
Delulu Over Labubu? The Market Has Its Say
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I've avoided the global Labubu phenomenon for months, even since I saw the ugly creatures pop up on the social media feeds of addled influencers. But now the ever-astute Shuli Ren has taken note of the toy's enormous popularity and profitability— and how that very success betrays a weakness in the business plan of its Beijing-based manufacturer Pop Mart International Group Ltd.
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Forbes
2 hours ago
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Which Cinema Format Should You Choose For ‘Jurassic World Rebirth'?
Dolby Dinosaurs are big. Very big. Of course, they can be small as well, but we don't go to the cinema to see the small ones come to life. Oh no. We go to see the big ones. The new movie, is, of course, Jurassic World Rebirth, which is chomping its way through theaters from July 2nd. Wot No IMAX? As the biggest cinema format out there, it's a surprise, therefore that the movie will not be getting an IMAX release. Some have suggested that this is because the director, Gareth Edwards, chose to shoot on 35mm film, and while this doesn't lend itself to an IMAX expanded aspect ratio, it wouldn't have precluded it from getting an IMAX DMR pass, so it could be shown on the largest screens. More likely, it's simply down to IMAX congestion, with the F1: The Movie blocking its path, in a maneuver presumably deemed legal by the stewards. There are rumors of an IMAX 3D release in China, however, presumably to cater for the popularity of 3D in that region and the availability of local IMAX screens. While the lack of IMAX for the rest of us is something of a disappointment it does open the path for the other premium formats. At the top of the technical tree in terms of image quality is the HDR by Barco format and this is listed as a 'Coming Soon' on the format's website. However, while there may be 30 to choose from by the year's end, there are only a handful of screens that support this format at the moment, so for most, it won't be an option. Dolby Lights The Way That leaves Dolby Cinema as the premium format to seek out for Jurassic World Rebirth. This offers a brightness level of 108 nits, which is very high for a cinema. This leaves plenty of space for the extended dynamic range images, with Dolby Vision creating truly deep blacks and bright whites, along with a wide color gamut. 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These offer an experience that's close to that of Dolby, with a floor-to-ceiling 4K laser projection, which means a bright, clear and sharp picture, albeit without the dynamic range goodness of Dolby. You do get Dolby Atmos audio, though, and the seating is normally better than standard so it will be worth the outlay. PLFs all have different brand names according to the cinema chain, so in the USA, look out for names such as Prime at AMC, Regal RPX, Cineplex UltraAVX, and Cinemark XD, while in the UK they are called Cineworld Superscreen, Odeon iSense, or OmniplexMAXX. Shake It Up In 4DX Those are your premium formats taken care of, but if you want a format that will put a smile on your face, then try 4DX, which, for Jurassic World Rebirth, is combined with RealD 3D. 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If you know the screen has a laser projector, this might be acceptable, but unless you can be sure, it's a risk: many screens still have projectors that use old Xenon lamps, which lose brightness as they age, which will be exacerbated by the 3D glasses. If you don't want to risk it or don't enjoy 3D motion blur (oh, where art thou' TrueCut Motion) for Jurassic World Rebirth, then a standard 2D screen will be a safer option. Or at least as safe as things can be. After all, you know how slack those 'Dinosaur Supervisors can be. (Only kidding Phil, we love ya…). Related Reading Can Avatar: The Way Of Water's TrueCut Motion Tech Save High Frame Rate Cinema? Barco Light Steering Uses AI Tech To Brings True HDR To The Big Screen Vue And Barco Partner To Bring Laser Projection To Over 1000 Screens Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith Returning To Theaters For 20th Anniversary


Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
TikTok's Labubu Doll Trend, Explained
Close-up detail view of seven Labubu monsters / charms / dolls / plus from "Big Into Energy" collection : Loyalty, Happiness, Luck, Hope, Serenity, Love an Secret, during a street style fashion photo session, on June 12, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by) Getty Images Fuzzy little creatures have taken over TikTok and Instagram with the advent of 2025's unexpected fashion trend, Labubu monster dolls. Labubu dolls are monsters from a children's book series that leaped into the mainstream, exploding into a trendy fashion accessory and desirable collectible. There's something familiar about the spiky-toothed Labubu—they bear a slight resemblance to Troll dolls, or even Huggy Wuggy, the cutesy horror icon of YouTube. Many have pointed out the similarities to the Wild Things of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are , which seems appropriate, given that the creatures sprung from a children's picture book. Labubu first appeared in The Monsters Trilogy by artist Kasing Lung, who based his striking illustrations on figures from Nordic mythology. Lung moved from Hong Kong to the Netherlands as a child, and sharpened his Dutch by reading regional fairytales, sparking inspiration for his book. In 2019, Lung struck a licensing deal with Pop Mart, transforming his monsters into collectibles, and eventually inspiring a fashion frenzy. Lung describes his monster as a mischievous id, saying 'Labubu can do what I want to do, but I don't dare to do it.' Why Are Labubu Dolls So Popular? Much of the dolls popularity has been credited to Blackpink (and White Lotus ) star Lisa, who has been one of the most prominent Labubu fans, but many celebrities such as Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Kim Kardashian have been spotted with the dolls. While celebrities and influencers have boosted the trend, funny memes and TikTok clips catapulted Labubu into virality, turning the dolls into ultra-desirable collectibles, like a monstrous incarnation of Beanie Babies. All of a sudden, Labubus are everywhere. The secret sauce to Labubu's popularity might be the 'blind boxes' they are sold in, in which the color of Labubu is revealed only when the doll is unboxed, adding to the excitement of unwrapping a rare figure. The chance of a randomly distributed rare find is similar to that of video game loot boxes, where the unknowable outcome can fuel additive consumer spending, and has even been compared to the effects of gambling. Hence, TikTokers are posting comedy sketches of mock-meltdowns, beheading their unwanted dolls after opening another packet and getting an undesirable color. Some are speculating that the next step is an animated Labubu movie, comparing the monster craze to Pokemon. The dolls keep being inserted into scenes from The Devil Wears Prada , and melting into the primordial soup of AI-generated Italian Brainrot. Many TikTok commentators have urged fashionistas to be more original and stop chasing trends for the sake of it (although, that's pretty much how trends work)—people want these dolls because they are popular, and they are popular because people want them. We've seen the spread of Gremlins , Minions , and now, Labubu—it seems that the appeal of mischievous, diminutive creatures is simply irresistible. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes The Controversial Ending Of Disney's New 'Lilo & Stitch,' Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes How 'JD Vance Edit' Memes Broke The Internet By Dani Di Placido Forbes The AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Trend, Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes An Episode Of 'Spongebob' Introduced 'Nosferatu' To Gen Z By Dani Di Placido