Mattel is on a high right now because of the success of Barbie. Right Wing personalities tried to sabotage it by saying its “Anti-men”. It has some feminist elements but it is not misandry as it criticized extremist feminism and patriarchy. It is more of a humanist film that wants you to empower yourself whether you are a Barbie or a Ken. As of today, The movie made $774,502,851 worldwide. No flopping in China and ban from Vietnam stopped this movie from dominating the box office worldwide.
Ben Shapiro thought he will destroy this movie with his negative review and burning Barbie and Ken dolls to show his hate. Well he fails because this movie is probably going to make billions by the end of the week.
Mattel also made more money from merchandise and brand partnerships. Many fast foods around the world added a Pink colored food on their Menu. Fashion brand sold Clothes inspired from the film. The Soundtrack of Barbie is thriving at the charts. So this movie is not only profitable from ticket sales but also on it’s side hassles.
Mattel sees the potential of making movies out of childhood nostalgia, so they are planning to create films based on their iconic toy lines. These toys have minimal existing stories, allowing directors and writers the freedom to explore creative possibilities without alienating their fanbase. For instance, in the Barbie movie, only Skipper made it to the film out of her siblings. Ryan Gosling‘s exceptional portrayal of Ken received widespread acclaim, leading to online demands for a spin-off.
In the 90s, many little girls enjoyed playing with Polly Pocket, a portable dollhouse with tiny dolls inside. Now, these nostalgic choking hazard toys are set to receive the live-action treatment. Lily Collins will play the titular character, and the movie will be directed by the controversial actress-director Lena Dunham.
Mattel also revealed plans for a live-action Barney movie, produced by actor Daniel Kaluuya. Rumored to take a darker approach, details remain scarce.
The forgotten toy Major Matt Mason is also getting its own movie, with Tom Hanks involved in some capacity, though likely not in the lead role.
Additionally, the Magic 8 Ball will be adapted into a horror movie, and there are plans for a heist film based on the board game Uno.
Considering the success of the Barbie movie and the cancellation of Netflix‘s Masters of the Universe movie, it seems like Mattel is taking charge and developing its own movie projects, capitalizing on their beloved toy brands.
