Synopsis:
The film begins by showing the societal impact of the Barbie doll on history, accompanied by a clip of the original 1959 Barbie towering over a desert landscape, while little girls playing with baby dolls begin to destroy them.
Hidden from the real world is Barbieland, where the Barbies and Kens, alongside other dolls like Allan (Michael Cera) and Midge (Emerald Fennell), live. The Barbies preside over Barbieland in a matriarchal system and work high-position jobs while the Kens spend time as futile subordinates living in the Barbies' shadow. Beach Ken (Ryan Gosling) is in love with Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) and constantly vies for her attention, but she doesn't recognize.
Barbie begins to suffer an existential crisis, experiencing a series of mishaps including her perfect skin with blemishes and her arched feet going flat. The other Barbies suggest she visit Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), who informs her the human girl who is playing with her is unhappy. To fix her crisis, Barbie must travel to the real world, find the girl and help her.
On her way to the real world, Barbie finds (Beach) Ken stowed away in her car. He convinces her to let him join and the two travel to Los Angeles. Barbie learns to cry upon taking in how flawed the real world is, before complimenting an old woman on her beauty. Ken wonders off and discovers masculinity.
At a local school, Barbie finds her human girl, Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), and tries to help her. However, Sasha and her friends inform Barbie that they hate Barbie and that they haven’t played with one since they were 5 years old, causing Barbie to run off in tears. Meanwhile, the Mattel CEO (Will Ferrell) discovers Barbie's existence and orders her deportation to Barbieland, sending his men after her.
Barbie arrives at Mattel Headquarters and meets the CEO and his male subordinates. They try to send her back via a life-sized doll box, but Barbie deduces their intention and escapes in a pursuit. She is helped by Sasha and her mother Gloria (America Ferrera), who is revealed to be the incitement for Barbie's worries. Gloria started playing with Barbie during a midlife crisis, relinquishing her concerns over to Barbie. The trio, unaware they are being followed by the CEO and his colleagues, travel back to Barbieland.
Arriving in Barbieland, the three find that Ken has led his fellow Kens in overthrowing the system. They also plan to enshrine their new patriarchy in the Barbieland constitution the next day. Barbie tries to persuade Ken to change it back, but he refuses as he finally feels worthy for the first time. Barbie sinks into a depression before Gloria reminds her that she is so beautiful, inspiring Barbie to save Barbieland.
Barbie, Gloria, Sasha, Weird Barbie, Allan (who is against the Kens' new rule) and other discontinued Barbies hatch a plan. They free the Barbies of their subjugation before turning the Kens against each other to distract them from changing the constitution. As the Kens fight on the beach, the Barbies restore Barbieland's matriarchy back into the constitution.
A distraught Ken expresses disappointment in not being able to live with Barbie. The two apologize to each other for their mistakes, and kiss and make up. The Mattel CEO makes himself known and upon realizing that Barbieland has been restored he informs the Barbie that he will begin closing the portal between the two worlds. Sasha asks the CEO what will happen to Barbie and the CEO informs Sasha that the Barbies future is with Ken whom she loves. Ken then waves and thanks Barbie for restoring Barbieland.
Intentions:
Primary Goal: To bring Barbie to a PG rating according to MPCC rules and regulations.
Secondary Goal: To bring the movie under a customary 1hr30min standard.
Change List:
- Removed Nobel Prize scene.
- Removed “The Pink House” scenel.
- Removed “Beach off” scene.
- Replaced the dance party scene music with “Barbie Girl” by Aqua.
- Edited any and all scenes of Ken trying to kiss Barbie with with a hearts animation.
- Removed and/cropped out any and all references to “Doctor Barbie”.
- Removed foot gagging scene.
- Removed the scene where weird Barbie mentions wanting to look at Ken’s bulge.
- Removed any and all sexist scenes.
- Removed any and all references of Barbie and Ken stealing and going to jail.
- Removed any and all scene references fascism.
- Removed and/or cropped out any and all references to “Sugar Daddy Ken” and “Magic Ring Ken”.
- Removed the scene of the Gloria complaining to Barbie.
- Removed any and all scenes of racism by Sasha.
- Removed any and all references of Barbie not liking Ken.
- Removed every scene of Gloria talking to the Barbies in the van.
- Removed any and all scenes of Beth in Barbieland.
- Replaced the music during the credits with “Everybody Needs a Ken” by Mattel
Other Sources:
“Barbie Girl” by Aqua
“Everybody Needs a Ken” by Mattel