Should kids see Barbie?
Mature Themes in Barbie
As with any movie, whether or not “Barbie” is OK for your kids depends entirely on your own family's rules, values and expectations. On Common Sense Media, some users have left reviews stating the movie is appropriate for kids as young as 6, while others say they wouldn't approve it for kids younger than 16.
Barbie is rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language. Credit: Warner Bros. This is the classification the MPAA has offered for the Barbie movie.
The movie received its PG-13 rating because of “suggestive references” and “brief language.” Some parents may not be ready or comfortable to discuss the more advanced plot lines while others may simply just know if their child is or is not ready to be introduced to mature topics.
Barbie has been given a 12A rating by the BBFC, which means that children aged under 12 can only see the film if they are accompanied by an adult.
Mature Themes in Barbie
While these themes aren't necessarily inappropriate for most kids, they may not fully understand what the characters are implying either. There is also some talk of death and dying in the movie, which may be a little less appropriate for younger children under the age of 8.
While the movie is given credit for including a gay character, he's largely made fun of and glossed over as an accessory to the Barbies. With a lack of queer people in the "real world" of this movie, families with two queer dads seeing this movie only have Allan – a character largely joked about – as a portrayal.
So, is 'Barbie' a kids movie? No, it is not – unless your child is REALLY into the study of gender norms and/or knows what the term “Proustian” means. (That might even disqualify some adults, honestly.)
Okay for 9+, but aimed at 13+
It is filled with positive messages about feminism and gender equality. There isn't much violence, there is a battle with funny weapons (volleyballs, tennis rackets) at a beach in barbieland, the scene is more like a dance, than a fight.
Some kids may lose interest in dolls around the age of 5 or 6, while others may continue to play with them into their pre-teen years. There really isn't a "magic age" at which all children suddenly stop playing with dolls - it varies from child to child.
Can kids watch Barbie 2023?
Barbie (2023) has a PG-13 rating. The movie has some suggestive dialogue and double entendres, but no extreme violence, nudity, or drugs/alcohol. The film explores themes of beauty standards, gender inequality, identity, and the meaning of life, but these may be lost on younger kids.
CNN: Why might it be important that “Barbie” culminated in a gynecologist appointment? Wen: Having everyone see Barbie go to the gynecologist normalizes the experience. It solidifies the understanding that reproductive health is an integral part of overall health.
According to Common Sense Media, “Barbie” is rated PG-13 for some language, a cartoonish fight in which no one gets hurt and some sexually suggestive material.
The general consensus was that, no, the Barbie movie is not suitable for children. As a lot of people told the mother that it's not necessarily unsuitable for younger children but would probably be uninteresting to them.
The dolls wear tiny choking-hazard-size shoes, so they're not for babies and toddlers. But My First Barbie clothes are easier to put on than regular Barbie clothes, and that makes this line a nice starting point for 3- and 4-year-olds and gratifying for any child who struggles a bit with fine motor skills.
Suitable for 3 years +
The doll, called “My First Barbie,” is specifically created for kids three years old and older, said Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls for Mattel. The age range for the original Barbie fashion dolls is for kids 3 and up. “We talk to parents and kids almost every day.
As experts would tell you, there is no age limit for dolls. It may seem unusual in this day and age, but several 12-year-olds still play with dolls. And in a world where the internet is widespread, this may be a good thing.
The Barbie movie is not aimed at children, although it has been deemed appropriate for children aged 12 and above, making it suitable for teenagers.
Yes, it's true. Midge is one very early, lesser-known member of Barbieland, who shows up in Barbie as a pregnant woman (played by Emerald Fennell), along with her husband Allan (played by Michael Cera).
Does Barbie movie have kissing scenes?
It's kind of icky to think about. Gosling said of the whole thing, "They don't know how. It was so funny trying to figure out what their idea of kissing might be. I'm so glad all of that got cut out." Robbie added, "You're just banging them together." Ultimately it worked out not having it in there.
Lord says Barbie's message was "proto feminist" from the outset, as she came with the paraphernalia for a self-supporting career — a portfolio of fashion sketches, in the case of the original Barbie.
The Big Picture
The film shows that women don't have to surrender their imagination and can find empowerment and joy in childhood toys.
No, you are never too old to play with dolls!
"The Oscar-nominated filmmaker has crafted a fierce, funny, and deeply feminist adventure that dares you to laugh and cry, even if you're made of plastic." Lovia Gyarkye of the Hollywood Reporter struck a more dissenting note, writing: "However smartly done Gerwig's Barbie is, an ominousness haunts the entire exercise.
References
- https://www.slashfilm.com/1368083/barbie-scrapped-weird-ken-kiss-scene/
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/12/business/barbie-for-preschoolers/index.html
- https://www.deseret.com/2023/7/19/23800659/barbie-kids-movie-rating
- https://www.care.com/c/is-the-barbie-movie-kid-friendly/
- https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/barbie/user-reviews/child
- https://collider.com/barbie-movie-female-empowerment/
- https://mashable.com/article/barbie-movie-kids-parents-guide
- https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66242100
- https://www.parents.com/is-the-barbie-movie-appropriate-for-young-kids-7563216
- https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/yes-barbie-used-pregnant-bestie-161200273.html
- https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/barbie-age-rating/
- https://www.gayparentstobe.com/gay-parenting-blog/how-the-2023-barbie-movie-missed-the-mark-on-lgbtq-inclusivity
- https://uk.news.yahoo.com/barbie-movie-age-rating-barbie-101656212.html
- https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/game-pedia/is-barbie-ok-for-a-10-year-old
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/26/health/barbie-ending-explainer-gynecologist-wellness/index.html
- https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/game-pedia/is-11-too-old-to-play-with-barbies
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/childrens-products/toy-reviews/g41577206/my-first-barbie-2023-review/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/07/20/is-barbie-movie-for-kids/70425992007/
- https://riiroo.com/blogs/lifestyle/at-what-age-do-children-stop-playing-with-dolls
- https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1189987314/barbie-movie-feminist-history
- https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/a45142381/is-barbie-movie-appropriate-for-kids/
- https://collider.com/is-barbie-appropriate-for-kids/
- https://rollercoaster.ie/lifestyle/entertainment/barbie-movie-age-children/
- https://www.elc.co.uk/shop-by-age/3-4-years/My-First-Barbie-%E2%80%98Brooklyn%E2%80%99-Soft-Body-Pre-School-Doll-and-Accessories/p/562267