcement just reminded me of The Emoji Movie – not in a good way, honestly! Someone else put it perfectly: please, no! I’m really hoping this one doesn’t follow the same path.

Despite some opposition, many support the decision, with one person highlighting the writer’s impressive background. They pointed to Steven Levenson’s successful work on projects like Dear Evan Hansen, Tick, Tick… Boom!, and Fosse/Verdon across stage, film, and television.

Labubu definitely has a bad reputation, and sometimes it’s earned. However, I’m hesitant to believe the movie will be bad considering it’s written by that person and directed by Paul King, who did Paddington and Wonka – both were great!

I never thought I’d be excited about a Labubu movie, but I really am! Someone else said they’ll definitely have to take their kids, even if it means a lot of convincing – it’s good to see a quality movie being made for them.

While you wait, check out our picks for the best new movies available to stream this month, and see what exciting films are scheduled for release in 2026.

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2026-03-19 13:53