One of the most anticipated summer blockbusters of the year, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has been marketed just about everywhere to audiences of all ages. The subject of jokes, memes, and controversy, Barbie has been a hot topic for months prior to its release, competing against another major summer blockbuster, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Nevertheless, one thing was certain: Barbie was going to be a box-office success, regardless of its competition. On opening weekend alone, Barbie racked up a whopping $382 million dollars. Did it warrant such a success, or has it been hyped by Mattel’s marketing team and Barbie doll enthusiasts for no discernible reason? The answer; it absolutely deserves every bit of praise directed its way.
Simply put, Barbie is much more than a campy, fantasy-comedy meant to bring in millions at the box office; t’s a nod to childhoods all across the board. It presents characters anyone can relate to, and drives home important social commentaries about current and past generations, and how they’ve shaped our current society. Of course, any great movie relies on its narrative, and notably, characters to deliver a compelling movie. Here are the 20 best characters in Greta Gerwig’s summer blockbuster.
20 Ken #3
Audiences are used to seeing Chris Evans in summer blockbusters, but this time around, it’s his brother, Scott, that’s taking over the big screen as Ken #3. Ken #3 is the bubbliest of the lot, and adds to the already goofy personalities many of the Kens embody.
The only reason he isn’t higher on the list is because he doesn’t have many lines or screen time, but Ken #3 shines whenever he is on-screen, notably during the Ken dance number towards the end of Barbie. Scott Evans has a bright career ahead, proving that the Evans family has the acting chops in their blood.
19 Sasha
Despite being portrayed by the talented Ariana Greenblatt, Sasha just doesn’t hit it off as a compelling character when compared to the rest of Barbie’s characters. Embodying every defining characteristic of Gen-Z, one would think Sasha would rank higher on the list as a relatable character; unfortunately, this teen is perfect at being just that, a teen; moody, rude, and sometimes downright mean. While this is initially fun to watch when she and Barbie share the screen, adding an interesting contrast to stereotypical Barbie’s bubbly and aloof nature, it soon becomes tiresome, especially when Sasha mistreats her mother, Gloria, simply because she’s… in a bad mood.
Gloria is virtually a perfect mother; Sasha constantly disrespecting her is uncomfortable to watch and lessens Sasha’s likability. Even if Sasha had treated Gloria with the respect she deserves, her general antagonizing demeanor towards everyone else makes Sasha the most insufferable character in Barbie. A shocker considering how diligently written the rest of the film’s characters are.
18 Judge Barbie
Audiences know Ana Cruz Kanye from dramas and thrillers such as Depraved, Painkiller, and Little Women. In Barbie, she shows audiences that she has quite the funny streak as Judge Barbie. The head decision-maker in Barbie Land, Judge Barbie is assertive, and authoritative, but also hilarious.
Judge Barbie brings a nice balance to President Barbie’s leadership role, and together, they dominate the screen in every scene they’re in. There’s a reason Ana Cruz Kanye is one of Greta Gerwig’s staple performers; she’s excellent in any role she takes on.
17 Mattel Intern
Best known for his role as Adam Groff in the Netflix series, Sex Education, Connor Swindells plays a compelling Mattel intern in Barbie. While it’s a small role, Swindells brings a nervousness and rigidity to the character that sells the idea that this intern is trying to prove himself, or simply survive, in the unforgiving Mattel company where any minor mistake means the end of one’s career. Anyone who’s ever tried to ascend the corporate ladder can relate to this nameless intern’s plight.
16 Mermaid Barbie
This songwriter/model made her transition to the big screen with Barbie, and she hits it out of the ballpark as Mermaid Barbie. Dua Lipa’s Mermaid Barbie is always in the background, ready with some one-liners to diffuse the seriousness of a given situation, but for the most part, Mermaid Barbie proves to be the life of the party, even when the Ken patriarchy threatens Barbie Land’s order.
15 Ken #1
Ken #1 is always there to remind Ken that it is Barbie’s world, and that even among the Ken, he is still a forgettable fixture meant to adorn Barbie Land, over-serving an actual purpose. Ken #1 embodies the dry humor, spunkiness, and wit necessary to land the punchline of several jokes throughout Barbie, and seeing him go into that climatic dance number with the other Kens is arguably one of Barbie’s most spectacular sequences. Ironically, Ken #1 antagonizes Ken more than the Barbies or Kens combined.
14 Writer Barbie
Known for her roles in the X-Men franchise and Love, Simon, Alexandra Shipp took on the role of Writer Barbie, and gave audiences a look into her comedic abilities. That noted, Writer Barbie is not to be taken lightly; this established author knows her way with a pen and paper, having won the Nobel Peace Prize. As such, she’s one of the first Barbies to regain her agency once Stereotypical Barbie, Gloria, and Sasha go into action. No one can hinder this Barbie’s intellectual spirit!
13 Physicist Barbie
This inside joke can’t be ignored and is a perfect jab by Greta Gerwig at all the people who confuse Emma Mackey with Margot Robbie. Joining the rest of her Sex Education cast members, Mackey portrays Physicist Barbie, one of the smartest Barbies in Barbie Land, if not the smartest.
Mackey proves once again that she can bring a nuanced performance to any character, even one as lighthearted as Physicist Barbie. It’s engaging to see her go from an independent, confident Barbie to one deprogrammed and manipulated by the Kens, only to reclaim her agency once again by the film’s climax. Seeing her share the screen with Margot Robbie is just too funny.
12 Midge
Midge, also known as Pregnant Barbie, is the pun to many jokes about taboo lines of Barbie dolls that Mattel discontinued. Though Pregnant Barbie is more of an ensemble character, often in the background of major scenes, she’s an important part of the film’s central message; taboos perpetuate the way Barbie is seen throughout the world. Certain Barbie dolls have been discontinued solely because they were deemed too controversial for children, resulting in a financial loss for Mattel.
11 Dr. Barbie
Barbie can be anything and everything, including a doctor. Actor/writer Hari Nef gives a pretty hilarious performance as Doctor Barbie, tending to mostly non-existent injuries in both Barbies and Kens. What makes Dr. Barbie so comical is the seriousness delivered by Hari Nef; it’s as if audiences are seeing a real-life doctor care for the citizens of Barbie Land. As the saying goes, the key to being funny is not trying to be.
10 Lawyer Barbie
Best known for her roles in Dumbo, Zapped, and Two Doors Down, actor/comedian Sharon Rooney brings her on-screen confidence and comedic flair to Barbie as Lawyer Barbie. Lawyer Barbie has every quality someone would want in a lawyer; she’s full of conviction, authoritative, and difficult to beat in a debate. No Ken or Barbie stands a chance against her in a court of law.
9 President Barbie
The leader of Barbie Land and the keeper of the peace between Barbies and Kens, Issa Rae embodies a leadership role without losing the exuberance of previous characterizations. President Barbie is confident, diplomatic, and humble – what everyone looks for in a leader. When her programming gets tampered with, she finds herself subjugated by Ken’s army like the rest of her fellow Barbie community. The idea of rebellion and anarchy is bone-chilling, but Issa Rae manages to keep audiences laughing through President Barbie’s infectious positivity, even in such dire situations.
What makes President Barbie a compelling leader, though, is her willingness to admit her mistakes and ask for forgiveness. When she realizes the effects a Barbie-focused community has had on the Kens, President Barbie admits that change is necessary to ensure equality for both groups. Issa Rae is an acting powerhouse through and through.
8 Mattel CEO
Will Ferrell always leaves a lasting impression through his performances; they are consistently amazing, making audiences laugh throughout an entire movie. From a childlike elf in Elf, and an immoral news anchor in the Anchorman franchise, to a tragic character caught in the midst of a writer’s midlife crisis in Stranger Than Fiction, Will Ferrell always gives a nuanced performance, whether he’s tackling comedy or drama.
The Mattel CEO is one of Ferrell’s most ambitious characters, because, despite being an antagonist that audiences are meant to root against, Ferrell manages to humanize his character. Despite his intentions to lock up Barbie inside her original packaging to maintain the peace between the real world and Barbie Land, the Mattel CEO just wants to keep making toys for children to find joy in. This character’s heart is definitely in the right place, unfortunately, he goes about it terribly. One of Will Ferrell’s most organic performances.
7 Ruth Handler
Based on the creator of Barbie herself, Cheers star Rhea Perlman comes back from an acting hiatus to portray Ruth Handler. While in only two scenes in the film, Perlman gives the role her all, delivering some tear-jerking moments between her and Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie. The film’s final scene between both characters has audiences in tears, as Stereotypical Barbie has to make the most important decision of her life; lead a normal life with a set expiration date, or continue on as an immortal idea.
6 Allan
There’s Ken… then there’s Allan. Actor Michael Cera makes a triumphant return to the big screen as Allan, the introverted outcast that neither belongs with the Barbies nor the Kens. When Ken returns from Los Angeles and spreads the message of patriarchy, Allan realizes chaos is about to ensue and quickly sides with the Barbies to restore normalcy to Barbie Land. Audiences might see Allan as another comedic pawn crafted by director Greta Gerwig to serve the film, but he is so much more than that.
Similarly to Ken, Allan is stripped of his individuality and relegated to the sidelines as neither the signature accessory to Barbie nor part of the Ken community. Allan is left to wander in a societal void until anarchy and patriarchy ensue. Nevertheless, Allan proves his worth by helping the Barbies overthrow Ken’s army, and delivering an important message to audiences: even one person can make a difference when their heart is in the right place.
5 The Narrator
Academy Award winner Helen Mirren can do no wrong. There’s a reason she’s one of Hollywood’s most coveted, reputable talents. Whether it’s portraying royalty in The Queen, springing into action in Red, or serving as the off-screen narrator in Barbie, Helen Mirren always delivers thought-provoking performances. Not only does Mirren add to Barbie’s overall comedic value as the Narrator, her recurring breaking of the fourth wall to deliver a specific message is brilliant. For example, referencing the irony behind trying to make Stereotypical Barbie look average.
4 Weird Barbie
There is no one better to portray Weird Barbie than actor/comedian Kate McKinnon, one of the most talented performers of this day and age. The SNL star brings all her star power to Weird Barbie and is the heart of every scene she is in. Nevertheless, Weird Barbie is pivotal to the plot, not only as a catalyst informing Stereotypical Barbie of what she needs to do to save Barbie Land, but also as the film’s most nostalgic character.
Every kid that ever owned a Barbie played with them a little too hard at some point, and the result? A doll that looked along the lines of Weird Barbie. Additionally, Weird Barbie brings light to important, coming-of-age lessons: never judge a book by its cover, and do not talk about others behind their backs.
3 Ken
When audiences signed up to go see Barbie, they probably assumed Ryan Gosling would embody Ken as a charming love interest along the lines of his portrayal as the romantic Noah Calhoun in The Notebook, or the womanizer-turned-husband in Crazy Stupid Love, but it is quite the opposite. Gosling is definitely charming… as the film’s villain. What makes Ken such an ambitious character portrayal is his many emotional layers; Ken isn’t just a run-of-the-mill baddie looking to run Barbie Land for the sake of control.
Ken starts off as an exuberant individual playing into the status quo, which in his case, means loving Barbie despite her indifference towards him. Ken’s devotion takes him to Los Angeles to aid Barbie on her quest, which is when things get complicated. When Ken learns of the patriarchy, he thinks of another way to get Barbie’s attention… by controlling her. Ken’s varying tactics to win over Barbie, then win Barbie Land instead, show the depths a person seeking self-fulfillment can go to when pushed to their breaking point. Ken isn’t just a villain acting out of evil, he is an individual without a defined identity, and this in and of itself motivates his every move.
2 Gloria
It may be too early for Academy Award predictions, but Emmy winner America Ferrera deserves to be in the running for Best Supporting Actress. She gives a groundbreaking performance as Gloria, Mattel’s tenacious employee who takes it upon herself to help Stereotypical Barbie save Barbie Land from the patriarchy. Gloria is the byproduct of countless people who grew up playing with Barbies, and, in more ways than one, were shaped by them into adulthood.
For Gloria, Barbie is much more than a children’s household staple. Gloria invests dreams, insecurities, and nostalgia into her Barbie dolls, not only through her own childhood, but also through her daughter’s childhood. Nevertheless, Ferrera’s standout moment comes during her iconic monologue to Barbie, Sasha, and the rest of the Barbies, voicing the frustration over generations of oppression and the unrealistic standards that women are expected to uphold. Gloria is America Ferrera’s best performance to date, and deserves accolades for her devotion to the character.
1 Stereotypical Barbie
The star of the show, Margot Robbie plays Stereotypical Barbie perfectly, dominating a film already packed with talented performers that give it their all. Stereotypical Barbie is perhaps one of the most complex roles Margot has ever tackled, simply because the framework for the character was open to interpretation. Aside from the animated films and the preconceived notion of what defined Barbie, it was up to Robbie to create the entire character from scratch. Her work paid off, though; Stereotypical Barbie is one of the most compelling protagonists to hit the big screen in years. She’s driven, inquisitive, and plagued with the existential question of the meaning of life, and death, Stereotypical Barbie leads the entire movie through and through.
Stereotypical Barbie isn’t just a doll or an idea by the end of the movie; she’s a person with clear wants and direction. Given her past nominations for I, Tonya and Bombshell, it’s about time Margot Robbie wins an Academy Award for Best Actress, and her portrayal as Stereotypical Barbie should be the qualifier.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
