Labubu movie sparks heated reaction as fans await big-screen debut

Pop Mart and Sony Pictures Entertainment have confirmed a Labubu feature film, and the collector question is immediate: will a big-screen debut mean new blind-box drops, more collaborations, and fresh demand for older Monsters releases? The project is still in early development, with no release date or financial terms disclosed, but the format is already set as a live-action and CGI hybrid. The announcement was tied to THE MONSTERS’ 10th anniversary global exhibition tour in Paris, a backdrop that makes the move look less like a trend chase and more like a long-built franchise play.

By April 21, the news had already triggered heated discussion online in China. That reaction matters because it shows how far Labubu has moved beyond niche collector chatter. Fans were not just reacting to a toy getting a film treatment. Many were reacting to the idea of Labubu stepping into a larger entertainment world, with the character and the wider Monsters cast now part of a mainstream pop conversation.

The creative team also signals that Pop Mart and Sony are treating this as more than a quick branding exercise. Paul King, known for Paddington, Paddington 2 and Wonka, is attached to produce, direct and co-write the screenplay with Steven Levenson. Kasing Lung, who first brought Labubu and the other Monsters characters to life in the 2015 picture-book series, will serve as executive producer. For fans, that combination suggests an effort to keep the character’s appeal intact while building a cinematic world around it.

The business case is just as striking. Pop Mart’s 2025 revenue reached RMB 37.12 billion, up 184.7% year on year, and The Monsters generated RMB 14.16 billion, or about 38% of total revenue. It was the first Pop Mart IP to top RMB 10 billion in annual sales. Pop Mart COO Si De has said the company wants storytelling to help people connect more deeply with the IP, and the movie fits that strategy cleanly.

For collectors, that is the real story. A successful film could pull older Labubu series back into view, lift the profile of Kasing Lung’s broader Monsters lineup, and widen the market for future merch and crossover projects. In a hobby driven by character recognition and scarcity, a studio-backed debut can be more than entertainment. It can reset demand.