Barbie

The film begins with a parody of "2001: A Space Odyssey," narrated by Helen Mirren, emphasizing that Barbie dolls have been part of girlhood since the beginning. Scenes show little girls replacing their baby dolls with Barbie, highlighting her cultural significance. This establishes the playful yet reflective tone of the movie.

In Barbie Land, various Barbies and Kens live harmonious lives, with multiple versions of each character. Barbie enjoys her day-to-day activities with Ken and her friends, celebrating their idealized world through a dance party. Tensions arise when Barbie questions the concept of death, dampening the cheerful mood.

Barbie begins noticing odd changes, such as her heels touching the ground and the appearance of cellulite. She is directed to Weird Barbie, who tells her that her issues may stem from the real world affecting her, prompting Barbie and her stowaway Ken to leave Barbie Land.

Barbie and Ken arrive in Venice Beach, where Barbie gets into trouble after punching a man who slaps her butt. After escaping jail, Barbie searches for her owner and has an emotional moment, shedding tears as she witnesses a girl’s joy fading over time, reflecting her own existential crisis.

Barbie meets Sasha, a middle school girl who no longer plays with Barbies due to unrealistic beauty standards. Barbie begins to understand that her existence is linked to the girl’s changing perceptions and struggles with her own identity.

Barbie arrives at Mattel headquarters, where the CEO tries to convince her to return to a life-size box to fix her existential crisis. Barbie nearly agrees but ultimately escapes, leading to a high-stakes chase involving Gloria and Sasha.

Barbie, Gloria, and Sasha return to Barbie Land, discovering that Ken has brought patriarchy with him. Ken renames the land "Kendom," indoctrinating Kens and making Barbies subservient, while Ken’s influence starts to affect the real world’s Barbie Dream House.

Ken feels valued and powerful in Kendrick’s patriarchy, leading Barbie to feel insecure and less perfect. Gloria and Sasha leave Barbie feeling depressed, but Weird Barbie intervenes, reminding her of her importance and inspiring her to fight back.

Disillusioned Kens build a poorly constructed wall, while Allan, tired of Kens controlling Barbie Land, joins Gloria, Sasha, and the others in planning to help Barbie. They return to find her in despair, with some Barbies starting to see things differently.

Barbie’s friends rally to persuade the Kens to change their behaviors through humor, jealousy, and a dance-off. Ken admits he feels defined only by his relationship to Barbie, leading to heartfelt apologies and a realization that he is more than just "Ken".

The spirit of Ruth Handler, creator of Barbie, appears, encouraging Barbie to choose her own destiny. Barbie envisions a broader future beyond her predefined role, realizing she can define her own identity and purpose.

Barbie re-embarks into the real world as Barbara Handler, embracing her agency. She visits a gynecologist, symbolizing her acceptance of her adult identity and the journey toward self-discovery, leaving behind her Barbie persona.