ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone who got to hit the cinema over the last couple of days is still catching their breath after one of the most significant double bills in recent years.

And no matter how great Greta Gerwig’s bubblegum comedy or Christopher Nolan’s dark Second World War period piece was, it was Barbie's hunky male sidekick Ken, played by the one and only Ryan Gosling, who stole cinemagoers' hearts. 

Besides a plethora of rave tweets by fans praising the actor's ability to instill life in a character made out of plastic that you can see for yourself down below, this 42-year-old two-time Oscar nominee also got his fair share of acclaim from the critics.

Vanity Fair, for example, called Gosling's Ken "his best work yet." While British GQ affirmed the praise by saying, "He should honestly be nominated for an Oscar." 

Greta Gerwig, the Oscar-nominated actor-turned-director, has achieved a historic milestone with "Barbie," as it raked in a remarkable $377 million during its opening weekend worldwide.

This impressive figure solidifies its position as the highest-grossing debut ever for a movie directed by a woman, which plays surprisingly well with the female empowerment theme of her bubbly hit.

#1

Twitter reaction showing man in fur coat and sunglasses, highlighting Ryan Gosling built to play Barbie’s Ken.

ULTRAGLOSS Report

Lakota Wolf
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m female. Can I dress up as Ken anyway? XD

View more comments

However, as we've learned by now, smashing success can't come without its share of naysayers. Although Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is yet to receive them, Gerwig's Barbie, which saw cinemagoers flocking to their nearest theaters in pink, has already received quite a few loud 'anti-men' and 'woke' accusations.

Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator and internet personality, for example, recorded a 43-minute video showcasing his protest against the blockbuster by burning Barbie dolls, after calling it "one of the most woke movies" he has ever watched. Since the time it was released on July 22, Shapiro's "review" has garnered almost 1.6 million views on YouTube.

RELATED:
    #2

    Twitter reactions praising Ryan Gosling’s physique as perfect for Barbie’s Ken in the movie promotion images.

    joyoladokun Report

    TheOddPotater (she/her)
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ⚠️ NOTICE: Ken-splain now added to dictionary. ⚠️

    Amazon QT
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes it’s the definition we didn’t know we needed, but it’s the one we got!

    Load More Replies...
    Marilyn Russell
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remember when people were upset he was cast as Ken?

    Catherine Maven
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Glad I don't have to Ken-splain that Ryan Gosling is CANADIAN...

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Human Events editor and alt-right political activist Jack Posobiec also didn't hold out from voicing his upset over Barbie. "They teach Barbie fans about rising up against 'the patriarchy,' and Ken is portrayed as beta and borderline retarded. It’s a horrorshow," Posobiec wrote in his tweet.

    Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, is the most recent addition to the list of those who have expressed their objections to the feminist reimagining of the iconic doll. In his post last night, Musk tweeted, "It [sic] you take a shot every time Barbie mentions the word 'patriarchy,' you'll pass out before the movie ends."

    #3

    Tweet showing Twitter reactions about Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s Ken with two photos of Gosling in sunglasses and a pink shirt.

    ScottNiswander Report

    TheOddPotater (she/her)
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “Dark ones are great because they can hide your sadness.”-Ryan Gosling, probably 2023 💀 💀 💀 lol

    View more comments
    #4

    Twitter reaction highlighting Ryan Gosling in Barbie, featuring a user’s tweet and an image of a man gesturing on a show.

    TexasGuy1836 Report

    Jessica Bertram
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i miss this character. watching bill hader break every time an unexpected line showed up on the cue cards...it gave me life.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    And yet, almost as if suspecting the hate comments, the director of Barbie had this to say about the film's feminism-empowerment themes: ‘It most certainly is a feminist film. But it’s feminist in a way that includes everyone; it’s a ‘rising tide lifts all boats’ version of it," Gerwig confidently conveyed to ABC in an interview.

    #5

    Twitter reaction praising Ryan Gosling’s acting, highlighting his role as Barbie’s Ken and fan admiration online.

    krembeni Report

    Karri Berkowitz
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was pleasantly surprised by him in this movie. At first I was confused why he was cast but then seeing him in character I understand.

    View more comments
    #6

    Tweet imagining Ryan Gosling performing "I'm Just Ken" at the Oscars, highlighting Twitter reactions to Barbie’s Ken role.

    seltzermom Report

    Pamela24
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I want Ryan to get his own Oscar. I want to live in a world where a silly movie with a well-acted part can be celebrated in this way.

    View more comments

    For those who can only take a hard guess where all of these woke accusations are coming from, here's a bit of context. In the film, Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, doesn’t have a real job or home or purpose outside of Barbie. Although, he's good at, well, looking dreamy while standing on the beach. Here, in the women-run Barbieland, Kens have as much purpose as gynecologists.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    But all that quickly changes after Gosling's Ken discovers that power dynamics are the complete opposite in the real world. You know, all the patriarchy and whatnot. And thus, after he decides to bring his real-world epiphanies into the feminist utopia that is Barbieland, Greta Gerwig starts to flex her screenwriting skills on a story which hits all the right marks.

    #7

    Twitter reaction showing support for Ryan Gosling as Ken with positive masculinity in Barbie movie discussion.

    KateBDoll Report

    #8

    Tweet reacting to Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s Ken, featuring a man in sunglasses and pink shirt discussing Barbie.

    trinawatters Report

    Denise B.
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not "all" of us. SOME of us still believe AB deserved the Oscar.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Tweet by Tyler McCall sharing a witty Barbie joke amid Twitter reactions about Ryan Gosling as Ken.

    eiffeltyler Report

    Pamela24
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Captain obvious to the rescue, please? :(

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #11

    Twitter reaction about Ryan Gosling playing Ken in Barbie, showing a user praising his performance with a film still.

    LookAtMyMeat1 Report

    Pamela24
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've read this a couple of times already (haven't yet seen the movie, I'm going next week) and it's so funny how it goes completely against the whole "She's everything, he's just Ken" slogan. :D He must be really excellent considering that Margot Robbie is in no way a bad actress.

    View more comments
    #12

    Tweet by user delia praising Ryan Gosling as the greatest committer, referencing Twitter reactions about Barbie’s Ken.

    delia_cai Report

    Catherine Maven
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a very Canadian thing to fully COMMIT to a course of action.

    View more comments
    #13

    Tweet showing two images of Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie with humorous reaction about his role and look.

    most_def Report

    Catherine Maven
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *I* would marry him, and NOT just because he's Canadian!

    #15

    Excited fans reacting joyfully in a theater after Ryan Gosling’s first line as Ken in Barbie movie.

    keyon Report

    Catherine Maven
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh Ken, you were BORN to be Ryan Gosling (the Canadian)!!

    #16

    Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s Ken in denim vest and jeans posing in colorful pink setting for movie promotion.

    erinlarosalit Report

    Lakota Wolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They have GOT to come out with movie-versions of Ken and Barbie, right? Basically Kens and Barbies based on Gosling and Robbie? ...I hate to be cynical, but I can't see Mattel passing up THAT marketing/profit opportunity XD

    View more comments
    #17

    Twitter post comparing silly characters with images of Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie and Timothée Chalamet as W***y Wonka, showing popular Twitter reactions about Ryan Gosling Barbie Ken.

    ULTRAGLOSS Report

    Lakota Wolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ILU, Gosling, don't get me wrong, but Timothée Chalamet wins here because Dune is my lifelong favorite book, and the 2021 movie adaptation was fantastic. Timothée is a brilliant, near-perfect Paul. ....then again, Gosling. Hmm.

    View more comments
    #18

    Twitter reaction about Ryan Gosling’s role as Barbie’s Ken with a bonfire beach scene and acoustic guitar.

    JillianChili Report

    #19

    Twitter reaction praising Ryan Gosling as Ken, showing him shirtless in a denim vest with Barbie-themed background.

    alexandergold Report

    Lauren S
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh my gosh his underwear! I thought it said Calvin Klein, nope. KEN. Kenderwear.

    View more comments
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #20

    Tweet showing two contrasting Barbie movie scenes, reflecting popular Twitter reactions about Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s Ken.

    ReedReads4 Report

    Ash
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Truth. I cried. and laughed. and cried. and laughed.

    View more comments
    #21

    Twitter reaction describing Ryan Gosling’s look as Barbie’s Ken with bleach blond hair and a faux mink coat.

    Moonlightariiia Report

    nari.
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    f***y pack is censored?! the censoring has gotten silly. edit: oh my stars.

    View more comments