7 films to watch before Greta Gerwig’s unhinged Barbie
Barbie is set to be this year’s biggest movie (yes Oppenheimer, we said what we said). The forthcoming Greta Gerwig-directed blockbuster stars Margot Robbie as everyone’s beloved childhood doll, Barbie, alongside her “girlfriend-boyfriend” himbo companion, Ken (played by Ryan Gosling).
The cast is arguably one of the most star-studded movie lineups in many years, with members including Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa, and Connor Swindells, along with Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, and so many more. The first full-length trailer dropped in May, following an array of sparkly Barbie posters that arrived in April, revealing many of the Barbie doll’s iconic careers. Meanwhile, the Kens, well, they’re just Kens.
Read more: Inside Barbiecore, the pink trend taking over the fashion world
Reported to feature music from none other than Dua Lipa, the movie is said to follow Barbie’s journey as she adventures into the real world after being “expelled from Barbieland for being a less than perfect-looking doll.”
So to get you in the mood for watching Barbie (arriving July 21), we’ve selected seven films that share some similarities with the characters, plot, or overall theme.
Life-Size (2000)
This 2000s classic follows Casey Stuart (Lindsay Lohan), who attempts to use magic to bring her deceased mother back to life. When the spell is accidentally interfered with without Casey’s knowledge, her toy doll (Eve, played by Tyra Banks) is brought to life instead. Much to Casey’s annoyance, Eve loves the idea of being a real woman. Despite originating from the doll world of Sunnyvale, Eve tries her best to fit into human life, and although she gets both herself and Casey into some sticky situations, the two of them grow to like each other, which makes things tricky when Eve fears she may have to return to Sunnyvale.
As the Barbie movie appears to see Mattel’s famous blond doll adventure into the real world, we may well see some similarities with this iconic, feel-good film. And we guarantee the song “Be A Star” will stick in your head for days after watching, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAP8jQ9aB6s
Enchanted (2007)
And speaking of fictional people finding themselves in the real world, how could anyone forget about Enchanted? Throughout the many illustrious lives Barbie has lived, whether that be as a vet, a Nobel prize winner, or a president, she has also dabbled in living as a princess, so she may well have much in common with Giselle (Amy Adams).
Giselle, from the fairytale land of Andalasia, finds herself banished to a place of “no happy-ever-afters” (New York City) in this 2007 Disney film, where she bumbles her way through the real world as a naive princess who loves nothing more than singing wholesome songs and dreaming of finding true love. Barbie and Ken are pretty solid as a couple. Ken is already asking to stay the night at her house (despite neither of them knowing what exactly for) in the trailer, but their romance could show some similarities with this wholesome tale of love, adventure, and vulnerability.
Birds of Prey (2020)
If there’s one thing we know for sure about Margot Robbie, it’s that she knows exactly how to pull off a wonderfully unhinged female character. If Barbie is set to leave Barbieland for not being perfect enough, one other leading lady played by Robbie who is far from the perfect “lady-like” character is Harley Quinn.
Birds of Prey celebrated Quinn as her flawed and ruthless self. Despite the many differences between Quinn and Barbie, their girly and giddy ways most definitely overlap. This DCU standalone movie saw Quinn on a journey of self-discovery and growth following her break up with the Joker, and perhaps Barbie will learn a lot about herself, too, when she finds herself in unfamiliar territory.
Barbie: Mermaidia (2006)
If you’ve spent any time on the internet in the last few weeks, there’s no chance you’ll have missed the many incredible character posters for Barbie. One of those characters is pop star Dua Lipa in mermaid form, so there’s no better time to rewatch a Barbie childhood favorite — Mermaidia.
This animated 2006 film followed on from the previous Barbie movie, Fairytopia, and sees Barbie as the character of Elina as she trades in her fairy wings for a flopping mermaid tail. So far it appears as though 2023’s Barbie characters are closely inspired by original, real-life dolls, as opposed to any of the brand’s films, but Dua Lipa’s blue-haired mermaid does show some similarities with Mermaidia’s Nori. The film also features many chaotic, meme-worthy moments from Elina’s companion, Bibble, and will give you all the nostalgic feels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_2CIw_7A1w
Princess Protection Program (2009)
From the golden era of Disney, this movie starring Selena Gomez and former AP cover star Demi Lovato follows teenager Carter (Gomez) and her father who works for the Princess Protection Program.
He is tasked with hiding away and protecting Princess Rosalinda María Montoya Fioré (Lovato) of Costa Luna from the dictator of a neighboring country, who attempts to capture her during her coronation. Gomez’s character teaches the princess, who becomes known as Rosie Gonzalez, how to act less like royalty and more like a normal teenage girl. It’s a story of friendship, resilience, and a celebration of girlhood — everything that Barbie has stood for since her creation in 1959.
Bratz: The Movie (2007)
Bratz: The Movie brought Barbie’s competitor dolls to the world of live-action film, and although it was less chaotic and more realistic of their stories than what Greta’s Barbie looks to be, it’s sure to get you in the right frame of mind for high-femme, high-fashion young women who have so many passions that it’s hard to keep track. Yasmin (Nathalia Ramos) dips her toes into the world of journalism, Cloe (Skyler Shaye) plays sports, Sasha (Logan Browning) joins the cheer squad, and Jade (Janel Parrish) goes down the science route — all while the foursome retains their “passion for fashion” and form a band to show that you can have many ambitions and hobbies, and need not fit into one clique.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Although over 80 years old, The Wizard of Oz has a lot more in common with Barbie than you think. Eagle-eyed viewers spotted Easter eggs in the Barbie trailer, which could suggest that the movie will be a modern-day, Barbie-inspired retelling of the classic tale.
Following a tornado, Dorothy’s (Judy Garland) house is transported into the whimsical land of Oz. Directed to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard for help returning home, she begins on a quest down the Yellow Brick Road, with many encounters along the way, including the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion (and of course a witch or two). Will Barbie venture down a pink road rather than a yellow one as she meets with the wizards of Mattel? Or will she realize the human world isn’t all she hoped for and ask to be sent back? Strap on your roller skates on July 21 and get to the cinema to find out.
