The upcoming live-action Barbie movie has been the talk of the town in recent memory, yet there is little to no information about the film’s mysterious plot that no one knows about. The movie’s evasive storyline is probably one of the reasons why the hype around it does not seem to decrease.
While Barbie’s plot might be one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets of 2023, some enthusiastic fans (like ourselves) have collected every possible hint out there in an attempt to unravel the mystery around the movie. Let’s take a closer look at these clues and figure out what the movie’s plot might revolve around.
What Could Be Barbie’s Story About? All Hints
It goes without saying that Barbie’s official promotional material, like the teaser, trailer, and posters, is our best shot at understanding what the movie could be about. But so far, they merely offer a vague outline of what awaits us in theaters.
Of course, this includes the official synopsis for the movie, which reads: After being expelled from the utopian Barbie Land for being less-than-perfect dolls, Barbie and Ken go on a journey of self-discovery to the real world.
From the trailer, it was clear that the movie’s events took place in two different worlds: the pink utopian world of dolls and the mundane real world where we live. And the film’s central theme is clearly existentialism, as the dialogues hint at it.
While it’s not exactly a multiverse film, Barbie sure has a lot of variations of its main characters. This includes the iconic female doll and her male counterpart Ken.
What the Actors have Revealed
The next best hints about the Barbie movie’s mystery plot come from what the cast members have revealed in interviews. The main Barbie, Margot Robbie herself, has expressed that the film plans to offer something totally different from what people would expect.
The 33-year-old Australian actress revealed that Barbie decided to leave Barbie Land as she began to have an existential crisis. Essentially, the iconic doll begins questioning her own mortality after her feet fall flat.
According to her, the makers honor the intellectual property of Barbie and the doll’s fan base. However, that should not restrict them from surprising the audience with a thought-provoking conversation.
Welcome to the real world, Barbie. 💗 pic.twitter.com/wyw3hAZYaA
— Barbie Movie (@barbiethemovie) July 10, 2023
Actor Will Ferrell, who plays Mattel’s CEO in the film, said it’s both a loving homage to the brand and a satire on patriarchy and women in society. The movie supposedly explores why Barbie is criticized and yet why every little girl still wants to play with Barbie.
Barbie’s Influences from Books and Old Movies
It’s easier to narrow down the Barbie movie’s mystery plot based on what influences its makers. This includes books for the source material, older movies, and obvious visual references and homages.
Anyway, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this pic.twitter.com/4BjZGVTRF5
— ali golub 🌼 (@alibrooke4ever) May 26, 2023
Barbie’s director Greta Gerwig revealed that she was partially inspired by Reviving Ophelia, written by Mary Pipher. The 1994 non-fiction book discusses the effects of societal pressures on American adolescent girls.
Apart from the 2001: A Space Odyssey homage, Barbie’s teaser was visually reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. Once the director confirmed this reference, people began speculating that the movie is a potential ‘camp masterpiece.’
“The power of men is illusory…The power of women is real.” — Salman Rushdie on the Wizard of Oz
“Barbie is everything. He’s just Ken.” — The tagline of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie https://t.co/iossiqWhsZ pic.twitter.com/EP9ovjLv5p
— sami (◡‿◡✿) (@samiwittwer) July 9, 2023
To sum it up, Barbie’s plot seems to revolve around the fashion doll going through an existential crisis, satirically transcending from a pink utopia into a meta-reality and, of course, building on campy visual storytelling.
Barbie releases in theaters worldwide on July 21, 2023, alongside Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
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