Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams

Barbie and Brooklyn arrive in New York City to begin a summer program at the prestigious Handler Arts Academy. Their families in Malibu send well-wishes as they settle in and start to orient themselves. A custodian informs them they’ve arrived a day early and guides them to the dorms.

The two Barbi es discover a dorm door labeled Barbie Roberts and realize they share the same name. To avoid future confusion, they decide to be roommates and assign themselves location-based nicknames, Malibu and Brooklyn. The new arrangement begins a playful, budding bond between them.

Barbie and Brooklyn bond over their love of music while navigating the new city. A flexible female student from Brooklyn helps Barbie with her luggage, sparking a budding friendship. They start exploring Manhattan together, sharing dreams of stardom and support for each other.

Emmie appears at the academy in disguise, hoping to be treated like a normal student. Barbie and Brooklyn notice a new presence in the halls who shares a passion for music. The encounter hints at a larger secret behind the school’s bustling environment.

Dean Morrison announces that the annual Spotlight Solo will be livestreamed from Times Square, raising the stakes for every performer. Malibu and Brooklyn feel the pressure as they juggle classes, rehearsals, and the looming online audience. The news binds the students with a shared, televised dream.

Rafa, a costume student, outfits Malibu and Brooklyn with sequined dresses meant to sparkle on stage. A remote control used to light the dresses malfunctions, adding a usable but imperfect sparkle to their look. Rafa introduces his dog Gato, who adds a lighthearted mood around the studio.

During her first week, Malibu grapples with the coursework and rehearsals, feeling the weight of possible stardom. Ken checks in on her, but she carries mixed emotions about her place in the program. The pressure of the Spotlight Solo compounds her anxiety.

Malibu and Brooklyn confront Emmie and learn she is at the school in disguise, seeking normalcy. Emmie explains she lost contact with Brooklyn because of her strict manager-father, and the trio rekindles their friendship. They vow to keep Emmie’s disguise a secret to protect her opportunity to study.

In Central Park, the Barbis wear Rafa’s sparkling dresses and take photos to send to their fathers. They dance and twirl in front of a fountain as the dresses catch the light, strengthening their bond and sense of teamwork. The moment feels like a milestone in their shared journey.

Mr. Miller, Emmie’s father, arrives to observe the students and press for Emmie to have the Spotlight Solo. Emmie still wants to learn and grow, while Rafa records the class to capture the moment for posterity. The visit sets off a tense tug-of-war between ambition and family influence.

During a rehearsal, Malibu accidentally knocks Brooklyn into an orchestra pit, injuring her ankle. Rumors spread and the dean weighs the consequences, expelling Malibu for alleged sabotage of Brooklyn. The two friends confront each other amid the fallout, threatening to end their partnership.

Back home in California, Malibu is devastated by the expulsion and contemplates giving up music altogether. Brooklyn and her mother fly to California to apologize in person, hoping to repair the rift. Rafa forwards a recorded class video revealing Mr. Miller’s behind-the-scenes machinations, which Brooklyn shows to Dean Morrison.

Malibu and Brooklyn reconcile and return to the academy with a renewed bond. They discover that, through their renewed teamwork and honesty, they have earned the Spotlight Solo together. The two vow to support Emmie as she navigates her own path under the looming public gaze.

On the big night, Emmie reveals her true identity during the livestream and is embraced by her peers. The two Barbie-named girls, wearing their lit-up sequined outfits, perform See You at the Finish Line in a celebration of friendship. Families watch in Times Square as fireworks light the sky.