Billie Eilish pulled on audience heartstrings while performing her hit song from the Barbie soundtrack, “What Was I Made For?” during the 2024 Oscars.
Wearing a Thom Browne tweed blazer and a long black skirt — similar to her red carpet look — Eilish sang the emotional lyrics as Finneas played the piano with an orchestra in the background.
Following the emotional rendition, the music duo got a standing ovation from the crowd, with screams from Barbie collaborators Kate McKinnon and Ariana Grande.
An orchestra pops up behind Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell during their performance of "What Was I Made For?" from #Barbie at the 2024 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NYodPxLXhj
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 10, 2024
“What Was I Made For?,” written by Eilish and her brother Finneas, also plays in the Greta Gerwig-directed movie, during the scene when Margot Robbie’s Barbie meets her creator Ruth Handler.
When the music duo...
Wearing a Thom Browne tweed blazer and a long black skirt — similar to her red carpet look — Eilish sang the emotional lyrics as Finneas played the piano with an orchestra in the background.
Following the emotional rendition, the music duo got a standing ovation from the crowd, with screams from Barbie collaborators Kate McKinnon and Ariana Grande.
An orchestra pops up behind Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell during their performance of "What Was I Made For?" from #Barbie at the 2024 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NYodPxLXhj
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 10, 2024
“What Was I Made For?,” written by Eilish and her brother Finneas, also plays in the Greta Gerwig-directed movie, during the scene when Margot Robbie’s Barbie meets her creator Ruth Handler.
When the music duo...
- 3/11/2024
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“The movie allowed us to be honest in a way that I don’t think we would have been able to achieve had it not been for — had it not been like an assignment,” says Billie Eilish about writing the weepy and moving Barbie ballad “What Was I Made For?”
While meant to be the aorta soul song for Warner Bros. summer blockbuster, the tune is so quintessential Eilish and bro/collaborator Finneas O’Connell: Self-reflective, piercing, poetic, and utterly emotional. How does one not break out crying when listening to it? It’s no wonder that “What Was I Made For?” won Song of the Year at the Grammys (one of two trophies in addition to Best Song Written for Visual Media). Let’s write that again: the song won Song of the Year, beating out “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus), “Dance the Night”, “Vampire” (Olivia Rodrigo...
While meant to be the aorta soul song for Warner Bros. summer blockbuster, the tune is so quintessential Eilish and bro/collaborator Finneas O’Connell: Self-reflective, piercing, poetic, and utterly emotional. How does one not break out crying when listening to it? It’s no wonder that “What Was I Made For?” won Song of the Year at the Grammys (one of two trophies in addition to Best Song Written for Visual Media). Let’s write that again: the song won Song of the Year, beating out “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus), “Dance the Night”, “Vampire” (Olivia Rodrigo...
- 2/20/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
“I think the life of this song outside of this movie has felt really profound. We’ve felt really lucky,” admits Finneas O’Connell of the “Barbie” track “What Was I Made For?” He wrote the tune with sister Billie Eilish and it has blossomed into that rare song from a movie to capture the zeitgeist. Look no further than the song’s awards success: Finneas (as he is known mononymously) and Eilish are nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars, but on the road to that ceremony, they have already picked up two Grammy Awards, including the coveted Song of the Year trophy. “As a songwriting geek forever, that’s the award that I’ve always paid the most attention to,” he confesses. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
SEESarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer interview: ‘Barbie’ production designers
“What Was I Made For?” is used as a recurring motif in “Barbie,...
SEESarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer interview: ‘Barbie’ production designers
“What Was I Made For?” is used as a recurring motif in “Barbie,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
A mere 17 days after its July 2023 release, Barbie earned a billion dollars — not to mention positive reviews and a broad fan base that kept coming back and bringing friends. Mattel’s advertising may have initially lured viewers to the theater, but the film itself made them return and proselytize.
In a just world — even a not-especially-feminist world — the film’s guiding forces, director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie, would have received Oscar nominations in their respective individual categories for conceiving, directing and acting in this phenomenon. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the Academy recognized Ryan Gosling’s performance as Ken—or as @yosomichael posted on X: “Ken getting nominated and not Barbie is honestly so fitting for a film about a man discovering the power of patriarchy in the Real World.”
Social media erupted in a Vesuvius of angry memes. The heated conversation — with slurs, accusations and conspiracy theories — continues,...
In a just world — even a not-especially-feminist world — the film’s guiding forces, director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie, would have received Oscar nominations in their respective individual categories for conceiving, directing and acting in this phenomenon. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the Academy recognized Ryan Gosling’s performance as Ken—or as @yosomichael posted on X: “Ken getting nominated and not Barbie is honestly so fitting for a film about a man discovering the power of patriarchy in the Real World.”
Social media erupted in a Vesuvius of angry memes. The heated conversation — with slurs, accusations and conspiracy theories — continues,...
- 1/26/2024
- by M.G. Lord
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Greta Gerwig is sharing her thoughts on one of the jokes Jo Koy made during his hosting gig at the 2024 Golden Globes on Sunday (January 7).
The comedian several jokes that caught the attention of viewers and gained a lot of chatter on social media, including one that was centered around Barbie, which Greta co-wrote and directed. She was nominated that night for her work on the top film of 2023.
Check out what he said and how she reacted inside…
“Barbie is [about] a plastic doll with big boobies,” Jo said in his opening monologue. “I watched Barbie, I loved it. I really did love it. I don’t want you guys to think that I’m a creep, but it was kind of weird being attracted to a plastic doll. Just something about your eyes, Ryan [Gosling].”
“The key moment to Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath,...
The comedian several jokes that caught the attention of viewers and gained a lot of chatter on social media, including one that was centered around Barbie, which Greta co-wrote and directed. She was nominated that night for her work on the top film of 2023.
Check out what he said and how she reacted inside…
“Barbie is [about] a plastic doll with big boobies,” Jo said in his opening monologue. “I watched Barbie, I loved it. I really did love it. I don’t want you guys to think that I’m a creep, but it was kind of weird being attracted to a plastic doll. Just something about your eyes, Ryan [Gosling].”
“The key moment to Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Greta Gerwig doesn’t seem too upset over the polarizing “Barbie” joke Jo Koy made during his gig hosting the 2024 Golden Globes. Koy received mostly negative reviews for his hosting stint, and the “Barbie” joke led to backlash on social media as many viewers thought Koy was being reductive and sexist toward the film.
During his opening monologue, Koy tipped his hat to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon by jokingly comparing Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Gerwig’s “Barbie.”
“‘Oppenheimer’ is based on the 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project — and ‘Barbie’ is about a plastic doll with big boobies,” he joked as the audience responded with a muted laugh.
Given that Gerwig’s “Barbie” actively fights against gender stereotypes, many Golden Globes viewers found Koy’s joke to be tasteless and not needed. However, Gerwig appeared on BBC Radio 4 Today and had a different, more glass-half-full take when asked about the joke.
During his opening monologue, Koy tipped his hat to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon by jokingly comparing Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Gerwig’s “Barbie.”
“‘Oppenheimer’ is based on the 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project — and ‘Barbie’ is about a plastic doll with big boobies,” he joked as the audience responded with a muted laugh.
Given that Gerwig’s “Barbie” actively fights against gender stereotypes, many Golden Globes viewers found Koy’s joke to be tasteless and not needed. However, Gerwig appeared on BBC Radio 4 Today and had a different, more glass-half-full take when asked about the joke.
- 1/10/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Greta Gerwig has taken the high road in response to Jo Koy’s ill-received Barbie joke at the Golden Globes.
During the comedian’s widely panned and openly booed monologue, Koy joked about the Barbieheimer box office battle, noting that while Oppenheimer was “based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project,” Barbie was about “a plastic doll with big boobies.”
He continued, “The key moment in Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet. Or what casting directors call ‘character actor.
During the comedian’s widely panned and openly booed monologue, Koy joked about the Barbieheimer box office battle, noting that while Oppenheimer was “based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project,” Barbie was about “a plastic doll with big boobies.”
He continued, “The key moment in Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet. Or what casting directors call ‘character actor.
- 1/10/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Greta Gerwig says she got the joke when Jo Koy told the Golden Globes audience on Sunday that Oppenheimer was based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book but Barbie is about “a plastic doll with big boobies.”
The writer-director addressed the quip he delivered during his first Globes hosting gig while appearing on BBC Radio 4 Today. The joke has been criticized by some for being reductive or sexist, but Gerwig offered host Martha Kearney a different take on Koy’s joke.
“Well, he’s not wrong. She’s the first doll that was mass-produced with breasts, so he was right on,” she said. “And you know, I think that so much of the project of the movie was unlikely because it is about a plastic doll.”
Gerwig went on to add that Barbie, a toy her own mother was hesitant about her playing with when she was young, “by her very construction,...
The writer-director addressed the quip he delivered during his first Globes hosting gig while appearing on BBC Radio 4 Today. The joke has been criticized by some for being reductive or sexist, but Gerwig offered host Martha Kearney a different take on Koy’s joke.
“Well, he’s not wrong. She’s the first doll that was mass-produced with breasts, so he was right on,” she said. “And you know, I think that so much of the project of the movie was unlikely because it is about a plastic doll.”
Gerwig went on to add that Barbie, a toy her own mother was hesitant about her playing with when she was young, “by her very construction,...
- 1/10/2024
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Greta Gerwig may be coming off a record-breaking year with box office smash Barbie but the screenwriter and director has revealed she is feeling intimidated by her next project, the adaptation for Netflix of C.S. Lewis children’s classic The Chronicles Of Narnia.
“I’m slightly in the place of terror because I really do have such reverence for Narnia,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “I loved Narnia so much as a child. As an adult, C.S. Lewis is a thinker and a writer. I’m intimidated by doing this. It’s something that feels like a worthy thing to be intimidated by.”
“As a non-British person, I feel a particular sense of wanting to do it correctly… it’s like when Americans do Shakespeare, there’s a slight feeling of reverence and as if maybe we should treat it with extra care. It is not our countryman.
“I’m slightly in the place of terror because I really do have such reverence for Narnia,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “I loved Narnia so much as a child. As an adult, C.S. Lewis is a thinker and a writer. I’m intimidated by doing this. It’s something that feels like a worthy thing to be intimidated by.”
“As a non-British person, I feel a particular sense of wanting to do it correctly… it’s like when Americans do Shakespeare, there’s a slight feeling of reverence and as if maybe we should treat it with extra care. It is not our countryman.
- 1/10/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
When Warner Brothers released the first teaser trailer for the Barbie movie in December, 2022 heads quite literally rolled — doll heads, that is. The decision to release the movie’s 2001: A Space Odyssey-themed opening scene, featuring a larger-than-life Margot Robbie, in the Original Barbie swimsuit, descending on a population of little girls who had heretofore only known the concept of baby dolls, was a gamble by the filmmakers. But Robbie, who also served as executive producer through her company Lucky Chap, says they all felt it was important that scene be the first thing released.
“I really don’t like that you’re encouraged to just give away your whole movie in a trailer, I think a marketing campaign should be part of the entertainment process,” she said during a recent THR Presents panel, powered by Vision Media. “There should be an element of mystery. What we needed to...
“I really don’t like that you’re encouraged to just give away your whole movie in a trailer, I think a marketing campaign should be part of the entertainment process,” she said during a recent THR Presents panel, powered by Vision Media. “There should be an element of mystery. What we needed to...
- 1/4/2024
- by Seija Rankin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Greta Gerwig was shocked but delighted when people wore pink to see ‘Barbie’.The 40-year-old filmmaker had no idea audiences would be so celebratory about seeing the film – which stars Margot Robbie as the Mattel doll opposite Ryan Gosling as Ken – but she loved how it contributed to the movie becoming a global phenomenon.She told Empire magazine: “The pink part – I have to say that was totally organic and not something I could have anticipated."I didn’t know people were going to do it.“And they’re dressing up, they’re showing up en masse in pink.“I live in New York and I saw all these people walking around in pink in my neighbourhood.“It just felt amazing.“And then I see men wearing pink and I was like, ‘They all went to ‘Barbie’. It was just very sweet.“My son, who’s four, said, ‘Mom, there...
- 12/30/2023
- by Viki Waters
- Bang Showbiz
After Barbie was released back in July 2023, rumors surfaced that the real Barbara Handler made a cameo in the film, but that wasn’t actually her in the movie.
She Has shared her thoughts on the movie though!
For those who don’t know, businesswoman and inventor Ruth Handler is the woman who came up with the idea for the Barbie doll and she named the iconic character after her daughter.
Keep reading to find out more…
Ruth co-founded Mattel with her husband and served as the company’s first president.
It was rumored that Barbara played the older woman who chats with Barbie (Margot Robbie) on a bus stop bench in Santa Monica after she travels to the world. They have an emotional chat that becomes a sentimental moment and an incredibly important one for Barbie’s personal growth.
The scene was almost cut from the movie!
Director Greta Gerwig...
She Has shared her thoughts on the movie though!
For those who don’t know, businesswoman and inventor Ruth Handler is the woman who came up with the idea for the Barbie doll and she named the iconic character after her daughter.
Keep reading to find out more…
Ruth co-founded Mattel with her husband and served as the company’s first president.
It was rumored that Barbara played the older woman who chats with Barbie (Margot Robbie) on a bus stop bench in Santa Monica after she travels to the world. They have an emotional chat that becomes a sentimental moment and an incredibly important one for Barbie’s personal growth.
The scene was almost cut from the movie!
Director Greta Gerwig...
- 12/15/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
On December 6, the 2023 IndieWire Honors ceremony will celebrate 11 filmmakers, creators, and actors for their achievements in creative independence. We’re showcasing their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles event.
When filmmaker Greta Gerwig hit the promotional trail for her summer smash hit movie “Barbie,” which Warner Bros. sold as a mainstream pink confection but which critics recognized as a brainy Trojan Horse packed with clever ideas about gender and the power of a child’s imagination, she did so without her writing and life partner Noah Baumbach, who was honoring the WGA strike at the time.
Baumbach watched from the sidelines as their shared creation, which they thought was too crazy to ever get made, wowed not only audiences across the world, but outgrossed every movie in sight, bringing in $1.45 billion worldwide. While Gerwig has directed such Oscar-nominated prestige hits as “Lady Bird” ($80 million worldwide) and...
When filmmaker Greta Gerwig hit the promotional trail for her summer smash hit movie “Barbie,” which Warner Bros. sold as a mainstream pink confection but which critics recognized as a brainy Trojan Horse packed with clever ideas about gender and the power of a child’s imagination, she did so without her writing and life partner Noah Baumbach, who was honoring the WGA strike at the time.
Baumbach watched from the sidelines as their shared creation, which they thought was too crazy to ever get made, wowed not only audiences across the world, but outgrossed every movie in sight, bringing in $1.45 billion worldwide. While Gerwig has directed such Oscar-nominated prestige hits as “Lady Bird” ($80 million worldwide) and...
- 12/5/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
“Deep Dive” is an in-depth podcast and video essay series featuring interviews with the stars and creative team behind an exceptional piece of filmmaking. For this edition, the IndieWire Crafts and Special Projects team partnered with Warner Bros. to take a closer look at “Barbie” with director and co-writer Greta Gerwig and nine members of her creative team who breathed life into the iconic Mattel doll.
The tagline “Barbie is everything” turns out to be pretty apt. “Barbie” contains within it multiple kinds of high-concept comedy, musicals, action sequences, mother-daughter stories, and a liminal void wherein Barbie (Margot Robbie) can meet her maker, Ruth Handler (Rhea Pearlman), and elect to transcend toyhood to become a human woman. All in less than two hours!
That “Barbie” contains so much and accomplishes so much — stylistically, tonally, and emotionally — is a huge credit to co-writer and director Greta Gerwig and her creative team,...
The tagline “Barbie is everything” turns out to be pretty apt. “Barbie” contains within it multiple kinds of high-concept comedy, musicals, action sequences, mother-daughter stories, and a liminal void wherein Barbie (Margot Robbie) can meet her maker, Ruth Handler (Rhea Pearlman), and elect to transcend toyhood to become a human woman. All in less than two hours!
That “Barbie” contains so much and accomplishes so much — stylistically, tonally, and emotionally — is a huge credit to co-writer and director Greta Gerwig and her creative team,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt couldn’t have guessed their first time scoring a film together would be the biggest movie of the year.
For the duo, working with A-list artists — such as Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Adele, Lorde and Bruno Mars — is nothing new. And Ronson had even previously scored a film before: 2015’s Mortdecai. But taking on Greta Gerwig’s Barbie? That was a different feat. As Wyatt explains, they’re the type of people to “dive in the pool and learn how to swim later” — and they’re definitely taking laps now.
Not only has the Margot Robbie-led film broken box office records, but Barbie: The Album was a chart-topping and Grammy-nominated hit, which Ronson finds “amazing and totally baffling.” With a lineup of songs including Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night,” Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”, Ryan Gosling’s “I...
For the duo, working with A-list artists — such as Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Adele, Lorde and Bruno Mars — is nothing new. And Ronson had even previously scored a film before: 2015’s Mortdecai. But taking on Greta Gerwig’s Barbie? That was a different feat. As Wyatt explains, they’re the type of people to “dive in the pool and learn how to swim later” — and they’re definitely taking laps now.
Not only has the Margot Robbie-led film broken box office records, but Barbie: The Album was a chart-topping and Grammy-nominated hit, which Ronson finds “amazing and totally baffling.” With a lineup of songs including Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night,” Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”, Ryan Gosling’s “I...
- 11/30/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
One of the eternal mysteries of awards season is how to determine whether Oscar-worthy actors should compete in the lead category or in supporting. Is Lily Gladstone’s role in “Killers of the Flower Moon” significant enough to warrant a best actress nom? Is “The Taste of Things” star Juliette Binoche’s part “too big” for supporting? While stellar thesps split hairs over how they ought to be classified, another kind of performance has gone largely unrecognized — one that practically deserves its own category: best cameo. Like Alec Baldwin’s motivational speech in “Glengarry Glen Ross” or Christopher Walken’s watch story from “Pulp Fiction,” a brief appearance by the right actor can completely transform what
audiences make of a movie.
Here are our nominees for the surprise appearances that boosted this year’s awards crop. Warning: there are some spoilers ahead.
Carey Mulligan in “Saltburn”
Scene: “Promising Young Woman...
audiences make of a movie.
Here are our nominees for the surprise appearances that boosted this year’s awards crop. Warning: there are some spoilers ahead.
Carey Mulligan in “Saltburn”
Scene: “Promising Young Woman...
- 11/24/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to Oscar Experts Typing, a weekly column in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Joyce Eng and Christopher Rosen discuss the Oscar race — via Slack, of course. This week, we look at Best Supporting Actress, where one film is expected to take up two slots.
Christopher Rosen: Hello, Joyce! Another year, another Oscars Best Supporting Actress race that remains wide open after the presumed frontrunner departed for another category. We’re now two months removed from the news that Lily Gladstone had chosen to campaign in the Best Actress race for “Killers of the Flower Moon” instead of Best Supporting Actress, and it’s hard to say any one contender has jumped fully into the vacuum left by Gladstone’s exit. Or is it? Most experts and prognosticators, including both of us, have moved presumed runner-up Da’Vine Joy Randolph into first place for “The Holdovers.” That certainly feels possible:...
Christopher Rosen: Hello, Joyce! Another year, another Oscars Best Supporting Actress race that remains wide open after the presumed frontrunner departed for another category. We’re now two months removed from the news that Lily Gladstone had chosen to campaign in the Best Actress race for “Killers of the Flower Moon” instead of Best Supporting Actress, and it’s hard to say any one contender has jumped fully into the vacuum left by Gladstone’s exit. Or is it? Most experts and prognosticators, including both of us, have moved presumed runner-up Da’Vine Joy Randolph into first place for “The Holdovers.” That certainly feels possible:...
- 11/17/2023
- by Joyce Eng and Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Count Tony Kushner among the “Barbie” faithful.
As the awards campaign for Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster hit continues apace, Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach sat down for a long conversation on Thursday night in Brooklyn with the Oscar-nominated Kushner, who wasted little time in expressing his love for the project.
“I think this movie is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” Kushner told the filmmakers after a special screening of “Barbie” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “I think it’s a terrible thing to say to people to their faces, but I think it’s a masterpiece.”
Kushner, a double Oscar nominee earlier this year for co-writing and producing “The Fabelmans,” had previously conveyed his deep love and respect for “Barbie” to Gerwig and Baumbach via email. “He did write the most beautiful email and Noah read it to me out loud and I said,...
As the awards campaign for Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster hit continues apace, Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach sat down for a long conversation on Thursday night in Brooklyn with the Oscar-nominated Kushner, who wasted little time in expressing his love for the project.
“I think this movie is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” Kushner told the filmmakers after a special screening of “Barbie” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “I think it’s a terrible thing to say to people to their faces, but I think it’s a masterpiece.”
Kushner, a double Oscar nominee earlier this year for co-writing and producing “The Fabelmans,” had previously conveyed his deep love and respect for “Barbie” to Gerwig and Baumbach via email. “He did write the most beautiful email and Noah read it to me out loud and I said,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Image Source: YouTube user Warner Bros.
"Barbie" made an undeniable impact on the world at large when it premiered in July. The film comes complete with a stacked cast and plenty of amazing fashion choices, but it's also notable because it's packed with Easter eggs that reference everything from cultural touchstones to hidden histories.
From the moment its first trailer dropped, the film immediately gave the internet a number of instantly iconic moments to admire, from Barbie (Margot Robbie)'s "Matrix"-esque choice between a high heel and a Birkenstock to Ken (Ryan Gosling)'s exuberant mug shot. The movie also features some less noticeable Easter eggs that show just how much its creative team - which includes the celebrated filmmaking duo Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach - paid attention to detail. Ahead, check out some of the most notable Easter eggs in the film.
"Barbie" Easter Egg: "The Wizard of Oz...
"Barbie" made an undeniable impact on the world at large when it premiered in July. The film comes complete with a stacked cast and plenty of amazing fashion choices, but it's also notable because it's packed with Easter eggs that reference everything from cultural touchstones to hidden histories.
From the moment its first trailer dropped, the film immediately gave the internet a number of instantly iconic moments to admire, from Barbie (Margot Robbie)'s "Matrix"-esque choice between a high heel and a Birkenstock to Ken (Ryan Gosling)'s exuberant mug shot. The movie also features some less noticeable Easter eggs that show just how much its creative team - which includes the celebrated filmmaking duo Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach - paid attention to detail. Ahead, check out some of the most notable Easter eggs in the film.
"Barbie" Easter Egg: "The Wizard of Oz...
- 10/30/2023
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
It's been 41 years since "Cheers" premiered, and 30 years since it's ended. Although other popular sitcoms like "The Bill Cosby Show" and "Newhart" gave it a run for its money, it's clear by now that "Cheers" has most effectively withstood the test of the time. When the average person thinks of '90s sitcoms, they think of "Friends" or "Seinfeld," but when you ask them to name a sitcom from the '80s, "Cheers" is almost always the first to come to mind.
It helps that so much of the "Cheers" cast has continued to have a major presence in pop culture long after the finale, even if they haven't all returned to the sheer height of popularity they had back in the '80s and early '90s. Even many of the actors who have passed away in the years since, like Kirstie Alley who died of stage four colon...
It helps that so much of the "Cheers" cast has continued to have a major presence in pop culture long after the finale, even if they haven't all returned to the sheer height of popularity they had back in the '80s and early '90s. Even many of the actors who have passed away in the years since, like Kirstie Alley who died of stage four colon...
- 10/26/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
The world is thinking pink in 2023, as the live-action "Barbie" film is so far the highest-grossing movie of the year, and it doesn't look like anything will be able to come for her crown. It seems impossible that it's taken 60 years for Barbie to finally make it to the big screen (save for cameos in animated movies), but Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling was well worth the wait. We're currently living through the heyday of "the brand movie," and given the groundbreaking and record-setting success of the fantastic plastic American icon, a sequel seems like a given. However, there are a multitude of factors to consider when trying to predict if a "Barbie 2" is on the horizon.
Fortunately, as a newly-minted Barbie historian and an unapologetic lover of Gerwig's film, I've been gobbling up every last tidbit of information about a possible sequel like a...
Fortunately, as a newly-minted Barbie historian and an unapologetic lover of Gerwig's film, I've been gobbling up every last tidbit of information about a possible sequel like a...
- 9/13/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
It's been 10 years since Australian actress Margot Robbie stepped into the American consciousness with her breakout role in Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street," and now she's the star of the highest-grossing movie of the year -- not just at the domestic box office, but across the entire world. Variety reports that "Barbie" has now grossed $1.36 billion globally, zooming past established champion "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," which topped out at $1.35 billion. Our lady in pink already overtook "Mario" in North American theaters last week, and "Barbie" is also the highest-grossing movie that Warner Bros. Pictures has ever released.
Just because she's won the race, doesn't mean "Barbie" is hitting the brakes. The film held the No. 1 spot at the box office for four consecutive weekends, and in its seventh weekend is set to stay comfortably in second place, with new release "The Equalizer 3" winning the weekend.
Just because she's won the race, doesn't mean "Barbie" is hitting the brakes. The film held the No. 1 spot at the box office for four consecutive weekends, and in its seventh weekend is set to stay comfortably in second place, with new release "The Equalizer 3" winning the weekend.
- 9/2/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
Amid the sweeping craze of Barbie mania this year, thanks to Greta Gerwig's live-action doll movie, another Barbie-esque project is reportedly on the way - and this time, it'll involve Bratz. According to Deadline, CBS has acquired the rights to "You Don't Own Me: How Mattel V. Mga Entertainment Exposed Barbie's Dark Side" by Usd law professor Orly Lobel, a book that details the parallel journeys of Barbie creator Ruth Handler and Bratz creator Carter Bryant. Per the outlet, the move could lead to the development of a potential TV series. Reps for CBS, Mattel, and Mga did not immediately respond to Popsugar's requests for comment.
Lobel's book pits Barbie's Mattel against Bratz's Mga, two monster companies that have been toy rivals for years. According to "You Don't Own Me"'s synopsis, Bryant, a former Mattel employee, took time off from his job in 2000 when he first began...
Lobel's book pits Barbie's Mattel against Bratz's Mga, two monster companies that have been toy rivals for years. According to "You Don't Own Me"'s synopsis, Bryant, a former Mattel employee, took time off from his job in 2000 when he first began...
- 8/30/2023
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
Exclusive: Besides sweeping the U.S. — and the world — this summer’s blockbuster phenom Barbie introduced fans to the creator of the hugely popular doll, Ruth Handler, who was played in the movie by Rhea Perlman. A potential TV series looks to go deeper into Handler’s story.
In a move, which I hear came before the July release of Barbie as well as the May start of the WGA strike, CBS Studios has acquired for series development “You Don’t Own Me: How Mattel V. Mga Entertainment Exposed Barbie’s Dark Side,” a book by Usd law professor Orly Lobel, which follows the parallel journeys of Barbie creator Ruth Handler and Bratz creator Carter Bryant.
Bratz, the billion-dollar, anti-establishment rival to the all-American Barbie, originated when Bryant began designing the dolls during time off from his job at Mattel, where he designed outfits for Barbie. He later sold his...
In a move, which I hear came before the July release of Barbie as well as the May start of the WGA strike, CBS Studios has acquired for series development “You Don’t Own Me: How Mattel V. Mga Entertainment Exposed Barbie’s Dark Side,” a book by Usd law professor Orly Lobel, which follows the parallel journeys of Barbie creator Ruth Handler and Bratz creator Carter Bryant.
Bratz, the billion-dollar, anti-establishment rival to the all-American Barbie, originated when Bryant began designing the dolls during time off from his job at Mattel, where he designed outfits for Barbie. He later sold his...
- 8/29/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" has already proven itself to be one of the best films of 2023, and certainly one of the most quotable. Whether it's funny ("Do you guys ever think about dying?"), introspective, or memeable ("my job is just beach"), there are so many fantastic lines to choose as a favorite. During an interview with BBC Radio 1, Gerwig confessed that her favorite line reading is one of the film's most unexpected laughs.
Interviewer Ali Plumb said that one of his favorite line readings was when Stereotypical Barbie looked toward the sky on her drive and sees two Astronaut Barbies floating in the sky, and declares "Yay, space!" Gerwig immediately interjected with excitement, "Yay, space! That's my favorite, that's my favorite!" The line has gotten a huge laugh in every screening I've been a part of because the simplistic expression of joy is contagious. Space is something many of us are fascinated by,...
Interviewer Ali Plumb said that one of his favorite line readings was when Stereotypical Barbie looked toward the sky on her drive and sees two Astronaut Barbies floating in the sky, and declares "Yay, space!" Gerwig immediately interjected with excitement, "Yay, space! That's my favorite, that's my favorite!" The line has gotten a huge laugh in every screening I've been a part of because the simplistic expression of joy is contagious. Space is something many of us are fascinated by,...
- 8/28/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
While the Barbie craze is no longer at its peak, it’s safe to say that people would like to know the inspiration behind the doll. She’s none other than Barbara Handler, daughter of Ruth Handler — the co-founder of Mattel and president at the time. Ruth Handler was inspired t make the original Barbie doll by her daughter and even gave her the name Barbara Millicent Roberts. This inspiration came during the family’s trip to Europe when she saw a curvaceous plastic doll that she was intrigued by. The young girl had a lot of experience playing with dolls made out of...
- 8/18/2023
- by Ima Whyte
- TVovermind.com
"Barbie" is, without a doubt, one of the weirdest movies to ever make it into the billion-dollar club. Greta Gerwig's candy-colored blockbuster features a horse-based patriarchy, the ghost of Barbie creator Ruth Handler, and an extremely well-executed Snyder cut joke. It's a fantastical, offbeat movie thinly disguised as a mainstream comedy, but it's clear from the very beginning — that "2001: A Space Odyssey" homage opening! — that "Barbie" marches to the beat of its own drum.
According to director Greta Gerwig, though, the movie was initially set to announce itself in a totally different way — by letting Helen Mirren drop an F-bomb in its opening moments. Gerwig spoke about the cut joke on the ReelBlend podcast, and revealed that it was actually meant to tie into a bit about famed physicist Marie Curie that was cut completely from the movie.
"Suffice to say, there was a sort of extended joke...
According to director Greta Gerwig, though, the movie was initially set to announce itself in a totally different way — by letting Helen Mirren drop an F-bomb in its opening moments. Gerwig spoke about the cut joke on the ReelBlend podcast, and revealed that it was actually meant to tie into a bit about famed physicist Marie Curie that was cut completely from the movie.
"Suffice to say, there was a sort of extended joke...
- 8/18/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Created and marketed in 1959 as a teenage fashion doll alternative to baby dolls — and the star, of course, of the critically acclaimed box office blockbuster — Barbie has not only driven a cultural conversation on gender and feminism but also a desire to look like the doll itself. And now that’s more possible than ever (if not controversial), in almost every way except making human feet permanently arched.
Rachel Evans, a well-known Barbie lookalike in the U.K., has achieved her self-stated goal of being “a human doll … now I am Barbie 24/7,” as she states on her website, rachelevanstv.com, through 35 facial injection procedures. Wearing a pink and white plaid dress and hat akin to Barbie’s (Margot Robbie) traveling look in the movie, Evans explains her fixation in a Zoom interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying that she was bullied as a child, resulting in a broken nose: “I...
Rachel Evans, a well-known Barbie lookalike in the U.K., has achieved her self-stated goal of being “a human doll … now I am Barbie 24/7,” as she states on her website, rachelevanstv.com, through 35 facial injection procedures. Wearing a pink and white plaid dress and hat akin to Barbie’s (Margot Robbie) traveling look in the movie, Evans explains her fixation in a Zoom interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying that she was bullied as a child, resulting in a broken nose: “I...
- 8/16/2023
- by Xennia Hamilton
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This post contains spoilers for "Barbie."
There's something undeniably Biblical about the story of "Barbie." Director Greta Gerwig's smash-hit film adaptation of Mattel's uber-successful multimedia property, which she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, begins in Barbieland, a matriarchal paradise where all the Barbies and Kens reside. While Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) isn't tempted to leave her home by a snake or serpent, her sudden fear of mortality, flat feet, and cellulite lead her to a journey that takes her far away from her Garden of (Barbie) Eden and into the patriarchal mess that is the real world.
These religious parallels are far from a coincidence. Gerwig herself attended a Catholic high school growing up (something she touched upon in her quasi-biographical dramedy "Lady Bird") and has spoken before about the Christian affirmations and myths that informed her initial treatment for "Barbie." In a broader sense, the film brings various...
There's something undeniably Biblical about the story of "Barbie." Director Greta Gerwig's smash-hit film adaptation of Mattel's uber-successful multimedia property, which she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, begins in Barbieland, a matriarchal paradise where all the Barbies and Kens reside. While Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) isn't tempted to leave her home by a snake or serpent, her sudden fear of mortality, flat feet, and cellulite lead her to a journey that takes her far away from her Garden of (Barbie) Eden and into the patriarchal mess that is the real world.
These religious parallels are far from a coincidence. Gerwig herself attended a Catholic high school growing up (something she touched upon in her quasi-biographical dramedy "Lady Bird") and has spoken before about the Christian affirmations and myths that informed her initial treatment for "Barbie." In a broader sense, the film brings various...
- 8/11/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The recent Barbie movie has given new relevance to the iconic dolls, originally created by Ruth Handler. Though she is not widely recognized as the mastermind behind the toys, the film featured Handler as a character in the movie, played by actress Rhea Perlman.
Handler immigrated with her parents from Poland to Denver, Colorado, when she was a child. She was the youngest of ten kids, raised by her older sister because of her mother’s poor health.
She first visited Hollywood when she was 19 years old and ended up staying out West for the rest of her life. Her high school boyfriend, Elliot Handler, followed her to California, and the two were married in 1938.
The couple launched a giftware business called “Mattel” out of their garage, selling items like bowls and mirrors made out of plastic. Eventually, the company began constructing toy pianos and ukuleles.
Handler had two children,...
Handler immigrated with her parents from Poland to Denver, Colorado, when she was a child. She was the youngest of ten kids, raised by her older sister because of her mother’s poor health.
She first visited Hollywood when she was 19 years old and ended up staying out West for the rest of her life. Her high school boyfriend, Elliot Handler, followed her to California, and the two were married in 1938.
The couple launched a giftware business called “Mattel” out of their garage, selling items like bowls and mirrors made out of plastic. Eventually, the company began constructing toy pianos and ukuleles.
Handler had two children,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Ava Lombardi
- Uinterview
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie begins with a humorous — but nonetheless brutally fitting — homage to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. It features the same moment of sheer, speechless awe, but instead of a black monolith, the little girls who inhabit this planet discover a monolithic version of the original 1959 Barbie, iconic black cat eye sunglasses, strapless black and white maillot. Kubrick has said that his monolith represented a powerful and unknowable alien life form, a blank canvas upon which viewers could unleash their own powers of imagination exponentially more than a cinematic representation ever could. For the generation of little girls who wouldn’t be able to sign their own checks without a man, have careers beyond those ascribed to the softer sex, nor even keep their own names, the canvas for unleashing their imaginations was Barbie.
The gift Ruth Handler offered young girls when she invented the doll...
The gift Ruth Handler offered young girls when she invented the doll...
- 8/1/2023
- by Andrea Nevins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This post contains spoilers for "Barbie."
During the final scene of "Barbie," the titular iconic toy (Margot Robbie) sits in the back seat of a car with her new human family: Gloria (America Ferrera), Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), and her Duolingo-loving husband (Ryan Piers Williams). With her beaming smile and business casual outfit, I assumed she was going to a job interview — an important milestone that would mark her independence as a human woman.
It certainly seems that way when Barbie triumphantly walks up to an office front desk and gives a more professional name, Barbara Handler, honoring the daughter of her creator Ruth Handler. Then, writer/director Greta Gerwig wallops the audience with an ingenious final line: "I'm here to see my gynecologist."
Greta Gerwig elaborated on the "mystical" origins of this clever piece of dialogue in a recent interview with IndieWire:
"I feel that line and that...
During the final scene of "Barbie," the titular iconic toy (Margot Robbie) sits in the back seat of a car with her new human family: Gloria (America Ferrera), Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), and her Duolingo-loving husband (Ryan Piers Williams). With her beaming smile and business casual outfit, I assumed she was going to a job interview — an important milestone that would mark her independence as a human woman.
It certainly seems that way when Barbie triumphantly walks up to an office front desk and gives a more professional name, Barbara Handler, honoring the daughter of her creator Ruth Handler. Then, writer/director Greta Gerwig wallops the audience with an ingenious final line: "I'm here to see my gynecologist."
Greta Gerwig elaborated on the "mystical" origins of this clever piece of dialogue in a recent interview with IndieWire:
"I feel that line and that...
- 7/28/2023
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
[Editor’s note: The following interview contains spoilers.]
Of all the movie references crammed into Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster “Barbie,” the most important is “The Matrix” because it serves as the foundational basis for Barbie’s (Margot Robbie) journey from the feminism of Barbie Land to the patriarchal “real world” of Century City and Venice.
That’s the moment, of course, when Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) offers Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie the choice of maintaining the status quo with the pink heel or escaping to the real world in a Birkenstock to solve her existential crisis.
For production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer (who have six Oscar nominations between them), Barbie Land was unknown territory. But it was instructive to have the contrast between Barbie Land and L.A. in the script by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.
“Not that it’s real, but L.A. was a given,” Greenwood told IndieWire. “Even though we’re [British] outsiders,...
Of all the movie references crammed into Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster “Barbie,” the most important is “The Matrix” because it serves as the foundational basis for Barbie’s (Margot Robbie) journey from the feminism of Barbie Land to the patriarchal “real world” of Century City and Venice.
That’s the moment, of course, when Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) offers Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie the choice of maintaining the status quo with the pink heel or escaping to the real world in a Birkenstock to solve her existential crisis.
For production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer (who have six Oscar nominations between them), Barbie Land was unknown territory. But it was instructive to have the contrast between Barbie Land and L.A. in the script by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.
“Not that it’s real, but L.A. was a given,” Greenwood told IndieWire. “Even though we’re [British] outsiders,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
This post contains spoilers for "Barbie."
One of the many joys of watching "Barbie" is catching all the film's references to classic cinema. "The Wizard of Oz" was an obvious inspiration for co-writer and director Greta Gerwig's take on the iconic doll, from the yellow pink brick road that cuts through Barbieland to the ghost of Barbie creator and Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), who gradually emerges as a Wizard-like guide to Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) on her journey of spiritual discovery. Moreover, the film is a love letter to 20th-century movie musicals in general, as seen in the "I'm Just Ken" sequence -- a musical number that includes a Gene Kelly-styled dream ballet where the Kens adapt all-black attire recalling John Travolta's getup from "Grease" -- and the bold, vivid color palette of Barbieland, which brings to mind the production design for "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
One of the many joys of watching "Barbie" is catching all the film's references to classic cinema. "The Wizard of Oz" was an obvious inspiration for co-writer and director Greta Gerwig's take on the iconic doll, from the yellow pink brick road that cuts through Barbieland to the ghost of Barbie creator and Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), who gradually emerges as a Wizard-like guide to Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) on her journey of spiritual discovery. Moreover, the film is a love letter to 20th-century movie musicals in general, as seen in the "I'm Just Ken" sequence -- a musical number that includes a Gene Kelly-styled dream ballet where the Kens adapt all-black attire recalling John Travolta's getup from "Grease" -- and the bold, vivid color palette of Barbieland, which brings to mind the production design for "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
- 7/28/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
This article contains some mild Barbie and Oppenheimer spoilers.
The Barbenheimer has landed! And it has been fun, hasn’t it? Going to the cinema and seeing people walking the streets in neon pink outfits! Scrolling through the memes! Arguing over the merits of different viewing orders (we actually got a Wikipedia mention over our contribution to that debate). The whole project has been a mix of nuclear-age aesthetics, feminist discourse, and the kind of publicity-tour drama that we haven’t seen since Don’t Worry Darling. Sure, the whole thing soured a bit once certain politicians tried to get in on the act, but the fact is it has been a long time since film discourse has been this fun.
And yet, it has to be said, going into Oppenheimer this writer felt a bit uneasy. We are talking, after all, about a film that covers the creation of a...
The Barbenheimer has landed! And it has been fun, hasn’t it? Going to the cinema and seeing people walking the streets in neon pink outfits! Scrolling through the memes! Arguing over the merits of different viewing orders (we actually got a Wikipedia mention over our contribution to that debate). The whole project has been a mix of nuclear-age aesthetics, feminist discourse, and the kind of publicity-tour drama that we haven’t seen since Don’t Worry Darling. Sure, the whole thing soured a bit once certain politicians tried to get in on the act, but the fact is it has been a long time since film discourse has been this fun.
And yet, it has to be said, going into Oppenheimer this writer felt a bit uneasy. We are talking, after all, about a film that covers the creation of a...
- 7/27/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
EntertainmentAs the supporting player to Barbie’s star, Ken unwittingly becomes the locus of little girls’ expectations of and frustrations with masculinity.The ConversationAs first boyfriends go, you could do worse than Ken Carson. Introduced in 1961 by Mattel, the Ken doll was the epitome of the all-American boy next door. Clean cut, athletic and with a sharp haircut, he was the perfect counterpart to his more famous girlfriend, Barbie. Ken’s first item of clothing was a pair of red swimming trunks, indicating his sportiness and reflecting the modern American lifestyle of leisure and penchant for outdoor recreation. Created by Barbie’s inventor Ruth Handler, Ken was a boyfriend designed by women for girls. Just as Barbie was named after Handler’s daughter, so Ken was named after her son. And so the safe, boyfriend-friend dynamic of Barbie and Ken’s relationship was established. Notably designed with no genitalia, he...
- 7/27/2023
- by AjayR
- The News Minute
Neither Barbie production designer Sarah Greenwood nor set decorator Katie Spencer had Barbie dolls growing up. “Or a DreamHouse, or anything,” recalls Greenwood, who joined Filmmaker on Zoom alongside Spencer following the record-breaking opening of Greta Gerwig’s feminist smash hit. “I was probably a little judgmental about Barbie until this film — I fell into that camp. But I kind of readdressed my thoughts after meeting this Barbie, and [its creator] Ruth Handler.” Spencer adds, “And [after] meeting Greta. We were a part of the backlash generation. Even if we wanted a Barbie, I don’t know that our parents would have […]
The post “I Think We Sampled 100 Pinks”: Production Designer Sarah Greenwood and Set Decorator Katie Spencer on Barbie first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “I Think We Sampled 100 Pinks”: Production Designer Sarah Greenwood and Set Decorator Katie Spencer on Barbie first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 7/26/2023
- by Tomris Laffly
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Neither Barbie production designer Sarah Greenwood nor set decorator Katie Spencer had Barbie dolls growing up. “Or a DreamHouse, or anything,” recalls Greenwood, who joined Filmmaker on Zoom alongside Spencer following the record-breaking opening of Greta Gerwig’s feminist smash hit. “I was probably a little judgmental about Barbie until this film — I fell into that camp. But I kind of readdressed my thoughts after meeting this Barbie, and [its creator] Ruth Handler.” Spencer adds, “And [after] meeting Greta. We were a part of the backlash generation. Even if we wanted a Barbie, I don’t know that our parents would have […]
The post “I Think We Sampled 100 Pinks”: Production Designer Sarah Greenwood and Set Decorator Katie Spencer on Barbie first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “I Think We Sampled 100 Pinks”: Production Designer Sarah Greenwood and Set Decorator Katie Spencer on Barbie first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 7/26/2023
- by Tomris Laffly
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Spoiler Alert: This post includes details about the final scene of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.
Barbie director and co-writer Greta Gerwig says she wanted a “mic drop” moment to bring the movie to a close – and she isn’t talking about box office success, though she got that too.
If you haven’t yet seen the hugely popular film starring Margot Robbie as the world’s most famous doll and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken, you’ll want to stop reading now. Seriously. This post includes the final line of the film, and Gerwig’s explanation for it.
In an interview with USA Today, Gerwig explains that the ending is meant as both a tribute to Barbie’s inventor Ruth Handler and also as a body-positive message to young girls.
In the film, Barbie returns to Barbie Land after a life-changing visit to Los Angeles. Still feeling a bit lost...
Barbie director and co-writer Greta Gerwig says she wanted a “mic drop” moment to bring the movie to a close – and she isn’t talking about box office success, though she got that too.
If you haven’t yet seen the hugely popular film starring Margot Robbie as the world’s most famous doll and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken, you’ll want to stop reading now. Seriously. This post includes the final line of the film, and Gerwig’s explanation for it.
In an interview with USA Today, Gerwig explains that the ending is meant as both a tribute to Barbie’s inventor Ruth Handler and also as a body-positive message to young girls.
In the film, Barbie returns to Barbie Land after a life-changing visit to Los Angeles. Still feeling a bit lost...
- 7/24/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
This post contains spoilers for "Barbie."
During the emotional climax to "Barbie," Billie Eilish's breathy, dreamlike voice sings "What Was I Made For?" over grainy recordings of brides, mothers, grandmothers, families, and friends sharing tender moments. It's one of the best movie sequences of the year, with Eilish's haunting song capturing Barbie's confusion about her purpose and future.
Vulture's Katie Rife has argued this scene links Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) to an "intergenerational heritage that she couldn't access as a fictional construct." This collage of close-knit relationships is overwhelming for Barbie, who experiences human feelings for the first time -- particularly a mix of painful and cathartic sadness. Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), the inventor of Barbie, tells the iconic doll to close her eyes and let the turbulent emotions wash over her.
According to Time magazine, the family images are not random but actual home videos submitted...
During the emotional climax to "Barbie," Billie Eilish's breathy, dreamlike voice sings "What Was I Made For?" over grainy recordings of brides, mothers, grandmothers, families, and friends sharing tender moments. It's one of the best movie sequences of the year, with Eilish's haunting song capturing Barbie's confusion about her purpose and future.
Vulture's Katie Rife has argued this scene links Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) to an "intergenerational heritage that she couldn't access as a fictional construct." This collage of close-knit relationships is overwhelming for Barbie, who experiences human feelings for the first time -- particularly a mix of painful and cathartic sadness. Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), the inventor of Barbie, tells the iconic doll to close her eyes and let the turbulent emotions wash over her.
According to Time magazine, the family images are not random but actual home videos submitted...
- 7/24/2023
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
“Barbie” is here. And it is a delight.
Co-writer and director Greta Gerwig’s take on the classic doll broke box office records and shattered audience expectations, giving us something much deeper (and considerably weirder) than we were expecting. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the entire cast of “Barbie” really gave it their all; and they have been rewarded for their efforts. And now Gerwig (who wrote the movie with her life/creative partner Noah Baumbach) is talking about the movie’s very good ending, specifically the surprising line that concludes the film.
Major spoilers for “Barbie” follow, obviously. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, get your brightest pink sweater, head to the theater, and then read this after.
Gerwig spoke to USA Today about the ending of “Barbie,” which has Barbie (Robbie), now going by the name Barbara Handler, fully committed to living in the real world.
Co-writer and director Greta Gerwig’s take on the classic doll broke box office records and shattered audience expectations, giving us something much deeper (and considerably weirder) than we were expecting. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the entire cast of “Barbie” really gave it their all; and they have been rewarded for their efforts. And now Gerwig (who wrote the movie with her life/creative partner Noah Baumbach) is talking about the movie’s very good ending, specifically the surprising line that concludes the film.
Major spoilers for “Barbie” follow, obviously. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, get your brightest pink sweater, head to the theater, and then read this after.
Gerwig spoke to USA Today about the ending of “Barbie,” which has Barbie (Robbie), now going by the name Barbara Handler, fully committed to living in the real world.
- 7/24/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
This article contains spoilers for "Barbie."
The first live-action movie based on Mattel's Barbie dolls could have easily been a cash grab: just another soulless vehicle for merchandise to fly off the shelves. But writer and director Greta Gerwig looks at the cultural impact of this mammoth intellectual property with a complexity and depth that subverts audiences' expectations.
While Mattel's endorsement is clear — like the sequences where the camera freezes on Barbie's outfit products and their names — Gerwig is not afraid to critique the fantasy we've bought from them. Together with co-writer Noah Baumbach, she pokes fun at the company's controversies and missteps while bringing Barbie and her world to life. Mattel's CEO Ynon Kreiz told Variety that he supports the corporation's zany portrayal:
"There are so many elements of humor and self-deprecation in the movie. And we embrace that. We take our brands very seriously. We take what we do very seriously.
The first live-action movie based on Mattel's Barbie dolls could have easily been a cash grab: just another soulless vehicle for merchandise to fly off the shelves. But writer and director Greta Gerwig looks at the cultural impact of this mammoth intellectual property with a complexity and depth that subverts audiences' expectations.
While Mattel's endorsement is clear — like the sequences where the camera freezes on Barbie's outfit products and their names — Gerwig is not afraid to critique the fantasy we've bought from them. Together with co-writer Noah Baumbach, she pokes fun at the company's controversies and missteps while bringing Barbie and her world to life. Mattel's CEO Ynon Kreiz told Variety that he supports the corporation's zany portrayal:
"There are so many elements of humor and self-deprecation in the movie. And we embrace that. We take our brands very seriously. We take what we do very seriously.
- 7/23/2023
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
The satirical comedy has many moments that make you laugh, but then you realize that what’s being said is what you may experience on a daily basis. Greta Gerwig has always been one to express her love for girlhood in her movies, and it’s possible that her motherly instinct kicked in full swing while making Barbie because it is packed. We all know about the iconic monologue, which may not be considered mind-blowing in terms of writing, but that’s what makes it completely in touch with reality. Here we’re listing some more relatable scenes in the film that just feel like they’ve been ripped out of your very own life. There’s something in it for everyone, so let’s quickly get into the most relatable moments in the Barbie movie.
1. Hellen Mirren’s narration
In the opening shot of the movie that perfectly replicates...
1. Hellen Mirren’s narration
In the opening shot of the movie that perfectly replicates...
- 7/23/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
Toward the end of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, our titular heroine’s (Margot Robbie) journey culminates in the arrival of an unexpected guest: Her creator, the late Ruth Handler (played by Rhea Perlman).
Having just spent two hours confronting the reality that Barbies didn’t actually solve all inequality and are, in fact, workshopped by a bunch of guys sitting atop a phallic skyscraper, Barbie is incredulous to learn that a woman was her creator all those years ago.
“I am Mattel,” Ruth proclaims proudly.
Then comes the kicker: “At least,...
Having just spent two hours confronting the reality that Barbies didn’t actually solve all inequality and are, in fact, workshopped by a bunch of guys sitting atop a phallic skyscraper, Barbie is incredulous to learn that a woman was her creator all those years ago.
“I am Mattel,” Ruth proclaims proudly.
Then comes the kicker: “At least,...
- 7/23/2023
- by Abby Monteil
- Rollingstone.com
This article contains spoilers for "Barbie."
Alright, let's not waste our time with flowery introductions explaining why "Barbie" made me cry like someone stole my lunch money because I already spent over 9,000 words expressing my love and adoration for all things Barbie. Barbie means a lot to me, and I expected the film adaptation from Greta Gerwig co-written with Noah Baumbach was going to bring me a lot of joy, but I did not anticipate how emotionally decimated I would be by the end of it. I don't know why I didn't expect it, as both "Lady Bird" and "Little Women" left me in shambles, but I think I had convinced myself that Mattel would prevent Gerwig from making a Greta Gerwig movie. Thankfully, I was wrong, and "Barbie" is a Gerwig movie through and through.
Which means I cried. A lot. There were lots of little moments that inspired tears to fall through laughter,...
Alright, let's not waste our time with flowery introductions explaining why "Barbie" made me cry like someone stole my lunch money because I already spent over 9,000 words expressing my love and adoration for all things Barbie. Barbie means a lot to me, and I expected the film adaptation from Greta Gerwig co-written with Noah Baumbach was going to bring me a lot of joy, but I did not anticipate how emotionally decimated I would be by the end of it. I don't know why I didn't expect it, as both "Lady Bird" and "Little Women" left me in shambles, but I think I had convinced myself that Mattel would prevent Gerwig from making a Greta Gerwig movie. Thankfully, I was wrong, and "Barbie" is a Gerwig movie through and through.
Which means I cried. A lot. There were lots of little moments that inspired tears to fall through laughter,...
- 7/22/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
“Barbie” director Greta Gerwig loved playing with Barbies growing up, so when the time came to bring the world’s most famous doll to the big screen, she was well-versed in Barbie lore and infused the Margot Robbie movie with tons of pink plastic (and fantastic) details.
“There must be thousands of B’s everywhere because they also have like designs in the carpet,” Gerwig told Variety on the pink carpet at the world premiere in Los Angeles. Asked which “Hidden B” Easter Egg is her favorite, Gerwig played coy. “I can’t tell it. But I know it,” she teased.
So, with that in mind, Variety scrubbed through the footage to find all the hidden details in Gerwig’s “Barbie” world.
First, there are the references to other Barbie movies. For instance, there’s a Pegasus statue carved into a rock on Barbieland’s beach, which evokes the 2005 film “The Magic of Pegasus,...
“There must be thousands of B’s everywhere because they also have like designs in the carpet,” Gerwig told Variety on the pink carpet at the world premiere in Los Angeles. Asked which “Hidden B” Easter Egg is her favorite, Gerwig played coy. “I can’t tell it. But I know it,” she teased.
So, with that in mind, Variety scrubbed through the footage to find all the hidden details in Gerwig’s “Barbie” world.
First, there are the references to other Barbie movies. For instance, there’s a Pegasus statue carved into a rock on Barbieland’s beach, which evokes the 2005 film “The Magic of Pegasus,...
- 7/22/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
It's the summer of Barbiecore fashion, "Barbenheimer" double features, and a worldwide shortage of a specific shade of fluorescent pink. Saying the "Barbie" movie has been hotly anticipated is like saying July in New York is hot - it doesn't do a modicum of justice to the truly immersive experience that being a Barbie fan this summer has been.
This, however, is the very same Barbie that has been endlessly critiqued for being a symbol of unrealistic, dangerous beauty standards, and there's actually a significant collection of scholarship that has backed up the idea that the doll hasn't generally been great for girls' body image. For example, a 2006 study in Developmental Psychology found that girls between ages 5 and 8 who were exposed to Barbies had lower levels of satisfaction with their bodies than those who were not. A decade later, a similar study in the journal Body Image came to a similar conclusion,...
This, however, is the very same Barbie that has been endlessly critiqued for being a symbol of unrealistic, dangerous beauty standards, and there's actually a significant collection of scholarship that has backed up the idea that the doll hasn't generally been great for girls' body image. For example, a 2006 study in Developmental Psychology found that girls between ages 5 and 8 who were exposed to Barbies had lower levels of satisfaction with their bodies than those who were not. A decade later, a similar study in the journal Body Image came to a similar conclusion,...
- 7/21/2023
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
This article contains spoilers for "Barbie."
From the very first trailer, it was obvious that Greta Gerwig was the perfect person to bring "Barbie" to the big screen. Not only is she a gifted filmmaker who has delivered phenomenal works like "Lady Bird" and "Little Women," but she's also someone who wanted to honor the legacy of the Barbie doll as a cultural institution in addition to discussing themes of gender disparity and how the patriarchy hurts us all. Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach clearly did their homework when coming up with the screenplay, incorporating multiple areas of Barbie's history, including the creator of the doll herself.
We've known for a while now that Rhea Perlman had been cast in "Barbie," but without an individual character poster, no one knew who she was going to play. Well, after a slapstick chase scene through the halls of Mattel, Barbie (Margot Robbie...
From the very first trailer, it was obvious that Greta Gerwig was the perfect person to bring "Barbie" to the big screen. Not only is she a gifted filmmaker who has delivered phenomenal works like "Lady Bird" and "Little Women," but she's also someone who wanted to honor the legacy of the Barbie doll as a cultural institution in addition to discussing themes of gender disparity and how the patriarchy hurts us all. Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach clearly did their homework when coming up with the screenplay, incorporating multiple areas of Barbie's history, including the creator of the doll herself.
We've known for a while now that Rhea Perlman had been cast in "Barbie," but without an individual character poster, no one knew who she was going to play. Well, after a slapstick chase scene through the halls of Mattel, Barbie (Margot Robbie...
- 7/21/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Barbie is looking like a box office beauty, racking up the strongest preview night numbers of the year and heading for a weekend gross that could top $100 million — that could buy Warner Bros. a whole lot of dream houses.
But the Mattel icon’s pink Corvette took a very long road to the big screen, and before writer-director Greta Gerwig, writer Noah Baumbach and star Margot Robbie, there were other top creatives attached to the on-again, off-again project.
Below is a brief history of Barbie’s journey from one of the most popular toys in the world to theaters:
1959. The Barbie fashion doll, created by Ruth Handler, is launched.
Literally 50 years pass.
2009: Mattel, the makers of Barbie, sign a deal with Universal Pictures to make a film about the iconic doll. That deal fell through.
2014: Sony acquired the rights to Barbie. The project saw a series of writers...
But the Mattel icon’s pink Corvette took a very long road to the big screen, and before writer-director Greta Gerwig, writer Noah Baumbach and star Margot Robbie, there were other top creatives attached to the on-again, off-again project.
Below is a brief history of Barbie’s journey from one of the most popular toys in the world to theaters:
1959. The Barbie fashion doll, created by Ruth Handler, is launched.
Literally 50 years pass.
2009: Mattel, the makers of Barbie, sign a deal with Universal Pictures to make a film about the iconic doll. That deal fell through.
2014: Sony acquired the rights to Barbie. The project saw a series of writers...
- 7/21/2023
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This article contains spoilers for "Barbie."
Kate McKinnon's Weird Barbie has been getting a lot of love since the "Barbie" trailer first dropped, with the comedian portraying the personification of the dolls that were loved a little bit too hard ... or the victims of eldritch horror makeovers by children. Weird Barbie wears weird clothes, has weird hair, wears weird makeup, and lives in a weird house. She's also become the guardian of all of the Barbies the Mattel corporation has taken off the shelves for one reason or another. It's delightful because it not only assures anyone who watched "Toy Story" a little bit too young that these dolls are okay and haven't been abandoned, but also because these maligned dolls are a vital part of the "Barbie" climax. By positioning these "canceled" Barbies (and Kens) as an important part of restoring order to Barbieland, it sends the message...
Kate McKinnon's Weird Barbie has been getting a lot of love since the "Barbie" trailer first dropped, with the comedian portraying the personification of the dolls that were loved a little bit too hard ... or the victims of eldritch horror makeovers by children. Weird Barbie wears weird clothes, has weird hair, wears weird makeup, and lives in a weird house. She's also become the guardian of all of the Barbies the Mattel corporation has taken off the shelves for one reason or another. It's delightful because it not only assures anyone who watched "Toy Story" a little bit too young that these dolls are okay and haven't been abandoned, but also because these maligned dolls are a vital part of the "Barbie" climax. By positioning these "canceled" Barbies (and Kens) as an important part of restoring order to Barbieland, it sends the message...
- 7/21/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
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