Barbie: release date, cast, plot, full trailer and everything we know

The live-action Barbie movie is set to transport us to a Barbie world as Oscar-nominated actress Margot Robbie takes on the iconic role.

As well as starring in the title role, the Wolf of Wall Street actress will also co-produce the movie with her production company LuckyChap Entertainment, which Margot runs with her husband Tom Ackerley and her best friend Josey McNamara.

There's a massive Barbie cast, with some huge names like Ryan Gosling, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Dua Lipa, Simu Liu, Helen Mirren and Will Ferrell starring in the movie.

Margot said of the new gig: "I'm so honored to take on this role and produce a film that I believe will have a tremendously positive impact on children and audiences worldwide."

Although she will be embodying the world-famous fashion icon in all its glory, the actress has teased that the movie defies our expectations, and a new trailer has just dropped.

As well as directing the upcoming cinematic project, Greta Gerwig, who is responsible for the likes of hit movies Little Women and Lady Bird, has co-written the script with her partner Noah Baumbach.

Here’s everything we know about Barbie…

Barbie release date

Barbie will be released worldwide in theatres on Friday, July 21, 2023.

At the time of writing, Barbie has raked in just over $1.3 billion worldwide since its release just over a month ago on Friday, July 21, putting it just behind the box office takings that The Super Mario Bros. Movie movie raked in earlier in 2023. 

Barbie is in theaters right now. For more info on all the latest releases, check out our new movies 2023 guide for other highly-anticipated movies coming out this year.

Warner Bros' official Twitter account shared a first-look image of Margot as Barbie, who looks like she is dressed as Malibu Barbie as she sits in a bright pink Corvette, wearing a striped halterneck top, beaded bracelet, a polka dot headband and her signature bouncy blond hair. 

Where can I watch Barbie in IMAX?

If you've not yet had your fill of Barbie, Warner Bros. is bringing all the fun to the biggest screens with a limited-time-only IMAX run in September. 

Warner Bros. Pictures are bringing us another reason to see it for the second (or third, or fourth...) time: Barbie is getting a one-week IMAX run starting on Friday, September 22. What's more, this new release will feature some exclusive footage chosen by the director, Greta Gerwig.

"We made 'Barbie' for the big screen, so it's a thrill to be able to bring it to IMAX, the biggest screen of all", Gerwig said in a statement. "As a special thanks to 'Barbie' fans, we're excited to share a little bit more of our cast and crew's incredible work by adding special new footage we hope audiences will enjoy".

Warner Bros. execs Jeff Goldstein (President of Domestic Distribution) and Andrew Cripps (President of International Distribution) announced the plans for an IMAX run on Wednesday, August 23. They include a North American IMAX rollout plus IMAX showings in select international territories. 

Is there a Barbie trailer?

Yes, three in fact! 

The latest one dropped in May, and it is the full, main trailer that will be released for the Barbie movie. In it, you can see Barbie having the ultimate blowout party, but suddenly realizing there must be more to life than partying and pretty outfits. Soon she is on a quest to visit the 'real world' where she finds herself in all sorts of hilarious scrapes!

You can watch here: 

Our first proper look at Barbie Land arrived in April when the second teaser trailer dropped. In the teaser we're introduced to plenty of Barbies, and two Kens (Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu) who look to have a little rivalry going. All kinds of madness is teased, including the film's humongous cast list. 

Check it out here:

You can also watch the previous teaser that riffed on 2001: A Space Odyssey below: 

Warner Bros. also released an exclusive first look at Ken's song 'Just Ken' as he pines for his true love Barbie...

And if you couldn't get enough of Barbie, you can watch Margot Robbie give us a tour of The Barbie Dreamhouse!

Who is in the cast of Barbie?

The upcoming movie has more excitement in store with its star-studded cast, including, Ryan Gosling as Barbie's dream man, Ken, along with Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, America Ferrera, Emma Mackey, Simu Liu and And Just Like That actor Hari Nef.

Barbie has now released character posters introducing each of the Barbies and Kens, with the likes of Dua Lipa, Ncuti Gatwa, Issa Rae and Kingsley Ben-Adir all starring as different versions of Barbie and Ken. Meanwhile, Michael Cera also stars as a character called Allan.

We then meet the 'Humans' cast which consists of America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt (who recently starred in 65 alongside Adam Driver), Helen Mirren as the narrator, Will Ferrell, Connor Swindells and Jamie Demetriou.

Margot also spoke to British Vogue about playing the role of Barbie saying that: "It comes with a lot of baggage! And a lot of nostalgic connections. But with that come a lot of exciting ways to attack it. 

“People generally hear ‘Barbie’ and think, ‘I know what that movie is going to be,’ and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they’re like, ‘Oh, well, maybe I don’t...’”

On June 15, Warner Bros. released a new image teasing our first look at Ryan Gosling. As Ken, Ryan is sporting a spray tan, personalized underwear, bleach blonde hair and a shirtless double-denim look. 

What is the Barbie movie plot?

The plot is currently being kept under wraps, but recent trailers have hinted that: "To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken."

Margot has hinted that the movie will go against our assumptions on everything we thought about the character.

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, she revealed: “And we like the things that feel a little left of center. Something like Barbie where the IP, the name itself, people immediately have an idea of, ‘Oh, Margot is playing Barbie, I know what that is,’ but our goal is to be like, ‘Whatever you’re thinking, we’re going to give you something totally different — the thing you didn’t know you wanted.’”

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu has also described the movie as "wild" and "incredibly unique", and said "I wish I could just show you what we do day-to-day because its crazy" whilst speaking to GQ UK. He said that, although the movie is not a musical, he's been in dance rehearsals, making it even more difficult to try and predict what shape Barbie will take.

Director Greta Gerwig shared her "terror" on taking on such a bold project during an interview on the At Your Service podcast and feared that it could be a "career-ender."

She said: “It was terrifying. I think that was a big part of it. I think there’s something about starting from that place where it’s like, ‘Well, anything is possible!’ It felt like vertigo starting to write it. Like, where do you even begin? What would be the story? That feeling that I had was knowing that it would be really interesting terror.

“Usually that’s where the best stuff is. When you’re like, ‘I am terrified of that.’ Anything where you’re like, ‘This could be a career-ender,’ then you’re like, ‘Ok, I probably should do it.'”

New Barbie images

There's been some exciting (and very bright!) images circulating online of Margot and Ryan filming scenes rollerblading as Barbie and Ken.

The picture shows Margot and Ryan transformed into Barbie and Ken dressed in outrageous 80s-style neon lycra as they rollerblade along Venice Beach...

The pair were also seen sporting iconic cowboy outfits, with Barbie wearing pink flares and a matching top complete with a cowboy hat and boots. Clearly cowgirl Barbie is set to make a huge comeback!