The movie does have adult themes, mild language and some suggestive references, but many parents have still felt comfortable taking their children and tweens to see it. The “Barbie” movie can be a great jumping off point for starting or continuing thoughtful discussions about diversity, inclusion and self-image.
It's a PG-13 movie that plays it relatively safe in that regard. Ken wants to stay over at Barbie's house one night, and when she asks what they'd do, he responds that he doesn't know. (She rebuffs him for a “girls' night” sleepover anyway.)
Is the Barbie movie safe for children to watch? The Barbie is considered safe for children 13 or older to watch. For children under the age of 13, the film's PG-13 rating strongly cautions parents that “some material may be inappropriate.”
Barbie is rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language. Credit: Warner Bros. This is the classification the MPAA has offered for the Barbie movie.
It boggles my mind that people think it's okay to bring their toddlers and very young kids to a movie that's rated PG13 anyway. Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.
While the movie is given credit for including a gay character, he's largely made fun of and glossed over as an accessory to the Barbies. With a lack of queer people in the "real world" of this movie, families with two queer dads seeing this movie only have Allan – a character largely joked about – as a portrayal.
The prime demographic for Barbie dolls are girls aged between 3 and 12 years old, according to market research across the years. Can the same be said for Barbie, Greta Gerwig's upcoming movie based on the iconic Mattel toy line? It depends where you live in the world.
And once Barbie goes into the real world and is exposed to sexism and the patriarchy, it sometimes hits a bit too close to how women are treated in society. As Ken returns to Barbie Land radicalized by the patriarchy, there are some scenes of mild violence — but nothing that would scare a young child.
Because they are too old for that? As experts would tell you, there is no age limit for dolls. It may seem unusual in this day and age, but several 12-year-olds still play with dolls. And in a world where the internet is widespread, this may be a good thing.
Every child is different, and there is no set age at which all children stop playing with dolls. However, there are some signs that your child may be ready to move on from doll play: If your child is no longer showing interest in their dolls, this may be a sign that they are ready to move on to other toys.
Years ago, girls as old as 12 played with Barbie and the doll's friends, cars, homes and other accessories. But as 12-year-olds grew more sophisticated, the dolls quickly moved down the age range, settling to today's target Barbie audience of 3- to 5-year-olds.
Near the movie's end, President Barbie (Issa Rae) blurts out a censored curse word with the Mattel logo covering her mouth, marking the closest Barbie gets to a borderline-R-rated moment. The line was quite surprising, but embodied the PG-13 nature of the comedy.
It's not explicit or vulgar and there's nothing that resembles nudity. At one point the words "vagina" and "penis" are used. There is also that reference mentioned earlier when Ken asks Barbie to stay the night, but he doesn't know what that really means. Ken does try to kiss Barbie more than once.
We already know that Mattel is not opposed to playing with gender, having launched a “Gender Neutral Doll” in 2019, or to uplifting trans people, having made a Laverne Cox barbie doll in 2022.
Mattel, the toy giant best known for its hyper-feminine Barbie dolls, has launched a line of gender-inclusive dolls – a move welcomed by trans rights campaigners.
Rated PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned – Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Rated R: Restricted – Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Rated X: No one under 17 admitted.
As a lot of people told the mother that it's not necessarily unsuitable for younger children but would probably be uninteresting to them. But, as it is PG-13 you can still bring children to see the Barbie movie as long as they have a parent with them.
Previously perceived as a symbol of unattainable beauty, Barbie has transformed into an emblem of inclusivity and empowerment. The scene of Barbie visiting a gynecologist encapsulates this change, underlining that health is vital to being a “real woman.”
Yes, Barbie has never got married or had children - something that was apparently a very deliberate choice, with Ruth Handler not wanting young girls to aspire only to marriage and motherhood.
