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Mattel Is Releasing A Movie-Inspired ‘Weird Barbie’, Fans Think They’re Missing The Point
Earlier this week, Mattel, the toy company responsible both for bringing Barbie into this world and helping Greta Gerwig achieve her record-breaking box office success, announced that they are releasing a new line of Barbies inspired by the film.
One of the dolls, as you might’ve guessed, is none other than fan favorite Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie, with her splits and “markings on her face to emulate a doll that’s been played with just a little too much.”
The new limited-edition collection also includes fresh outfits showcased by Ken and Barbie in the film, along with a set of four Hot Wheels Corvettes.
“With the latest editions to the collection, we are offering even more ways for fans to immerse themselves in Barbie Land and celebrate the characters and stories they see on screen,” Lisa McKnight, Mattel’s executive vice president and chief brand officer, said in a statement.
“Barbie continues to be the cultural event of the summer, and as we chart Mattel’s path forward, she will continue to serve as an icon of empowerment and inspiration for generations to come.”
RELATED:
Mattel has announced a new line of Barbies dedicated to Greta Gerwig’s record-breaking film
Image credits: WarnerBros
Image credits: WarnerBros
Of course, some fans of the movie thought that Weird Barbie kind of loses her point if she is weird from the get-go. You know, instead of “playing with her a little too much,” as McKinnon’s character describes.
“The point of Weird Barbie is that we MADE her weird by using our imagination and playing with her and being reckless. Buying a “weird” Barbie defeats the purpose and makes her the opposite of weird,” one comment with 12,000 upvotes reads.
In Gerwig’s movie, the 39-year-old SNL veteran Kate McKinnon brings to life a roughed-up Barbie who has witnessed what horrors a bored child can commit. With her scribbled-on face and chaotically chopped blond hair, Weird Barbie stands out amid the array of perfectly manicured Barbies and Kens, which can explain why cinemagoers enjoyed McKinnon’s nostalgia-inducing character so much.
Of course, the limited-series includes fan favorite Weird Barbie
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: barbie
Image credits: Mattel
Also, that is precisely why some people think that selling a doll whose whole image is one of chaotic negligence is akin to buying a pre-built Lego set with no intention of breaking it down and building it yourself.
Weird Barbie can be pre-ordered until August 18th via Mattel’s website for $50, with shipping scheduled on or before May 31, 2024, as stated on Mattel’s website.
While you wait for your Barbie to arrive, you can read about the nostalgic new TikTok trend inspired by Gerwig’s chaotic character.
Just like in the movie, Mattel’s version of Weird Barbie is always doing the splits, sporting a hairdo that will get dirty looks from clean-cut Barbies
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
However, fans were quick to point out that the toy company is kind of missing the point
Image credits: fortesalatifi
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
As mentioned earlier, Weird Barbie is not the only doll entering the official Barbie-verse. If you act quickly enough, you might be lucky to get your hands on Ryan Gosling’s Ken in his “mojo dojo casa house” mode. Or Ken and Barbie in their matching ’80s-esque rollerblading garb. Not so much for the “perfect day” pink gingham outfit Barbie which has already been sold out.
Within Mattel’s limited-edition collection, fans can also find a pair of Barbies fashioned after Gosling’s Ken: one wearing denim along with playful “Ken” boxers peeking out, and another depicting a beach day scenario, accompanied by a matching surfboard. Additionally, the line features Barbies resembling America Ferrera’s Gloria and Simu Liu’s Ken.
Last month, a collector by the name of Marl Davidson sold a vintage first-edition, hand-painted Barbie for $20,000. According to a report by PEOPLE, the last vintage Barbie collection she sold went for $600,000.With the possibility of a sequel to Gerwig’s stratospherically successful movie, it’s likely that the picture-inspired Barbie set will be no less desirable in the years to come.
Besides Weird Barbie, there are more movie-inspired Barbies in the collection
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
Image credits: Mattel
As expected, fans’ reaction to the announcement was marked by a sense of confusion
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What do you think ?
madbakes 2 years ago
I liked the one commenter's suggestion of a plain barbie with art supplies to make your own weird barbie
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
Me too. I would want that. My very own "weird barbie" came from what was originally Totally HAIR Barbie. I just kept cutting her hair shorter and shorter because it was uneven until it was a half inch long triangle on top of her head with what looked like a shaved neck where the velcro was to attach the new hair. And if I did attach the extra hair she came with, she suddenly displayed the world's most glorious mullet. After that she became the weirdo with no friends during playtime. I would have loved to buy a "make your own" weirdo barbie. I loved toys like that- doodle bear was awesome
Load More Replies...
Magazine 2 years ago
The movie itself was a huge Mattel commercial and now we're surprised Mattel uses the movie to sell something?
Lakota Wolf (she/her) 2 years ago
Just saw the movie today - Weird Barbie only looked "weird" like this for one scene. In the next scene where we see Weird Barbie again, she has no marks/markings on her face and her hair is short, but styled/not "weird". It was a little disappointing that she was touted as "Weird Barbie", but they didn't want her to be TOO weird for TOO long. So, tl;dr, Weird Barbie only looks like the above Barbie for like 5 min in the movie :(
J Adams 2 years ago
More of a collectible than a toy though isn’t it, it is a copy of a film character so of course it will look like that character. Think at one point in time there were barbie’s who appeared to be pregnant so it’s like saying pregnant barbie can’t be bought you have to impregnate it. Silly.
DBear 2 years ago
I will buy one for my granddaughter. She will love it. But within minutes the doll will be naked. Why do they do that?
Zedrapazia 2 years ago
Children like to play around with things, and the easiest to do with a doll is undressing it. Easier than dressing it back up
Load More Replies... SirDigbyChickenCaesar 2 years ago
I always made punk barbies and made my own clothes for them. Colored their hair with markers. I understand its a collectible and also that the movie was really a commercial cleverly hidden behind empowerment messages. They seem like they are trying to change their image but its a hard sell for me while still marketing a doll that so clearly represents a male ideal of the female body that many many women cannot possibly achieve. There never has been, and never will be a barbie that represents women like me, just like there are still no barbies that accurately represent indigenous women that are not tall and hourglass shaped, etc.
JayWantsACat 2 years ago
While, yes, "Weird Barbie" is made by their kids and their imaginations, Weird Barbie is an actual character in the film. Dolls of other characters in various costumes are being sold. So why wouldn't there be a doll for sale of Weird Barbie? People are making an issue out of a non-issue.
Fly_Agaric_Frog (They/Them) 2 years ago
Honestly I think I already had like...50 of those. I destroyed them 😅
Lara Verne 2 years ago
I enjoyed movie well enough, but I have no plans to purchase a new Barbie doll. I wonder how much it cost?
Skulls.N.Succulents 2 years ago
If it says collectors edition then I get it but otherwise this is like buying a Lego set that's already put together.
madbakes 2 years ago
I liked the one commenter's suggestion of a plain barbie with art supplies to make your own weird barbie
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
Me too. I would want that. My very own "weird barbie" came from what was originally Totally HAIR Barbie. I just kept cutting her hair shorter and shorter because it was uneven until it was a half inch long triangle on top of her head with what looked like a shaved neck where the velcro was to attach the new hair. And if I did attach the extra hair she came with, she suddenly displayed the world's most glorious mullet. After that she became the weirdo with no friends during playtime. I would have loved to buy a "make your own" weirdo barbie. I loved toys like that- doodle bear was awesome
Load More Replies... Magazine 2 years ago
The movie itself was a huge Mattel commercial and now we're surprised Mattel uses the movie to sell something?
Lakota Wolf (she/her) 2 years ago
Just saw the movie today - Weird Barbie only looked "weird" like this for one scene. In the next scene where we see Weird Barbie again, she has no marks/markings on her face and her hair is short, but styled/not "weird". It was a little disappointing that she was touted as "Weird Barbie", but they didn't want her to be TOO weird for TOO long. So, tl;dr, Weird Barbie only looks like the above Barbie for like 5 min in the movie :(
J Adams 2 years ago
More of a collectible than a toy though isn’t it, it is a copy of a film character so of course it will look like that character. Think at one point in time there were barbie’s who appeared to be pregnant so it’s like saying pregnant barbie can’t be bought you have to impregnate it. Silly.
DBear 2 years ago
I will buy one for my granddaughter. She will love it. But within minutes the doll will be naked. Why do they do that?
Zedrapazia 2 years ago
Children like to play around with things, and the easiest to do with a doll is undressing it. Easier than dressing it back up
Load More Replies... SirDigbyChickenCaesar 2 years ago
I always made punk barbies and made my own clothes for them. Colored their hair with markers. I understand its a collectible and also that the movie was really a commercial cleverly hidden behind empowerment messages. They seem like they are trying to change their image but its a hard sell for me while still marketing a doll that so clearly represents a male ideal of the female body that many many women cannot possibly achieve. There never has been, and never will be a barbie that represents women like me, just like there are still no barbies that accurately represent indigenous women that are not tall and hourglass shaped, etc.
JayWantsACat 2 years ago
While, yes, "Weird Barbie" is made by their kids and their imaginations, Weird Barbie is an actual character in the film. Dolls of other characters in various costumes are being sold. So why wouldn't there be a doll for sale of Weird Barbie? People are making an issue out of a non-issue.
Fly_Agaric_Frog (They/Them) 2 years ago
Honestly I think I already had like...50 of those. I destroyed them 😅
Lara Verne 2 years ago
I enjoyed movie well enough, but I have no plans to purchase a new Barbie doll. I wonder how much it cost?
Skulls.N.Succulents 2 years ago
If it says collectors edition then I get it but otherwise this is like buying a Lego set that's already put together.
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