A ‘Labubu’ Movie Is In the Works at Sony

Labubu. The Movie.

Those strangely cute and slightly unsettling dolls continue to be a worldwide hit, and now Sony is making a movie based on them.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the studio has acquired the rights to create a film based on the popular Chinese doll brand, with plans to potentially expand it into a series of movies if the first one is successful.

Currently, Sony hasn’t revealed any information about the plot or the people making the movie, or even if it will be live-action or animated. Sony Pictures Animation has recently produced popular films like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Kpop Demon Hunters.

These collectible figures first appeared in China around 2010, but became a huge trend in recent years thanks to Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company that sells them in surprise ‘blind boxes’.

Labubus wouldn’t be the first toy to inspire a movie. Turning toys into blockbusters is a growing trend. We’ve already seen films based on popular toys like G.I. Joe, Transformers, Ouija, Battleship, American Girl dolls, Bratz, and Trolls. And, of course, the recent Barbie movie was a massive hit, earning over $1.4 billion worldwide.

Given the current popularity of Labubu figures, it was only a matter of time before someone attempted to create a Labubu movie. Now, the big questions are whether the movie will actually get made, and if Labubu will still be trending when it’s released.

Horror Movie Sequels That Successfully Reinvented a Franchise

Aliens (1986)

As a critic, I have to say Ridley Scott’s Alien set an incredibly high bar – it’s a true sci-fi horror classic. So, when Aliens came along in 1986, I wondered how it could possibly measure up. James Cameron solved that problem brilliantly by completely shifting gears. Where Alien was a slow, creeping dread-fest, isolating and terrifying, Aliens is pure, high-octane action. It trades chilling atmosphere for thrilling set pieces – think space marines with seriously impressive weaponry! Both films have their passionate fans; some prefer the original’s quiet, eerie, and cosmic feel, while others revel in the sequel’s loud, explosive energy. But there’s no denying Aliens blew the franchise wide open, creating a universe of possibilities that hadn’t existed before.

Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

It’s unusual for a sequel to drastically surpass the original, almost making it forgettable—think about the first Ouija movie from 2014. But Mike Flanagan’s Ouija: Origin of Evil, a prequel, does just that. It expertly fixes everything that was wrong with the first film and delivers a genuinely creepy, family-focused haunted house story, reminiscent of classic gothic horror. While the original Ouija was set in the present day, Origin of Evil takes place in 1967, and this period setting significantly enhances the film, earning comparisons to the first two Conjuring movies.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Gremlins is a beloved classic from the 80s – a standout monster movie and a great introduction to the horror genre. Joe Dante’s original film brilliantly combines dark humor – like the unexpectedly shocking story about Kate’s father – with impressive practical effects, creating a thrilling and entertaining experience. While a sequel could have simply repeated the formula, Gremlins 2: The New Batch cleverly moves Gizmo from a quiet suburb to the chaotic world of a big-city corporate skyscraper, swapping small-town mischief for over-the-top antics. The sequel embraces the original’s dark comedy, amplifying it to a hilariously campy level and even playfully satirizing the first film – and the result is fantastic.

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

The A Nightmare on Elm Street series, created by Wes Craven, always had a bit of a playful, over-the-top quality—perhaps due to all the special effects blood. While the original movie was a fairly direct and scary horror film, the sequels became increasingly silly and strange. However, with the sixth film—Craven’s return to the series after many years—he brought Freddy Krueger back to his truly terrifying origins, adding a clever, self-aware element. This revitalized the franchise and even influenced Craven’s later work, like the film Scream.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Matt Reeves’ 2008 film, Cloverfield, doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, in my opinion. While it was hugely popular when it came out, thanks to its clever marketing, it’s often overlooked when people talk about the best horror movies of the 2000s, despite launching a whole franchise. The surprise came with the sequel, 10 Cloverfield Lane. Originally planned as a completely separate movie, it moved away from the shaky-cam, found-footage style that made the first film so memorable. Instead of a large-scale city attack, 10 Cloverfield Lane takes place in a secluded, underground bunker, offering a very different experience. It’s a much more intimate and suspenseful thriller, relying on strong performances from Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman rather than big action set pieces.

Doctor Sleep (2019)

It once seemed impossible to revisit the world of Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 horror masterpiece, The Shining. The film felt unique and self-contained, existing almost outside of typical cinema. However, 36 years after the original novel was released, Stephen King wrote Doctor Sleep, a true sequel to The Shining, which was later made into a film by Mike Flanagan. Doctor Sleep centers on a grown-up, troubled Danny Torrance as he confronts a deadly cult that preys on children with special abilities, leading him back to the infamous Overlook Hotel. While less focused on psychological horror and artistic style than the first film, Doctor Sleep is a faster-paced supernatural thriller that explores mystical themes, offering a fresh perspective on the Torrance family’s haunting story.

Prey (2022)

The Predator movies are known for being big, bold, and blending science fiction, action, and horror. But Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey does something different – it completely reimagines the series, and ends up being one of the best Predator films yet. This prequel takes place in the early 1700s on the Great Plains and follows a young Comanche woman trying to prove her worth as a warrior while battling a deadly alien hunter. Instead of futuristic technology and weapons, Prey focuses on a raw, primal fight, powerfully brought to life by Amber Midthunder. The result is a captivating film that cleverly reinvents the franchise and opens up exciting new possibilities for future stories – hopefully ones that build on what Prey has achieved.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Like Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgement Day takes the ideas from its scarier first film and turns them into a big action movie, setting the direction for all the Terminator films that followed. The sequel, set 11 years after The Terminator, reimagines Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character (now a T-800) as a protector, tasked with safeguarding young John Connor, who holds the key to the future. While still containing some scary moments, the movie leans into its science fiction action roots, and is surprisingly moving thanks to the genuine bond that develops between John and his Terminator protector.

Bride of Chucky (1998)

The first three Child’s Play movies were designed to be genuinely scary and make audiences see their childhood toys in a new, unsettling light, though they did have some dark humor. Everything changed with Bride of Chucky, the fourth film, which shifted the series from straightforward horror to a self-aware, comedic franchise. This installment sees Chucky reconnecting with his former partner in crime, Tiffany Valentine, and trying to escape his doll body with the help of a magical amulet. While Bride of Chucky is still a horror movie, the scares aren’t as strong, and the human characters aren’t particularly memorable. What really stands out is the fun, twisted relationship between Chucky and Tiffany, and their outrageous antics, which set the stage for the series’ embrace of over-the-top campiness.

Evil Dead II (1987)

While many consider 1992’s Army of Darkness the most impactful Evil Dead film, Evil Dead II was truly essential to its success. Sam Raimi’s second film expanded the franchise beyond its original cabin setting and fully developed the iconic character of Ash. Evil Dead II was the first to mix different genres, taking the campy style and over-the-top violence of the first film and turning it into a full-blown horror-comedy. Although later films have leaned back toward more serious horror, Evil Dead II was groundbreaking because it reinvented the original and allowed the franchise to evolve beyond its initial formula with a brilliant change in tone.

2025-11-14 23:57