The Barbie Movie has been one of the most anticipated movies, since its first trailer that came out in December of 2022. It seemed like there were never ending advertisements as well. From bags to shoes to hair care supplies, just about anything a person could think of Barbie had an ambassador for. Producers have released that they even went over budget on the ads and campaign work for the movie.
Once the movie came out on July 21, 2023, it was known as the biggest opening day movie of 2023, with $70.8 million. The traction of the movie only seemed to grow, there became this trend where people dress up in pink, or in a Barbie aesthetic to go watch the movie. It had a rival movie though, Oppenheimer. They both came out at around the same time and were both huge in sales. MHS even made a spirit week day to commemorate this little rivalry, not to mention a Football game theme as well.
There are many theaters near the Mooresville area that a person could enjoy the movie. Showtime Cinema, AMC Perry Crossing, Regal Shiloh Crossing and many more. The prices range from $9to $20.
The premise of the movie is pretty complex. In the beginning, it shows the picture perfect Barbie world that people expect to see from her. Then some mental drains happen and she starts to have thoughts about death, which is completely unknown and completely terrifying to the other Barbies and Kens. With these thoughts she gets sent to a character named Weird Barbie, there she gets told that the girl who is playing with her in the real world is troubled. She then goes on a quest to get to the real world and fix her issues. These include, her feet are flat on the ground, feeling depressed, spoiled milk, basically just everything she’s not used to in Barbie Land.
Once she gets to the real world she finds out it’s not what she expected at all, unlike Barbie Land everything is run by men there. She was sexualized almost immediately when she got there and Ken was automatically praised for his outfit. There was a definite shift in the world. The woman who was playing with her specific barbie, Gloria, was in a rough patch mentally which she found out to be the reason why she was struggling and malfunctioning. While Barbie is still in the real world, Ken ventures his way back to Barbie Land and takes over, symbolizing the dynamic in the real world.
The movie very beautifully hovers over the topic of femininity and what its like to be a woman in a society. Barbie ends up in a very low place in the middle of the movie and this time, Gloria is the one to lift her spirits up. She gives a very notorious heart warming speech and then its time for Barbie to get back her land from the Kens. In the end, she gets to it back and stands up against the Mattel CEO and gets write her own story.
Student Opinions
Junior Makenna Alexander
- Watch Count: Twice
- Favorite Scene: Gloria’s Big Speech
- Favorite Song: “I’m Just Ken”
- Snack(s): popcorn
- Overall Rating: 1000/10
- “The mom’s speech about how woman can never be enough was the best part of the movie,” Alexander said.
Sophomore Jaelynn Lucas
- Watch Count: Twice
- Favorite Scene: When the kens fought on the beach and then had their infamous song “I’m Just Ken”
- Favorite Song: “Dance The Night Away” by Dua Lipa
- Snack(s): popcorn, airheads & Dr. Pepper
- Overall Rating: 10/10
- “The movie was very touching and made me really think about how women are perceived in the world today,” Lucas said.
Junior Bella Brown
- Watch Count: Once
- Favorite Scene: When “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish plays and they show the flashback memories
- Snack(s): Popcorn & Coke
- Overall Rating: 7.75-8/10
- “I like what it was bringing attention to, [the movie] wasn’t bad, [it was] long, [I] didn’t absolutely love it, but it was good,” Brown said.
Junior Addy Keith
- Watch Count: Three Times
- Favorite Scene: Gloria’s Big Speech
- Favorite Song: “Barbie World” by Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice
- Snack(s): Mike & Ike’s and popcorn
- Overall Rating: 11/10
- “The movie was very eye opening and made me change my view on a lot of things,” Keith said.
Junior Hadley Miller
- Watch Count: Once
- Favorite Scene: When Barbie met the creator of Barbie dolls
- Favorite Song: “Speed Drive” by Charli XCX
- Snack(s): Popcorn and Dr. Pepper
- Overall Rating: 8/10
- “[My] favorite character was obviously Allan,” Miller said.
