With Barbie (2023) recently hitting over $1 billion in the global box office, the pink-tastic, nostalgia-laced film has become this summer’s greatest hit. Opening with a blur of Barbies, the film showcased a special montage that brought back many familiar faces from our childhoods. The pink homeland of the Barbies was glittering with multiverse magic—bringing in dolls like President Barbie and even Mermaid Barbie.
Filling up Barbie Land with a catalog spanning 250 careers, the plastic doll is no stranger to the many versions of herself. To recognize Barbie’s diversity, EnVi has collected a few of our favorite versions of Barbie in her resident Barbie Land.
Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper (2004)
From the iconic songs to the incredibly funny animated bloopers at the end, Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper has a special place in my heart. I especially loved the “To Be a Princess” song and the scene that it’s in, with Julian instructing a “princess” Erika on how to adapt to royalty. Although the film is generally lighthearted, the mixture of both heartfelt and funny moments makes this film one of the best Barbie movies I’ve watched! There are many deep moments throughout the movie, with Anneliese having to give herself up to become the perfect princess and Erika struggling with her indentured servitude. But even in the face of struggle, Barbie (and her friends) triumph. She is the original girlboss! And of course, I loved the sweet ending.
— Karen Yi / ACT!ON Writer
Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (2005)
This was my ultimate favorite Barbie movie growing up! I loved the figure skating and cloud kingdom with all the Pegasuses. The themes of loyalty and never giving up hope were also great lessons that I learned from these beloved characters. To this day, my little sister and I still quote Shiver’s “sparkle sparkle!”
— Cailey / Social Media Associate
Barbie Fairytopia (2005) series
The most memorable of the franchise for me is definitely the Barbie fairy-inspired series. Barbie as a flightless flower fairy named Elina journeys throughout the films with various hues of pinks, dainty outfits, magic, and a dash of adventure, which had me sold at a young age. The trilogy also introduced viewers to one of Barbie’s most iconic loveable sidekicks, Bibble, who in recent years has become a meme for its relatable faces. My favorite of the entire series was Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia (2006) which, in addition to combining the world of fairies and mermaids together, demonstrated an overarching message that no matter the circumstances, your true self will always shine through.
— Heather Ngo / ACT!ON Editor
Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses (2006)
One of the first ever Barbie movies I remember watching was Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses. I used to watch it religiously every Saturday morning. What I loved the most about the movie was how loyal the sisters were to each other, and how they cared deeply about the other, their passion for dancing, and the classical melodies. A few years later, I started doing ballet and every time I went to practice I remembered how outstanding the characters in the movie looked while dancing and how I wanted to be just like them. Although I don’t practice anymore, nine-year-old me wanted to be a dancer just like Barbie.
— Mafe Ramos / ACT!ON Writer
Barbie and the Diamond Castle (2008)
It would be impossible to talk about this film without the songs. From beginning to the end, the whole film is wrapped with music, and it’s amazing how much music can transform a film! Liana and Alexa are a great pair together, and their friendship and loyalty to each other is very wholesome. While this film technically is a breach of a fourth wall (a story told by Barbie), it feels so immersive that you can’t help but feel like Stacie who’s listening to the story herself! I also loved the doggos, Sparkles and Lily, because they’re so cute (although a tad mischievous)!
— EnVi ACT!ON Team
For more Barbie content, check out the film’s official Instagram.
Interested in more ACT!ON film content? Check out our piece on NCT’s Jeong Jaehyun’s film debut here!
