I Marathoned All 36 Barbie Movies in 7 Days
Here’s a definitive ranking of the films.
So I grew up in the mid 2000’s and like a lot of kids, I loved Barbie. I watched a lot of the Barbie movies, but not all of them. I recently discovered that you can stream them all online, so here we are.
I did discover through targeted advertising that there is a YouTube video of a young woman reviewing all 36 Barbie movies, but she did not watch all of them in a week. We also have very different opinions about which movies are better.
I am tired. My eyes are bloodshot from staying up late to make my own quota each day. My head hurts from all the screen exposure and blue light. But god damn it, I did it. And now, I give you, every Barbie movie ranked from worst to best.
The Barbie Diaries (2006)
First off, this one has the worst animation I have seen in any Barbie movie. This is also the first one that takes place in modern times and it’s not good. The story The Barbie Diaries is that Barbie and her friends are starting their sophomore year of high school, and can’t wait for the “best year ever.” Of course, there is a group of mean popular girls that Barbie ends up infiltrating and then she starts being mean to her OG friends. But they all learn to support each other and whatever. It’s basically the plot of Mean Girls. The animation was the worst part, seconded by the horrible opening sequence.
Barbie and Her Sisters in a Puppy Chase (2016)
This one is just stupid. Barbie is irresponsible.
Barbie and the Magic of the Pegasus (2005)
This one was disappointing because I really wanted a story about pegasuses, since they were my favorite mythical creature growing up. Instead, it was about ice skating. Other than that, I felt the plot was hard to follow and not very captivating. This did feature the OG Barbie animation style though. It also included a blooper reel during the credits which was fun.
Barbie and Her Sisters in the Great Puppy Adventure (2015)
This had a weird animation style in which they all very much looked like dolls. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. The plot wasn’t really that good: there’s a treasure underneath their old town and they are determined to find it. Also they get puppies.
Barbie: Spy Squad (2016)
They’re gymnasts turned spies. But they’re bad spies.
Barbie: Dolphin Magic (2017)
This one just didn’t do it for me. For some reason Ken is now a marine biologist, and all the sea life is the same as the sea life from Pearl Princess. Also, everyone snorkeled incorrectly and I am so sick of those puppies.
Barbie in Princess Power (2015)
The princess is turned into a superhero? I think they were running out of ideas. And yet, featured another evil royal adviser.
Barbie and the Secret Door (2014)
This one was very annoying. The villain was a 12 year old girl. Also, it was too bright.
Barbie in Rock N’ Royals (2015)
A rock star accidentally gets sent to princess camp and a princess accidentally gets sent to rock camp. Camp Rock, anyone?
Barbie: The Pearl Princess (2014)
The Pearl Princess: a long lost mermaid princess who has magical powers. She’s also really good at hair.
Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale (2010)
So Barbie is the actress that plays all of the princesses and magic beings in the movies, but she gets fired and Ken breaks up with her. Sooo she yeets herself to Paris to save her aunts fashion business, with the help of Flairies (not fairies, they don’t have wings). Fun, but also kind of boring.
Barbie: A Fairy Secret (2011)
A Fairy Secret is in the same universe of Fashion Fairytale, but now her stylists are secretly fairies, and the fairy queen kidnaps Ken to marry him. So Barbie has to save him with her friends.
Barbie: Video Game Hero (2017)
This one is a cool idea, but I just don’t like how “girly” the games are. But it is cool to put Barbie in a video game and change up the animation.
Barbie: A Perfect Christmas (2011)
This one is only high up on the list because they end up in Minnesota for Christmas. But it’s unrealistic about what Minnesota is like. None of the locals have accents and there are hills and winding roads outside the cities, which is not very accurate. Also, they claim to have driven for hours from Rochester and still didn’t make it to Minneapolis, but that drive is actually around 1.5 hours and 2 with heavy traffic.
Barbie in a Christmas Carol (2008)
I love the story of the Christmas Carol, and this did it a disservice. The accents were distracting because they all sounded fake and the cat supporting character was horrifying. The cat’s name is Chuzzlewit, but the whole time I only heard “Jesuit” which was very confusing.
Barbie and Her Sisters in a Pony Tale (2013)
We love horse girls. The people of Switzerland had… French accents, not Swiss ones. Also, if they were actually Swiss, they would pronounce the German correctly.
Barbie in A Mermaid Tale (2010)
She’s a surfer girl, but also part mermaid. Shouldn’t that disqualify her?
Barbie and the Diamond Castle (2008)
I have mixed feelings about this movie because I love music and I did like it, but something about it made me want to put it lower on the list. There were some silly and stupid moments with the animal companions. I’m not sure what my emotions are telling me about this movie.
Barbie: Princess Charm School (2011)
Blair Willows wins the lottery to go to Princess Charm School, but she’s actually the long lost princess. Go figure.
Barbie Mariposa (2008)
This is a spinoff of the Fairytopia series, but it’s disappointing compared to the originals. This movie does have the benefit of not having Bibble, the annoying puffball that is friends with Elina, as a major part of the story. Lots of people love Bibble, but I hate him. As for the movie, it’s just kind of meh in terms of plot.
Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow (2007)
This is the worst of the original Fairytopia movies. The plot is that Elina gets recruited to be an apprentice to the fairy guardians and learn the annual ritual that keeps Fairytopia alive. Of course, the OG bad guy of the Fairytopia universe returns to ruin the day again. The plot is meh.
Barbie and the Three Musketeers (2009)
This one is a very popular Barbie movie, but I was not as enamored with it as some have been. I do approve of its feminism and all but there were too many super silly moments that ruined it for me. Also the fact that once they actually became Musketeers, they still wore miniskirts.
Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 (2012)
The movie is significantly better than the first one. Also the Australian girl was HOT.
Barbie: The Princess and the Popstar (2012)
Um…the magic was never explained, and there’s a magic diamond bush just hidden in the castle.
Barbie as the Island Princess (2007)
This has been described as a cross between the Little Mermaid and Tarzan, which I feel is an apt description. Fun music, just a little boring.
Barbie as Rapunzel (2002)
This is the second Barbie movie ever, and it’s one that I grew up with. Rapunzel gets a magic paintbrush that can create portals to wherever she desires. It had some annoying animal supporting characters, but the big dragon was Daddy AF.
Barbie Fairytopia (2005)
Barbie Fairytopia is the first in the Fairytopia series, where we are introduced to Elina and Bibble, the main protagonists. I hate Bibble, as I’ve stated before, but the story is fine. A classic Barbie movie.
Barbie Thumbelina (2009)
I was surprised by this one. I love the Disney version of Thumbelina, so I was going in skeptical of this movie. But I loved the environmental message that it delivered, and the animation was really nice. It also taught a great message about family values.
Barbie Mariposa and the Fairy Princess (2013)
Mariposa acts as an ambassador to the Crystal Fairies but her wings are too big to navigate their lifestyle. She befriends the princess who we later discover basically has PTSD, making her afraid to fly. They defeat an evil witch who gave the princess her PTSD, but the princess shows her mercy after facing her fear of flight. Thankfully, Mariposa brings peace to both nations.
Barbie in the Pink Shoes (2013)
Kristen is a very good ballet dancer, but she keeps improvising, making her teacher angry. The costumer gives her magic pink pointe shoes that transport her and her friend Hailey into the world of Giselle and Swan Lake where she must dance her way to freedom. This was so fun to watch.
Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006)
This one was beautiful. Just great. It all just came down to personal preference, and the movie didn’t have the nostalgia factor that the others have for me.
Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001)
Barbie in the Nutcracker is the first Barbie movie, based off the Tchaikovsky ballet. I grew up with this movie. I watched it with a friend who does ballet, and yes, she did complain about the legs not being straight. But she also said it’s the only good movie adaptation of The Nutcracker.
Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia (2006)
Nori is hot af. Also this one is actually kind of scary, which makes it exciting. Please watch this movie.
Barbie of Swan Lake (2003)
Everyone told me to put this one first. I do agree, it’s incredible. The third Barbie movie, Swan Lake is another adaptation of a ballet. The dancing is phenomenal. It’s a beautiful movie.
Barbie: Star Light Adventure (2016)
This is such a gorgeously animated movie. It takes place in a different galaxy where the stars are going out and Barbie is recruited to help save it. It’s honestly just spectacular. Meanwhile, the story doesn’t really have a bad guy, and Barbie isn’t a secret princess that she didn’t know about. She’s just courageous. If you’re going to watch one of the newer movies, this is the one to watch.
Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (2004)
This movie, based off the Mark Twain story, The Prince and the Pauper, is one of a kind. It is unequivocally the best Barbie movie. Just do yourself a favor and watch it.
