The new Barbie movie, which has already taken more than £1.1bn globally, will be available for booking from 15th September 2023 for your outdoor cinema and drive in events.

To celebrate, we take a look back at Barbie’s history and transition onto the big (and small) screen.

1959 – The Birth of Barbie: Barbie was introduced by the American toy company Mattel on March 9, 1959. Ruth Handler, one of Mattel’s co-founders, was inspired to create Barbie after observing her daughter, Barbara, play with paper dolls. Barbie was the first fashion doll marketed as an adult-like, three-dimensional figure, and she quickly became a sensation.

1960s – Barbie’s Expanding World: In the early 1960s, Barbie’s world began to expand with the introduction of her friends and family, including Ken (1961), Skipper (1964), and other dolls. Barbie’s fashions and accessories evolved to reflect the changing times.

1980s – Animated Specials: Barbie made her first appearance in animated TV specials, such as “Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World” (1987) and “Barbie and the Sensations: Rockin’ Back to Earth” (1987). These specials featured Barbie in musical adventures.

1990s – Barbie Movies Begin: The 1990s marked the beginning of Barbie’s presence in feature-length animated movies. “Barbie and the Nutcracker” (2001) was the first in a long line of Barbie movies, often centred around various themes, including fairy tales, princesses, and careers. These direct-to-video releases became a staple in the Barbie franchise.

2000s – Expanding Barbie’s Media Presence: In addition to movies, Barbie appeared in several TV series, including “Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse” (2012-2015), a web series that parodied Barbie’s life in her fictional Dreamhouse. This decade also saw Barbie take on various careers and roles, further emphasising her empowerment message.

2010s – Live-Action Barbie Movie Announced: In 2014, it was announced that Barbie would star in her first live-action movie, with actress Amy Schumer initially cast in the lead role. However, Schumer later dropped out, and the project went through several iterations and delays.

2023 – “Barbie” Live-Action Movie: Greta Gerwig directs the first live action Barbie movie, instantly becoming the highest grossing movie of 2023, and laying the groundwork for further adventures in the “Mattel Cinematic Universe”.