Barbie (2023)

Barbie is a romantic comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. Based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel from Ruth Handler, the film is the first live-action Barbie film after many computer-animated films and specials.

The film was announced in 2009 by Universal Pictures with Laurence Mark producing, but development began in April 2014, when Sony Pictures acquired its rights. Following multiple writer and director changes and the casting of two different actresses to play the title role, Sony lost the rights and these were subsequently transferred to Warner Bros. Pictures. Robbie was cast in 2019 and also serves as a producer under her LuckyChap Entertainment banner, alongside Mattel Films and Heyday Films. Gerwig was confirmed as director and co-writer with Baumbach in 2021. Gosling and the rest of the cast were announced in early 2022, and filming began that March in England, wrapping in July.

Cast

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Music

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International versions

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Vietnam
On July 3, the film was banned in Vietnam due to the depiction of a map which featured what appeared to be a “child-like crayon drawing” of China's nine-dash line, which is used by China to indicate its controversial territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Middle East
Most Middle Eastern countries took issue with the film's inclusion of transgender actress Hari Nef, as well as narrations and dialogs related to LGBTQ+ matters, though the film itself does not contain any overt references to same-sex relationships or queer themes. Homosexuality is seen as highly taboo (and illegal in half of the countries) in the region, with the exception of Israel.

On August 9, the film was banned in Kuwait over ‘public ethics’ concerns. That same day, Lebanon's Minister of Culture proposed that the film be banned in the country for "[promoting] homosexuality and sexual transformation" and "[contradicting] values of faith and morality" by "diminishing the importance of the family unit". However, the film was approved for release on September 1, and eventually released in Lebanese theaters on September 7.

Algeria
On August 13, the film was banned in Algeria three weeks after its release in the country, on grounds that it “promoted homosexuality and other Western deviances”.

Pakistan
On July 21, the Punjab censorship board in the Punjab province of Pakistan imposed a ban on Barbie over "objectional content". However, the ban was lifted a few hours later and the film premiered in Punjab along with other provinces.