In 1959, Ruth Handler created the first-ever Barbie Doll, modeled after a German doll called Bild Lilli, for the American toy company Mattel. Since then, the toy has skyrocketed in popularity and become one of the biggest toys to ever be sold. The doll brand expanded in the early 2000s to include a long line of animated films and series. The doll has become a cultural icon for many, so it’s not surprising that one of the biggest upcoming films for next year is centering itself around the plastic princess.
Updated August 17, 2025: With the release ofBarbiejust around the corner, this article has been updated with even more information about one of the most anticipated movies of 2023.
Warner Bros. Pictures will be releasing the filmBarbieon July 21st, which will be the first-ever live-action adaptation based on the doll. The movie has become one of the most anticipated movies of the summer and looks to outpace blockbuster franchises likeFast & FuriousandTransformersat the box office. What is interesting is that even with multiple trailers, the film’s plot has been rather secretive. Hints of plot details have been given, but it would be difficult to pinpoint what exactly Barbie is about based on the trailers. For now, here’s what you should know about the upcomingBarbiefilm.
The Barbie Team Behind the Scenes
At this point, most people already know the master behind the camera in this project.Greta Gerwig is knownfor her recent work as the director of films likeLady Bird(2017) andLittle Women(2019). She has garnered much praise for her work and received several awards, including Academy Awards and Golden Globe nominations. She wrote the script with her partner Noah Baumbach. Baumbach is also a filmmaker and recently received much success from his filmMarriage Story(2019), which was released on Netflix. He and Gerwig have previously partnered on projects likeFrancis Ha(2013),Mistress America(2015), andWhite Noise(2022).
Related:Margot Robbie Didn’t Think the Barbie Movie Would Ever Get Greenlit
The team’s track record of success speaks for itself. This level of talent on a property this omnipresent is a big deal and shows that Mattel and Warner Bros. are serious about this film. They want it to be an event picture, and they certainly have been treating it like one with a massive cast.
The Cast of Characters
It’s no secret thatMargot Robbie and Ryan Goslinghave been named the Barbie and Ken of the film. Robbie is known, most recently, for her performance as Harley Quinn inThe Suicide Squad(2021) andBirds of Prey(2020). However, the actress has also been working as a producer on films likePromising Young Woman(2020) andBird of Prey.Robbie spoke toVarietyabout the project stating she took the opportunity because it was allowing her to “put some positivity out in the world and a chance to be aspirational for younger kids.”
Gosling, no stranger to romantic leads, has been making movie-goers swoon for years in roles like Noah inThe Notebook(2004), Jacob inCrazy, Stupid, Love(2011), and Sebastian inLa La Land(2016). Needless to say, he shouldn’t have any trouble tackling Barbie’s best guy.
There are a number of other faces that fans will recognize in the future film, including Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, and Connor Swindells ofNetflix’sSex Education(2019-) are expected to be a part of the film. Other famous faces in the cast will be Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy,2019-), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, 2020-), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, 2021), America Ferrera (Superstore,2015-2021), Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live,1975-), Michael Cera (Life and Beth,2022), Will Ferrell (Anchorman,2004) and so many more.
Barbie in the Real World
As seen in the trailers, Barbie faces an existential crisis that leads her (and Ken) on a journey into the real world. Barbie’s perfect life in plastic begins to fall apart in strange ways. From falling off her roof instead of majestically gliding down to her new flat feet, something is wrong, and she needs to get to the bottom of it. With Ken stowing away in her car, the iconic duo venture into the real world to the Mattel offices and figure out why. Unfortunately for Barbie, the real world is far from perfect, and she’ll learn firsthand the ugliest truths it has to offer.
Related:7 Reasons Why Greta Gerwig’s Barbie Movie Could Be Amazing
It seems like Barbie’s quest will be an emotional full of terrible realizations, like how kids aren’t playing with Barbie dolls anymore and the perils of living with humans. The exploration of purpose and perfection told through the eyes of a Barbie sounds like it could make for a fascinating story.
Ken Uprising?
One thing that the movie has been teasing is a potential Ken uprising in Barbieland. With Barbie out exploring the real world, the Kens are left behind with a crisis of their own:what does Ken do when Barbie isn’t there?As a toy that serves as more of an accessory for Barbie than a character in his own right, that dynamic could lead to a potential power struggle. The trailers show an all-out beach battle between the Barbies and the Kens, so there’s some conflict and tension that’s going to build between the two groups.
Another trailer has Gosling’s Ken asking a doctor in the real world if he can perform an appendectomy because “he’s a man” and doesn’t believe that she’s a doctor herself. Ken could be used as a commentary on toxic masculinity and explore how that affects Barbie’s world.
A Meta-Commentary On Barbie
The basic plot showsBarbiegoing to the real world and interacting with people that know Barbie is a doll. It includes the head of Mattel, played by Will Ferrell (his second meta-toy movie after appearing in The Lego Movie). It appears much of the movie will be a commentary on the nature of Barbie as a property, what this doll signifies to people, and the impact it has had on larger popular culture.
The trailers have let audiences know the movie can be enjoyed by people who both love and hate Barbie. Meaning that the film will likely poke fun at many of the traditional concepts people hold about the Barbie toy line while also embracing what has made the character an icon. The film will feature a wide array of different Barbies. Barbie can be anything: a doctor, a lawyer, or the president, and now the movie asks what Barbie can mean to everyone.
