- Director: Greta Gerwig
- Year: 2023
Overview
Stereotypical Barbie lives in Barbieland, a colorful matriarchal utopia where Barbies hold all the power and Kens are merely accessories. She doesn't expect to experience a sudden existential crisis, marked by flat feet and thoughts of mortality. To fix herself, Barbie must travel to the Real World alongside Ken to find the child playing with her. Once there, they discover that human society is run by patriarchy. Ken returns to Barbieland to introduce this system, turning it into a frat-house kingdom. Barbie has to team up with human allies and other Barbies to reclaim their society and restore balance.
Takeaways
Barbieland is a perfect little bubble where the Barbies hold all the power, which makes them totally unprepared when the real world hits them. The real world is a messy place run by male hierarchies and big corporations. Ken brings these ideas back with him, showing how fast a peaceful society can get turned upside down by a bad influence. The Barbies don't get their power back by fighting, but by tricking the Kens and playing on their insecurities. This clever move turns the Kens against each other, allowing the Barbies to rebuild their society in a much healthier way.