A performer wears a costume of a character from Pop Mart's hugely popular Labubu dolls series while dancing for visitors at the Pop Land theme park on July 17, 2025 in Beijing, China. The viral 'monster' dolls are so popular that Pop Mart, the Beijing-based company behind the craze, saw its profits soar by 350% in the first half of the year. The obsession with Labubu, furry creatures with pointy ears and exactly nine teeth, have inspired long lineups and occasional tussles in some countries as well as a growing black market for imposter products seeking to cash in. Labubu dolls, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, first debuted in 2019 but hit global status more recently when they became the accessory toy of choice for celebrities including Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Blackpink's Lisa. A key part of Pop Mart's commercial success with Labubu is so-called 'blind boxes' where customers find out what they buy only when they open the package. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) The film, announced in a Pop Mart statement on Thursday, marks a major step in Chinese firm Pop Mart's long-anticipated expansion of its best known characters beyond collectible toys and into other entertainment and cultural products.
The move highlights Pop Mart's determinationto turn Labubu from a viral sensation into an entertainment franchise with broad international reach. The company underscored that ambition earlier this year when it said London would become its European headquarters.
Paul King, the BAFTA-nominated filmmaker behind "Paddington", "Paddington 2" and "Wonka", is attached to produce and direct the film. He will also co-write the screenplay with Steven Levenson, the award-winning writer best known for "Dear Evan Hansen".
The film is in early development and is planned as a live-action and CGI hybrid, according to the companies.
Pop Mart has said it isdrawing on Disney's DIS.N playbook as it looks to turn Labubu's popularity into lasting success. Executives have said there is significant scope to expand Pop Mart characters, such as Labubu, into content, entertainment, theme parks and additional merchandise, much as Disney has done with its best-known intellectual property.
Morningstar analyst Jeff Zhang said the partnership with Sony Pictures was a milestone in Pop Mart's efforts to diversify its revenue streams.
"Given Labubu's global popularity, the movie will likely add to Pop Mart's future licensing income," Zhang said. "However ... we do not expect the news to materially impact Pop Mart's stock valuation."
Labubu's global popularity has helped drive the Hong Kong-listed company's shares up 64% over the past year, lifting Pop Mart's market value above the combined worth of Hasbro HAS.O, Mattel MAT.O and Sanrio 8136.T.
Kasing Lung, the Hong Kong-born artist and writer who was raised in the Netherlands, created Labubu and The Monsters in a series of picture books known as "The Monsters Trilogy" in 2015. Lung will serve as executive producer on the film.
Pop Mart is currently showcasing The Monsters as part of a global tour to mark the characters' 10th anniversary, with the latest stop in Paris.
(Reporting by Casey Hall, Sophie Yu; Editing by Kate Mayberry)