From toy to film: Labubu dolls are making their big screen debut

Labubu dolls, the toy that has become a cultural phenomenon, may be getting its own storyline. 

Sony Pictures recently announced that they have closed a deal with Chinese retailer Pop Mart to create a movie based on these plush toy characters.

At this time, there are no creative attachments and no decisions have been made as to whether this would be an animated or live-action film.

As fans eagerly await more details, possible stars of the movie could include Labubu, the main monster doll, along with friends Zimomo, Mokoko and Tycoco. 

While these fluffy, wide-eyed, scraggly-eared little creatures are meant for kids, adults are going crazy over them as well. 

The dolls were created by Hong Kong-born, European-based designer Kasing Lung in 2015. Early on, they were manufactured by How2 Work before Chinese retailer Pop Mart took over the line and began selling them in 2019.

By 2024, the dolls were part of a luxury trend and, by 2025, Labubu dolls had gone on to generate $670 million (close to 35%) of Pop Mart’s revenue. 

Fans lined up for the "blind box" toys, which keep the exact doll hidden until opened, fueling a worldwide frenzy.

Celebrities like Rihanna and Lisa from the famous K-pop girl group Blackpink have played a huge role in their popularity. Lisa made headlines when she began clipping the cute dolls onto her handbags.

Other stars, including actress Emma Roberts and NBA player Dillon Brooks, have also embraced Labubus, turning them into trendy "luxury" accessories. Brooks was even spotted wearing a Labubu on a chain while heading to a playoff game in May.

During a recent interview, he said, "I like the Labubus. I got like four of them. I like the trend. It’s cool and… Um… It’s cute."

The news of the new movie comes hot off the heels of Sony's latest successful animation series, "KPop Demon Hunters".

Sony has also produced "The Angry Birds Movie 2", "Jumanji" and the soon-to-be-released "Goat" and "Anaconda".