A ~Controversial~ Ranking of Barbie Movies

Words by Meilani Payne (she/her)

Barbie is an absolute icon. With multiple careers, the cutest fits, and the best sidekicks, she made our childhood. In this article I will be exploring my top eight Barbie movies from 2001 to 2011. I will particularly be looking at characters and plot lines. Be warned, I was born in 2004, so what holds nostalgic value for you may not be the same for me. 

1st place: Princess Charm school

What I love about this movie is it really plays into Blair’s background story a lot more than other Barbie movies. Blair is relatable; we see her struggling financially and having to take care of and work for her family. Blaire only accepts the scholarship for the betterment of her family. The movie gives us various empowering quotes such as “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent” and “every girl's a princess, some of them just have fancier crowns.” The movie shows Blair to be a complex character and keeps us entertained with its costumes, music, plotlines, and characters.

2nd place: Island Princess

You cannot deny that you wanted to be just like Ro and talk to animals. I love that the movie is about her self-discovery journey and reunion with her mother. The latter was initially foreshadowed at the start of the movie, where she doesn’t remember the other half of a nursery rhyme that her mum used to sing it. They end up singing it together at the end, which shows how they complete each other. The Island Princess places an importance on family and friends, and with its beautiful costumes and wholesome songs, it deserves second place.

3rd place: Mermaid Tale

Merliah really is THAT girl. A surfer who is half-mermaid, half-human, she was everything! The story follows Merliah as she journey’s to save the Ocean and help Oceania. The movie puts in small underlying jokes that keep you entertained, like calling the mermaid makeup store ‘Seaphora.’ Merliah ultimately learns to accept both parts of her identity. Notably, her mother says, “Everything in your history lives and breathes in you. You are unique, you are special, and that is what makes you strong.” An entertaining story of self-acceptance and gradual self-love, it deserves third place.

4th place: 12 Dancing Princesses

12 Dancing Princesses also shows the importance of family. Loosely based on the German fairytale, “The twelve dancing princesses,” the film is the first Barbie movie to be released under Universal Pictures in the US. My favourite scene is when Genevieve and the shoemaker dance into the sky. Aaahh, so romantic! It is a simple and beautiful film that takes me right back to my childhood when I watch it. Each princess is unique in their own way yet all share a love for their family and dancing. It is an unforgettable film.

5th place: Diamond Castle

Stacie loses hope in friendships, so Barbie tells her the story of Liana and Alexa to teach her a lesson about true friendship. With matching dogs, necklaces, and twin boyfriends, they are the cutest besties. They fall out but then learn the importance of making up and the value of friendship. The harmonies, scenery, music, costumes, and the most pure friendship get’s the movie fifth place.

6th place: Rapunzel

Rapunzel discovers a magic paintbrush which turns anything that she paints real. She meets many people in her journey and she ends a feud between two kingdoms. The film teaches us that the true magic of art comes from the heart as Rapunzel never steers away from her dreams.

7th place: The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker centres around the story that Barbie tells her young friend, Kelly, who is having trouble performing a ballet sequence. Loosely adapted from E.T.A Hoffmann’s short story, the movie is the first CGI film that has Barbie as the main character. The movie’s music, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, is what truly makes it magical. After hearing the nutcracker story, Kelly realises how important it is to not give up and she attempts the sequence, performing it effortlessly. The movie also shows how important it is to allow people to dream. Like many early Barbie movies, it feels quite slow-moving but we love it all the same.

8th place: Princess and the Pauper

Based on the story by Mark Twain, this is the first Barbie movie that is a musical. The Princess and the Pauper shows two identical girls from different socio-economic backgrounds switching places. After doing so, they realise that the grass is not always greener on the other side. The movie teaches us that the best person to be is yourself. As it is the only movie on this list that is firmly based on a text, I have decided to give it eighth place.