The release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is the biggest cinematic event of the summer, and you might be tempted to see this film with your whole family. You might think there’s no harm in that since it’s a movie about your favorite childhood doll, after all, but does that necessarily mean it’s suitable for children?
Before getting to the nitty-gritty of it all, let’s cover what Barbie is all about. Inspired by Mattel’s iconic doll we all know and love, Margot Robbie-led live-action comedy is the first of its kind and it sees Barbie embarking on a journey of self-discovery in the real world after having a full-on existential crisis.
The Motion Picture Association gave Barbie a PG-13 rating, which means you should think twice before taking your kids to see it. This generally means that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13 to 15, and that happens to be the case with Barbie since the movie aims to target the older demographic who have fond memories of growing up with this doll.
The reason why Barbie was given this rating are suggestive references and the usage of swear words that don’t make it entirely kid-friendly. Even if you end up seeing the film with your teens, get ready for a deep discussion about its heavy themes, because the film explores a number of touchy subjects, from death and the meaning of life to gender inequality in the modern world.