When is the Barbie movie release date? Are you a Barbie girl in a Barbie world? If so, you may be excited to learn that the world’s most popular doll (and her boyfriend, Ken) are going to star in their very own live-action romance movie.
Starring Margot Robbie as the title character, the upcoming contender for the list of best rom-coms is doing everything it can to shake off the baggage of Barbie. Esteemed writers and married duo Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have been brought on board to write the new movie‘s script (with Gerwig also directing), and they’ve packed the cast with more stars than a wizard’s robe. We’re talking about Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, and America Ferrera, among many more.
Of course, you may have a few questions about how exactly they plan on bringing Barbie to the big screen. Well, don’t worry, dear reader. We’ve scoured the internet to bring you everything we know about the Barbie movie release date, cast, trailer, plot and more. So grab your best pink accessories and strap in for what should be one of the best movies of the year…
Barbie movie release date
The Barbie movie release date is July 21, 2023.
Sony Pictures began development on a Barbie movie all the way back in 2014, with Amy Schumer originally being lined up to play the title character. Unfortunately for Sony, the company failed to get the film made before the rights to the character expired, and in 2018, Warner Bros swooped in and saved the project from development hell.
Margot Robbie was quickly signed on to play Barbie and produce the film, while Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach were brought on to write the screenplay. In 2021 it was announced that Gerwig would also direct the feature, following up some of the best comedy movies of the 21st century, like Lady Bird.
Barbie movie cast
The Barbie movie cast is led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, respectively.
Like with the packed Oppenheimer cast, it would be easier to say who’s not in the Barbie movie. That said, despite knowing a few characters and all the variations of Barbie and Ken, there’s a lot of secrecy around many of the other roles.
But, as we said, we know that many of the ensemble members are playing different versions of Barbie – including Dua Lipa – and Ken. This could get very silly, and very funny.
Michael Cera is, in fact, one of the few actors not playing either Barbie or Ken. He’s Ken’s buddy Allan.
Here is the full Barbie movie cast list:
- Margot Robbie as Barbie
- Ryan Gosling as Ken
- Will Ferrell as the toy company CEO
- Helen Mirren as the narrator
- Simu Liu as Ken
- Issa Rae as President Barbie
- Alexandra Shipp as writer Barbie
- Emma Mackey as physicist Barbie
- Kingsley Ben-Adir as Ken
- Ncuti Gatwa as Ken
- Scott Evans as Ken
- Ana Cruz Kayne as Judge Barbie
- Ritu Arya as journalist Barbie
- Nicola Coughlan as Diplomat Barbie
- Dua Lipa as Mermaid Barbie
- Kate McKinnon as Gymnast Barbie
- Hari Nef as doctor Barbie
- Sharon Rooney as Lawyer Barbie
- Emerald Fennell as Midge
- Michael Cera as Allan
- Jamie Demetriou as a toy company employee
- Connor Swindells as a toy company intern
- John Cena as Merman Ken
Stay tuned as this massive cast list continues to grow!
Barbie movie plot
The Barbie movie plot will follow the adventure of a doll living in ‘Barbieland’ who is expelled for not being perfect enough. Together with a Ken, this Barbie heads out into the real world to discover if ‘life as plastic’ is ‘truly fantastic.’
From the Barbie movie trailer, we saw that Ken (Gosling) would be going with Robbie’s Barbie, and they’ll eventually run into Will Ferrell – a CEO of a toy company. It is all very exciting, and there are still plenty of mysteries to uncover once we see Barbie head into the real world. Will she get a job? How will she cope, with living in a Dreamhouse to paying rent on a flat? As we said, it is all very exciting.
However, if any hardcore toy fans are worried about the film’s real-world plot element, don’t stress because Margot Robbie has got your back. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the star expressed how she wants the film to honour the character as well as surprise audiences.
“We like the things that feel a little left of centre,” she said. “Something like Barbie where the IP, the name itself, people immediately have an idea of, ‘Oh, Margot is playing Barbie, I know what that is,’ but our goal is to be like, ‘Whatever you’re thinking, we’re going to give you something totally different — the thing you didn’t know you wanted.’”
Is there a Barbie movie trailer?
After a string of teasers, the first full Barbie trailer dropped on May 25, 2023. It gives a hint at the plot for the movie, which will follow Robbie’s titular Barbie as she starts experiencing dark thoughts and has to travel to the real world with the hapless Ken in tow.
Check it our for yourself before, but know that we absolutely love it:
Where can I watch the Barbie movie?
The Barbie movie will be exclusive to cinemas, to begin with. It’s inevitable that the Barbie movie will end up on some of the best streaming services before long, but the big cinema event of the summer (sorry Fast and Furious 10) is initially only at the multiplex.
If you want to know more about upcoming films, including the most exciting 2023 movies, check out our guides to the Cruella 2 release date and The Meg 2 release date, or if you prefer a few more explosions in your films, we have guides to The Equalizer 3 release date and the Indiana Jones 5 release date.
Or for more from the life in plastic, check out the iconic toys that should get a film after the Barbie movie.
