Topline
The wildly popular Labubu dolls may soon conquer movie theaters as Sony Pictures secured development rights to the viral monster toys, the latest instance of a film studio betting on a toy adaptation movie to bring in big box office returns.
Labubus became a cultural phenomenon earlier this year. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
VCG via Getty Images
Key Facts
The Hollywood Reporter first reported Sony acquired the rights to make a film based on the popular Chinese dolls.
No actors, writers or director have signed onto the project yet, which is in very early stages of development, multiple outlets reported Friday, and a timeline for release is unclear.
It’s unclear whether the film will be live-action or animated, and if successful, the Labubu film could be the start of a franchise, multiple outlets reported.
Forbes has reached out to Sony Pictures for comment.
Why Are Studios Betting On Toy-Based Movies?
Film studios in recent years have increasingly greenlit movies based on toys or games, which tend to result in big box office success. “Barbie,” a live-action movie based on the iconic doll and a collaboration between Warner Bros. Entertainment and Mattel, was a cultural phenomenon in 2023 and grossed more than $1.4 billion. The success of “Barbie” inspired Mattel to plan additional films based on its other toys. More than a dozen are in active development, Variety previously reported, with writer-actress Lena Dunham helming a Polly Pocket movie, “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu directing a live-action Hot Wheels movie and John Cena starring in a Matchbox car movie. The New York Times reported in 2017 that “The Lego Movie,” a big box office hit released in 2014, helped spark a trend of movies based on toys and games. Film adaptations of games, particularly video games, have also been a reliable box office hit in recent years, with “A Minecraft Movie” ranking as the highest-grossing film of 2025 at domestic theaters, and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ranking behind “Barbie” as the second-biggest movie of 2023. Films based on the board game Catan, the popular video game Call of Duty and the 3D-image toy View Master have all been greenlit by various studios in recent weeks.