I finally saw Barbie last week in a funky little theater in Asheville, North Carolina. My daughter and I took in an afternoon show and the theater was almost empty–it was the two of us and five other women. It was my daughter’s second time–she thinks it’s a very funny movie. I agree–its humor along with standout performances by leads Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are the best things about the film.
Barbie is, of course, much more than just another summer movie. It’s made Greta Gerwig the only solo female director to have her film make over a billion dollars. In box office totals unadjusted for inflation, it’s one of only 53 movies to have made over that amount. It’s the most successful film of the year–and we haven’t even gotten to the dozens and dozens of crossover deals Mattel has inked–Primark! The Gap! Burger King! Crocs! and so so many others. Every studio is now scrambling to make their own toy based film–here’s betting almost none of them will match Barbie’s success–and pink is EVERYWHERE.
I enjoyed Barbie–Robbie and Gosling both deserve nominations for their work. (Here’s hoping Gosling gets his long denied Oscar.) Kate McKinnon and Michael Cera made me laugh, just thinking about the Kens singing Push still makes me smile, and the whole deprogrammed Barbies campaign is a genuine hoot. I didn’t find it especially profound nor did I think its ending was wildly inspiring. Part of the issue is that the real world in Gerwig’s movie is worse than our real world–Mattel’s executive Board and the American Supreme Court are not all male nor is the former run by Buddy the Elf–and that made the messaging less powerful. Parts of the film are feminist, parts are not, and Rhea Perlman’s Ruth Handler seemed to be channeling both Oprah and a sales clerk in the doll department. All of which is fine. It’s a movie, a very fun movie, and one that has connected us all.
What do you think about it? Have you seen it? If not, do you plan to? If you did, did you like it? If not, why not?
If studios rush out to make their own movies about toys, they’ve completely missed the point of Barbie’s success.
“Beyond Mattel’s film division, other studios are looking for major takeaways. One obvious one, that I’ve argued before: Make movies for women, and audiences will come! Barbie leans heavily into femininity—the assault of pink has been relentless, and yet people seem to have not tired of it. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Randall Park hit the nail on the head: “I feel like, just in general, this industry is taking the wrong lessons. For example, Barbie is this massive blockbuster, and the idea is: Make more movies about toys! No. Make more movies by and about women!”
“I fear that even if studios heed Park’s advice, in the short-term that will mean Disney hyping up the fact that The Marvels is a female-fronted superhero film, even though superhero movies have traditionally catered to a young male audience, regardless of who stars in them. Or studios might paint a sheen of pink on other films without stuffing the stories without Gerwig’s complex considerations about male fragility, female frustrations, and whether we can reach a state of equity.”
https://time.com/6304654/barbie-box-office-biggest-movie-2023/
Because a glut of toy-based movies is exactly what we need right now.
As opposed to female centric, female empowering stories…..
The thing is, I wonder if the very male-centric filmmaking community and movie execs have even thought about it in those terms – all they’re focused on is chasing the next hit. I would be surprised if anyone has even thought about the fact that the Barbie movie is anything OTHER than a film about a toy.
Well, Gerwig’s Little Women was quite successful. I think Hollywood trusts her to make female centric stories. But, in general, the industry doesn’t trust women behind the camera.
Your insight is not only right on the money (so to speak) but also beautifully written.
Mattel is hoping to create a View-Master movie. *facepalm* That might work if somebody found a haunted View-Master in the attic. Maybe? But otherwise… meh. Hollywood could be adapting so many other things.
The world (and I) are aching for a good comedy and even more so, a feel-good movie. Theaters are nearly going bankrupt with our serious movies that make the audience want to commit suicide, or movies with violent superheroes who battle, ONCE AGAIN, to save the earth. Modeled on the last hit, our movies lack innovation and imagination.
I was delighted at the number of women, dressed in pink, who came to my week-day matinee. “Barbie” is cute and forgettable with some cute lines, but too long. It will be remembered (for a while) for its gross profit and its woman director.
I thought they would have been a lot smarter to model it after the lovable characters, nostalgic, and episodic “Toy Story. ” Instead, it focused on gender and social politics, before turning to its predicable (and boring) plot. I just wanted to stay in Barbie Land, not go to modern America.
Although a man I am happy to read romance books but going to see Barbie outside a date night is a step too far for me.
My husband, son and two nephews (all adult men) thought the movie was funny, interesting and worth seeing. And none of them went with women, fwiw.
I’m a fan of Gerwig’s work in general and was very excited to see what she might do with this movie. I was not disappointed. I laughed my way through it – literally from the opening to the final scene – and so did everyone else who was in the theater with me opening weekend. I thought the cast did a fabulous job, particularly Ryan Gosling who committed himself so absolutely, and left nothing on the table. Was it a perfect film? No. But it was fun, and it has been interesting to talk to people about it.
It was particularly interesting to watch Barbie and Oppenheimer in close proximity to each other. I saw Barbie first, then Oppenheimer the next day, and the lack of substantive female or POC characters in Oppenheimer was just so starkly obvious.
We clearly have miles to go: both on screens and in real life – e.g. was it really necessary for Pugh to be naked in virtually every scene? Particularly when Murphy remained clothed? But women have in fact come a long way since the mid-20th century.
Everything in your last paragraph resonates with me.
We have come so far and we still, especially on the screen, are routinely reduced to pretty thin white faces.
No plans to see it. Waiting for Helen Mirren in Golda.
I have wonderful memories of growing up with Barbie. I would make up long sagas that would play out over weeks. I’d make clothes, cars, towns out of anything available. My Barbies ruled the world.
I was apprehensive about the movie, but it fulfilled everything I needed and wanted.
I enjoyed the movie tremendously. I laughed and so many things resonated. (I had lots of Barbies…and only 2 Ken’s). My first Ken was Western Ken who was dressed similar to Movie Ken. All my Barbies were completely in charge, wore amazing gowns, and saved the world. And when the daughter completely disses Barbie – yup, heard that from my friends.
The actors did an amazing job of playing the characters straight – not making fun of them. I think the Mattel exec was completely miscast with Will Farrell. From things that I read about Ruth Handler, in reality she is much less grandmother/Oprah and more powerful executive.
I need more movies like this.
My daughter and I just went last week (her second time) and I really enjoyed it! I think it was funny but also very truthful in social commentary about Barbie’s effect on society. I definitely will watch it again when it’s on a streaming service. And make my husband watch it too.
No, I have not seen this movie and I do not plan to in the future. Not my kind of movie.