Barbie Opens

Setting the scene

Mattel's Barbie doll had sold billions since 1959 but faced criticism over body image and gender roles, while Warner Bros. sought IP-driven hits after DC struggles. Greta Gerwig, known for Lady Bird and Little Women, co-wrote a meta comedy with Noah Baumbach that embraced pink absurdity. The same summer, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer opened, spawning the Barbenheimer double-feature meme.

What happened

Barbie opened on July 21, 2023, with Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbieland. The plot sent Barbie into the real world to solve an existential crisis while Kens discovered patriarchy on the beach. Production designer Sarah Greenwood's pink paint shortage stories highlighted the film's visual saturation.

Why it still matters

Barbie grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide, became Warner's biggest hit, and dominated 2023 fashion and marketing. It sparked renewed debate about feminism, capitalism, and nostalgia toys. Memorable detail: the film used so much fluorescent pink paint that it reportedly contributed to a global shortage of Rosco's Barbie pink pigment.

Background

Barbenheimer memes dominated 2023 pop culture.