6 Cringe Barbie Movies I Rewatched as an Adult and Still Loved
Yes, sometimes rewatching movies you love as a kid can be painful and totally unnecessary. But these Barbie movies age like wine, so maybe don't be shy and give them a chance years later?
You got your first Barbie doll at the age of three, then watched your first Barbie movie at five. So many girls identified themselves as Barbie, and having all these movies with Barbie being placed in different situations helped to create that fantasy.
These movies are far from Oscar material, but they are timeless. They're comfort watches that remind you of simpler times, when the biggest problem in your life was whether your Barbie's hair would ever detangle properly.
So yeah, I love these cringe Barbie movies and I made a list of the best ones. Embracing the cringe is the most mature thing you can do as well.
1. ‘Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper’ (2004)
Let’s be real, in comparison to everything that will follow, The Princess And The Pauper is another level of quality when it comes to Barbie movies. It’s not just another take with Barbie being a star in it, it's a whole musical experience that deserves to be discussed. Once you hear the “I'm just like you, you're just like me” banger there’s no coming back.
Rewatching this as an adult, I'm picking up on themes I completely missed as a teenager watching the movie with my 5 year-old sister, like how both Anneliese and Erika are trapped by their circumstances, just in different ways. The way the creators depicted class disparity is definitely chef's kiss.
2. ‘Barbie as Rapunzel’ (2002)
This film is criminally underrated and I'm tired of pretending it's not. Rapunzel gave us everything: a talking dragon who's basically a therapy pet, magical paintbrushes that serve as literal escape tools, and some of the most gorgeous animation the early 2000s had to offer (although it’s still kind of painful to watch today and you constantly want to find a x1,5 button).
As a 29 year-old woman, I'm obsessed with the metaphor of using art to create your own reality. Rapunzel literally paints herself out of her tower prison! And Stefan's evolution from spoiled prince to decent human being is actually pretty decent character development for a doll movie.
3. ‘Barbie Of Swan Lake’ (2003)
Another movie that we constantly watched with my sister when we were younger, but recently we decided to give it another go. Needless to say, we were surprised by how many intriguing thoughts it brought to us. Starting with the basics: making Tchaikovsky relatable for kids is a genius idea that's for sure!
Odette's journey from shy village girl to confident queen is a perfect coming-of-age story handled with the needed emotional depth. And we also need to appreciate how this movie handled the whole “evil sorcerer tries to force marriage” plotline. It really never felt gross, which is impressive, considering how many fairy tale adaptations fail to achieve it.
4. ‘Barbie In The Nutcracker’ (2001)
Another Tchaikovsky masterpiece, the plot of this Barbie movie is basically a modernized version of The Nutcracker and features music from the original ballet. But although the plot might be predictable, watching Clara navigate the Land of Sweets while dealing with the Mouse King is still engaging.
5. ‘Barbie And The Magic Of Pegasus’ (2005)
This one was my sister’s second favorite for one simple reason: she had this particular Barbie doll and the magic Pegasus. Only as an adult though I realise that this movie was some sort of comfort food in the world of cinema.
Add to the story a protagonist that is brave and afraid of nothing – you have my attention. And all the family drama that makes you realise the real value of familial bonds makes it so much better.
6. ‘Barbie In The 12 Dancing Princesses’ (2006)
This one was playing on our TV on a daily basis, and I can’t blame my sister for watching it so much. While the premise of the movie is kind of strange, it’s also genius. Having 12 titular characters feels too much at times, but it is also great because they all have their own personalities and little girls have more to relate to.
The message of the movie is great, it states that in order to overcome evil you have to put your powers together. And that’s something even adults forget sometimes.
