Barbie dolls are meant to be playthings for kids. But is this the case for director Greta Gerwig’s new movie? Is her Barbie movie about the iconic toy appropriate for kids and what is its rating? It’s hard to tell from the film’s trailers. The vibrant promos feature extravagant, colorful costumes, settings, and Malibu Beach DreamHouses. It looks like a child’s dream come to life. But the movie’s promos are also full of existential angst and talk about death. Is that something small children can handle or even understand? What about pre-teens? If you’re unsure if the Barbie movie is okay for your youngsters, here’s our guide to help you make the right decision for your family.
Editor’s Note: This post contains very mild spoilers for Barbie to help parents, guardians, and caregivers decide if the film is age appropriate for their children.
Are Any Aspects of the Barbie Movie Appropriate for Kids?
Barbie‘s costumes and sets are delightful for everyone at any age. They’re bright and beautiful, so even the youngest children will enjoy seeing them on screen. (Especially those with a fondness for neon pink.)
The movie also features many cheerful sequences. They will also appeal to children even if they don’t fully understand the meaning behind them. There are also touching scenes between family members and friends that any child who can appreciate a show like Bluey will find meaning in. The same goes for any kids who can comprehend positive themes about identity, feminism, relationships, and believing in yourself.
Mature Language and Adult Topics in the Barbie Movie
Despite living in a world built by imagination and not knowing what sex is, Ken and Barbie know they don’t have human genitalia. A character makes direct reference to each of their missing private parts. It’s done in a humorous, matter-of-fact way rather than in a vulgar or explicit manner. There’s also a funny term used to describe the dolls’ missing lower extremities. Young children will definitely not understand the phrase. Some will certainly ask to have it explained to them. However, there’s nothing resembling nudity, though.
There is one bleeped out swear word, however. It will be blatantly obvious to even pre-teens what was actually said, but not little kids.
The Barbie Movie’s Existential Dread and Adult Themes
Despite having main characters who are literal toys living in a seemingly Utopian magical fantasy land, the Barbie movie is an existential human story at its core. It’s about what it means to be a woman, what it means to be alive, and what makes us happy. The inciting event, as teased in the film’s trailers, is when Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie starts thinking about her own death. The film also explicitly deals with depression, the patriarchy, gender roles in society, and other deep, meaningful ideas directed at an older audience.
What Is the Barbie Movie’s Age Rating?
The Motion Picture Association of America set the Barbie movie rating at PG-13. “Parents are urged to be cautious” when bringing anyone younger than 13 years of age since “some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.”
The MPA cites “suggestive references and brief language” as the reason for Barbie‘s PG-13 designation.
(Did you know Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Gremlins are largely responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating? That designation didn’t exist before 1984.)
Age Recommendations for the Barbie Movie
Specific, hard, and fast age recommendations are especially difficult for PG-13 movies. But if you’re looking for general guidance for the Barbie movie it is likely appropriate for most pre-teens but not a great choice for many younger viewers.
Mature 12 year olds will likely appreciate the film both for its story and its themes, even if they don’t understand all of it. (In fairness, some adults won’t either. The film’s script and performances are much deeper than many will expect with a film based on a toy.)
Children under the age of ten will almost certainly not understand most of what’s going on. As a result some will feel lost and disengaged. They will also be confused about some of the language. (A helpful way to think about the more mature content is that if the child in your life has never had health class, Barbie might not be for them, even though talk of private body parts is limited to just a couple of moments.)
If you’re still unsure if your youngster is old enough to enjoy Barbie on any level, or that it deals with topics you deem inappropriate for their age, we recommend seeing it without them first.
