I’ve been excited about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie ever since it was announced as her follow-up to Barbie. But I’ve also been curious if Netflix’s promises to bring it to theaters would hold, considering the streamer’s poor reputation for putting its movies on big screens. This week, The Magician’s Nephew was officially moved from the 2026 movie schedule to early next year, and it will have a big showing in theaters. After learning about the movie’s alleged budget, I totally see why Netflix decided to give it a true theatrical run.

How Much Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Movie Might Cost

Hollywood journalist Matthew Belloni spoke on his podcast The Town with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw, and they spent some time discussing what’s going on with The Magician’s Nephew. According to Belloni, the upcoming Narnia movie is reportedly “one of the most expensive Netflix movies ever made”. Considering other big-budget movies from the streamer have cost in the neighborhood of $200 to $300 million, I reckon a theatrical release for one of the most anticipated book-to-screen adaptations would certainly help it make more money rather than simply going to streaming.

To put that number in perspective, the most expensive Netflix movie to date is widely believed to be the Russo Brothers’ The Electric State with Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. The 2025 movie's budget was allegedly around $300 million. Another big one, also from the Russo Brothers, is 2022’s The Gray Man, which apparently cost the streamer around $200 million.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie made $1.44 billion worldwide, and the first Narnia movie from 2005 made $745 million worldwide. So there’s a good opportunity here for Netflix to make its money back and a profit by giving this new film a big theatrical release.

What’s Going On With Narnia In Theaters

As announced earlier this week, Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie is getting a full wide release in theaters worldwide on February 12, 2027, with IMAX sneak previews starting on February 10. The movie will be available to watch with a Netflix subscription after a 49-day exclusivity window with theaters on April 2. It’s a huge win and the kind of theatrical showing that other big-name filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Guillermo del Toro and David Fincher asked for and didn’t receive.

Allegedly, the decision was made after a cast member was injured on set and they realized they’d have to delay the production for six weeks. The Magician’s Nephew was originally going to hit theaters on Thanksgiving weekend, but this move allowed Netflix and Gerwig to strike a great deal that could give the streaming service its first verified theatrical blockbuster.

Last year, Netflix kind of tested the waters by bringing KPop Demon Hunters to theaters, but that was to less theaters and after it had become a hit on the service. So, we’ll have to wait and see how the new Narnia movie does!

Ryan Gosling really committed to the Kenergy while he made and promoted Barbie. In fact, he got an Oscar nomination (and one epic Oscar performance) because of it. However, it turns out that the commitment to Ken had to have some boundaries. In the case of the actor, it had to do with the “shave room” that was available on set for the Kens. While it was there for them to use, he was adamant that he didn’t want to use it.

Now, there was already a lot of lore surrounding the Kens shaving and waxing for Barbie, because, as you know, Kens don’t have body hair. Ryan Gosling just added a crazy fact to this already wild topic by telling BBC Radio One that he did not shave his legs for Greta Gerwig’s movie:

Well, while he didn’t shave his legs, there was a room set up for it. Revealing that fact, the Project Hail Mary actor said:

I don’t know if he didn’t shave, shaved at home or decided to wax. However, I DO know that Ryan Gosling did not use that shave room.

Considering the tales of the Kens waxing for this movie, I have to wonder how often the room was used by them, too. I mean, Simu Liu got real about the struggles of waxing to play Ken, and he revealed that Kingsley Ben-Adir was the only Ken who didn’t wax. So, maybe he had to use the shave room.

According to Gosling, those who did use it did not have fun. As the interviewer named some of his co-stars who may have had to use it, The Nice Guys star said:

Considering how dramatic the Kens can be, I can imagine the noises he was joking about here. However, the comments about the shave room didn’t stop there. Oh, no, continuing to add to his explanation of it, Gosling said:

Now, I couldn’t tell you if Gosling is joking or if he’s serious. However, I do fully believe that there was a shave room on Barbie. From the sets to the clothes to the way people held themselves, everyone really committed to making this world of dolls. So, yes, that means the guys had to shave and wax so they could play Kens. Although apparently, that does not mean they all used the shave room.

So, with all that being said, I think it’s time for a rewatch of this hit 2023 movie (which you can do with an HBO Max subscription). As the best Barbie quotes and this story prove, it’s a masterful, smart and silly film that features a lot of actors fully transforming into Barbies and Kens. However, make sure you remember when you see Ryan Gosling’s Ken that he did not and would not use that shave room.

Greta Gerwig was an A+ choice to direct Barbie, with which she conveyed the same themes of female empowerment that she explored in Lady Bird and Little Women. From coming up with the idea of the “I’m Just Ken” dance sequence to staging that brilliant Stanley Kubrick-inspired opening scene, Gerwig understood the assignment for a fun, yet thought-provoking, movie. The filmmaker also had a great idea for film’s end credits, though her wishes were ultimately denied.

The ending of Barbie sees the titular Mattel doll (played by Margot Robbie) choose to live as a human in the real world as a human, where she excitedly visits a gynecologist for the first time. However, Greta Gerwig told Extra TV that she had an idea to add onto that for the end-credits scene, and this is so adorable:

It’s so cute idea that Greta Gerwig would want to list all of the people who made the movie under that specific "A Film By" attribution. Many have said there’s no “I” in team, Gerwig seems to understand that. Sure, Gerwig brought her vision to Barbieworld, and the cast of Barbie brought the Mattel dolls and human characters to life.

Of course, credit was given to individuals like Noah Baumbach, Gerwig’s husband, who co-wrote the screenplay with her, and hair/makeup designer Ivana Primorac, who was responsible for over 30 of Margot Robbie’s outfit changes. However, it seems that wasn't meant to be. Nevertheless, kudos to Gerwig for coming up with such a wonderful idea. If anything, it signifies her understanding of the collaborative process of filmmaking.

A union like the Directors Guild of America can have very specific regulations regarding who gets credited and how that work is noted during the end credits of a film For example, per a behind-the-scenes fact about Fargo, Joel Coen was the only director allowed to be credited, as brother Ethan couldn't be because of a DGA rule made in 1978. That rule has since been revoked, and the directing duo has shared directing credit since 2004’s The Ladykillers. I'd really love it if Gerwig were to receive her wish to credit her collaborators in the way she hoped.

Greta Gerwig may have lost the fight for the adorable end-credit scene she wanted, but she did win other creative battles. For instance, she asked that Warner Bros. keep Barbie's memorable bench scene to show the beauty of aging. Gerwig’s creative prowess helped make Barbie the box-office success it became. She's a true artist and, judging by her hope for the end-credits scene, she's a generous one as well Check out the Oscar-winning flick now using an HBO Max subscription.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, another Margot Robbie movie featuring swoon-worthy moments is on the way in the form of Wuthering Heights. The Emerald Fennell movie promises to be no ordinary entry amongst the upcoming book adaptations that lie within the 2026 movie schedule. Fennell is set to take a lot of liberties with the source material, and the fashion. As you might have noticed already, the movie is getting creative with Catherine’s wardrobe, but I wasn’t expecting to learn the undertaking was Barbie level.

The Wild Amount Of Costumes Made For Margot Robbie For Wuthering Heights

Jacqueline Durran is Wuthering Heights’ costume designer, who not only did Barbie but also brought her talents to other iconically-stylish movies like The Batman, Atonement, the live-action Beauty and the Beast and Little Women. When speaking to Vogue all about the costuming of Wuthering Heights, she revealed how many costumes she made for Margot Robbie alone:

That’s an awfully lot of costumes for one character to have! I looked back at the recent trailer after reading this and counted like 13 looks for Robbie’s character alone so, now I can totally see it. However, I wouldn’t necessarily expect an adaptation of this classic novel to be so heavy on the costume design. Clearly, Fennell wanted to make the movie’s fashion a huge touchpoint, and the references to real-life fashion varied.

Despite the movie itself taking place sometime in the 1800s, the production’s costume department made a concerted effort to pull from all sorts of inspirations. This includes women like Scarlett O’Hara in 1939’s Gone With The Wind movie or famous Neo-Rococo painting A Swiss Girl from Interlaken from Franz Xaver Winterhalter, and even references from current fashion magazines. Given what I know about the movie’s unique approach celebrity fashion, I'm definitely intrigued.

How Does This Large Number Of Costumes Compare To Barbie's?

What’s rather wild about the reveal of how many Wuthering Heights costumes there are is how it measures up to Barbie. Per the movie’s hair and makeup designer Ivana Primorac, here’s the amount of costumes Margot Robbie had:

Of course, it would make sense for Barbie of all character to have a ton of costume changes. Still, what’s crazy is how Wuthering Heights might even have more costumes than that Greta Gerwig-helmed flick! (We just don’t know how many of the costumes factors into the overlaps and reused). Someone is going to have to ask Durran at some point, because it would be interesting to know for sure if Robbie’s Cathy or Barbie have more costumes appear on screen.

Following the filming of her and Gerwig's 2023 fantasy film, Margot Robbie’s stylist also put together a lot of incredible Barbie-inspired pieces for the press tour. So, of course, I’m curious as to how much method dressing Robbie will be doing this time around.

Check out Margot Robbie’s various costumes when Wuthering Heights arrives in theaters on February 13.

There’s been a lot of game-changing movies directed by women in recent years, but films helmed by women still continue to be much less common than male-directed features. That being said, there’s a lot of releases on the way over the next year that we wanted to bring attention to. It’s exciting to see more women filmmakers than ever with their name all across a variety of genres across the 2026 movie release calendar and beyond. Let’s talk about them:

You, Me & Tuscany - Kat Coiro (April 10, 2026)

One female-helmed romantic comedy to look forward to is this spring’s You, Me & Tuscany starring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page. The movie is directed by Kat Coiro, who also did Marry Me, A Case Of You and many She-Hulk episodes. It's about a young woman (Bailey) who decides to crash at a beautiful Tuscan villa after meeting an Italian man named Matteo who tips her off that it often sits there empty. However, once she gets there she runs into his mother, and lies that she’s his fiancé. As she gets to know his family, sparks fly when she meets his gorgeous cousin Michael (Page). It looks like a swoonworthy romance to take the girls to!

Roommates - Chandler Levack (April 17, 2026)

We’re also looking forward to Roommates, which is a comedy about two college freshman girls who share a dorm. It stars Adam Sandler’s daughter Sadie Sandler as Devon, a naive college student, who gets paired up with Chloe East’s much more confident character of Celeste, and what happens when they share the same space. It’s helmed by new filmmaker Chandler Levack, and produced by Adam Sandler. I’m so happy this story is being told through the lens of a woman director. It sounds like a fun time.

4 Kids Walk Into A Bank - Frankie Shaw (April 17, 2026)

We’ll get the chance to see the directorial debut of Frankie Shaw, who has been an actor for the past twenty years, and previously created and starred in the Showtimes series, Smilf. 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank is a black comedy heist movie starring the likes of Liam Neeson, Talia Ryder, Whitney Peak, Jack Dylan Grazer, Spike Fearn and Jim Sturgess. It’s based on a graphic novel of the same name and was filmed in Ireland.

Remarkably Bright Creatures - Olivia Newman (May 8, 2026)

After director Olivia Newman previously directed Where The Crawdads Sing, she’s returned to the tough feat of turning a beloved story to a movie with Remarkably Bright Creatures. The story is about a 70-year-old widow named Tova who forms a bond with a giant Pacific octopus while working nights at her local aquarium. Sally Field is set to play Tova, and her co-stars include Lewis Pullman, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker and Alfred Molina (who voices the octopus). We can’t wait to see this heartwarming novel about friendship and grief join upcoming book-to-screen adaptations.

Is God Is - Aleshea Harris (May 15, 2026)

It’s rather rare to hear the original playwright behind their own play is helming a movie based on their work, but that’s the case for Aleshea Harris’s Is God Is. The thriller will be Harris’s first time directing a movie, and boasts a cast including Sterling K. Brown, Vivica A. Fox and Janelle Monáe. It’s about twin sisters who are ordered by their mother to kill their abusive father.

Poetic License - Maude Apatow (May 15, 2026)

Maude Apatow, the daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, has made her first movie called Poetic License. It stars her mom as a former therapist and empty nester who gets in the middle of two best friends / college seniors (played by Cooper Hoffman and Andrew Barth Feldman). It premiered already to positive thoughts from critics.

Girls Like Girls - Hayley Kiyoko (June 19, 2026)

Pop star Hayley Kiyoko published her own YA novel, Girls Like Girls, back in 2023 about two teen girls who fall in love while also coming-of-age into their queer identities. It centers on a 17-year-old named Coley, who’s just moved to rural Oregon shortly after losing her mom. In her new town, she meets Sonya, who she immediately starts crushing on. Kiyoko co-wrote the screenplay and helmed the film herself. We love to see her so involved in one of this year’s most exciting LGBTQ+ movies.

The Invite - Olivia Wilde (June 26, 2026)

While Olivia Wilde initially started out in Hollywood as an actor, she proved to be a filmmaker to watch in 2019 when she made the very hilarious comedy, Booksmart. She followed up her debut with the controversial sci-fi film, Don’t Worry, Darling in 2022. Well, her third directorial effort is almost here with The Invite. It’s a comedy starring herself, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. It’s about a married couple going through a rough patch who get invited by their neighbors to their weekly orgies.

Practical Magic 2 - Susanne Bier (September 18, 2026)

Almost two decades after Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman played witches in Practical Magic, they’ll continue the story, this time with a female director behind it. Suzanne Bier has made a lot of movies over the years, but has notably already directed Practical Magic 2’s stars before – Bullock in Bird Box and Kidman in The Perfect Couple. The movie, which wrapped filming this past fall, also includes Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest again and Joey King and Maisie Williams will be representing the new generation of young women. We’re hyped to see where these sisters are these days – and their midnight margaritas, of course.

The Legend Of Aang - Lauren Montgomery (October 9, 2026)

Director Lauren Montgomery has a massive resume of being a storyboard artist and director in the animated space for 20 years primarily on DC animated projects, but The Legend of Aang is her highest-profile movie to date. The movie is about adult Aang as he goes on a new quest to save his culture from extinction. While the movie was originally going to get a theatrical release, sadly, it will now debut exclusively for those with a Paramount+ subscription this fall.

Sense & Sensibility - Georgia Oakley (October 16, 2026)

Jane Austen’s debut novel is getting another movie after the Emma Thompson version from 1996. This one stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Caitríona Balfe, George MacKay and Fiona Shaw, and will be helmed by Georgia Oakley. This will be Oakley’s first big film after finding her debut in a small film called Blue Jean in 2022.

Frozen 3 - Jennifer Lee (November 24, 2026)

The Frozen movies have been a couple of the most successful films starring women in recent years, and Disney fans like us are so curious about how Anna and Elsa’s story will go from here. For Frozen 3, it will be the first time a sole female director is behind them (Chris Buck co-directed the past two films). Jennifer Lee is definitely the right person for the job given she wrote the scripts for the first two movies herself, and was CCO at Walt Disney Animation Studios from 2018 to 2024.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew - Greta Gerwig (November 26, 2026)

After Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie became a phenomenon of a blockbuster in 2023, the filmmaker is back this winter with her take on C.S. Lewis’s classic fantasy series, Narnia. The movie produced by Netflix stars Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Denise Gough, Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep. It’s based on the sixth book from the series, which actually served as a prequel about how Narnia became visible for Earthlings to visit in the first place.

Children Of Blood & Bone - Gina Prince-Bythewood (January 15, 2027)

Gina Prince-Bythewood is one Hollywood’s most impressive filmmakers with an eye for telling Black-led stories, between Love & Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees and The Woman King, and her latest, Children of Blood and Bone sounds like her most ambitious yet. It’s based on the YA fantasy series rooted in West African mythology and Yoruba culture. The movie has a huge cast including Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Lashana Lynch, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis and Regina King, and was filmed for IMAX.

Get Lite - Teyana Taylor (April 9, 2027)

One Battle After Another Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor is getting behind the camera for her directorial debut, Get Lite. The movie stars Euphoria’s Storm Reid as a dance student who finds inspiration in the subways of New York City, per Variety. We’re excited to see what Taylor’s movie will look like after she’s worked with directors like Paul Thomas Anderson, Tyler Perry and Craig Brewer.

We'll keep you updated as this list continues to change. Go out and support these women-fronted projects.

Andor may have only lasted for 24 episodes across two seasons, but it’s already more than cemented itself as one of the most critically-acclaimed Star Wars projects. I’m among the group that was quite impressed by the Disney+ subscription-exclusive series, and one of my favorite characters was ISB supervisor Deedra Meero, played by Denise Gough. Well, Gough revealed that she’s signed on to star in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie, and I’m cracking up over the way she described her character.

Rather than reboot this film series with another film adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Barbie director is instead writing and helming Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. While The Magician’s Nephew was the sixth published novel in author C.S. Lewis’ fantasy saga, it’s chronologically the first installment. Gough brought up her invovelemt in the forthcoming Netflix subscription-exclusive at the end of an interview on We're Not Kidding with Mehdi & Friends, saying:

Unfortunately, Narnia is one of my fandom blind spots, so I’m not sure whom Denise Gough is referring to since Emma Mackey has already been cast as Jadis, the White Witch. Still, it’s hilarious that all she has to say about her character is that she’s mean to children, which is totally acceptable in a story like this. After watching her intimidate Rebels and fellow Imperials alike in Andor as Deedra Meero, I look forward to seeing how Gough does the same to these kids. I’m sure they have it coming… right?

Like its source material, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will feature Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer as its main protagonists, respectively played in the movie by David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell. Although the book takes place 40 years ahead of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on Earth, it’s set 1,000 years beforehand in Narnia and chronicles the formation of this fantastical world. The Magician Nephew was supposed to be the fourth entry in the previous Narnia film series, following The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but Walden Media’s contract with the C.S. Lewis estate expired before that could happen.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’s cast also includes Carey Mulligan as Mabel Kirke, Meryl Streep as Aslan, Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew and Tom Bonington as Mr. Potts. The movie will first be released theatrically in the United States and Canada on November 26, 2026, then become available on Netflix on December 25 of the same year.

It has been a little more than two years since Greta Gerwig’s Barbie took over the world (and the global box office). Now, with her upcoming book-to-screen adaptation, the decorated actor-turned-director is turning her attention to The Chronicles of Narnia, where she’ll explore the magical, fascinating, and hidden world C.S. Lewis created 70-plus years ago.

That’s right, Narnia is coming to theaters (and one of the best streaming services) on the 2026 movie schedule, and we have so many details about the long-awaited project from one of the most promising and engaging filmmakers on the planet right now. From the release dates and cast, to which of Lewis’ books the Little Women director is reportedly tackling first, we have a lot to break down…

What Is The Narnia Release Date?

Though you won’t see the Narnia release date on the 2025 movie schedule, you will be able to watch Greta Gerwig’s next movie on the big screen starting November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day for those in the United States). However, according to Deadline, the global IMAX run in 90 countries and 1,000 screens will last for only two weeks, as the film will eventually find its permanent home on Netflix starting December 25, 2026 (Christmas Day).

Narnia doesn’t have any competition on its Thanksgiving debut, at least not yet, but it will debut at home the same day Robert Eggers’ Werewulf hits the big screen, making it quite the holiday pairing. With so much time between now and then, expect a lot more announcements to be made about the final stretch of 2026.

The Narnia Cast

Though we won’t be seeing James McAvoy, Tilda Swinton, Ben Barnes, or the actors who brought the Pevensie children to life in the 2000s Chronicles of Narnia franchise, Greta Gerwig’s take on the classic series of fantasy novels is putting together a stellar group of A-list actors. Seriously, the names we’re about to go over do not disappoint one bit.

In March 2025, Deadline reported that Daniel Craig was being eyed for one of the starring roles in Narnia, with many assuming he’s going to be playing Andrew Ketterly, a.k.a., Uncle Andrew from The Magician’s Nephew (more on that later). A few weeks later, in April 2025, Deadline also reported that Meryl Streep was in talks to play Aslan the Great Lion, an allegorical character and protector of Narnia throughout C.S. Lewis’ novels.

A couple of years after showing up in Barbie, Emma Mackey will retream with Gerwig, as Variety reported in April 2025 that the actress was picked to play the White Witch, the main antagonist from the novels and a core character in the previous adaptations. The following month, in May 2025, THR reported that Carey Mulligan would be joining the cast as the sick mother of one of the kids at the core of the movie’s plot.

With the ball moving on Narnia, expect to hear a lot more about the cast in the weeks and months to come.

What Is Narnia About?

As you may know, The Chronicles of Narnia isn’t a book, but rather a series of novels written by C.S. Lewis between 1950 and 1956 that chart multiple stories and eras within the portal kingdom of Narnia. So, what does that mean for Gerwig’s Narnia?

When reporting on Carey Mulligan’s casting news in May 2025, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the upcoming fantasy film will be an adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew. Though the second-to-last novel to be published, the book is chronologically at the beginning of the series, and helps set the stage for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. While it’s not yet known how many movies Gerwig will be making for Netflix, starting at the earliest part in the chronology makes it seem like they’re going all out with the franchise.

What is The Magician’s Nephew about, you ask? Set in London in 1900, the 1955 novel follows two children – Digory and Polly – as they discover a magical world with the help of rings created by an eccentric uncle. Traveling from one world to another, the pair accidentally unleash an evil queen who follows them to London and then Narnia, setting up the conflict for books to come.

Production On Narnia Got Underway In August 2025

It’s been well over a decade since we last went to Narnia, but that will soon change, as production has gotten underway for Gerwig’s new adaptation. In August 2025, Screen Daily reported that cameras got rolling on the upcoming Netflix movie with the shoot primarily taking place at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, though location shooting was reportedly going down in central London.

There’s no word on how long the shoot will last, or how long it will take for all the post-production work (especially with Meryl Streep playing what will most likely be an animated character), but with a Thanksgiving 2026 release on the books, we should know more in the very near future.

Greta Gerwig Started Working On Her Narnia Adaptation Before Setting Foot On The Barbie Set

This Narnia isn’t just something that the Lady Bird and Little Women director started working on in the wake of her super successful Barbie; instead, it’s something that has been gestating for a long time. When speaking with Time in February 2024, Gerwig revealed that she actually started working on the Narnia script before even setting foot on the set of her blockbuster hit, which ended up helping her when it came time to return to the fantasy:

These comments came just as the end of the 2023 WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes that pretty much shut down Hollywood for much of the year, which is where the “you’ve got to keep going” comment comes from. With Gerwig seeming to be fully entrenched in the project years before cameras started rolling, it’s easy to get excited about her vision.

This Is The First Part Of Netflix's Planned Narnia Franchise

If all goes well this will be the beginning of a major franchise for Netflix. In October 2018, Netflix announced that it was developing series and films based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved books, opening the door for an expansive and years-long dive into one of the most fantastical worlds in all of literature.

Those other plans for the ambitious project have not yet been announced, but with The Magician’s Nephew being a prequel for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, one can imagine that the iconic novel would be next to be made.

Expect to hear much more about Narnia in the coming weeks and months, but in the meantime, there are still a great number of 2025 Netflix movies to watch while you wait.

One can fully understand and respect Ben Barnes having a special place in his heart for The Chronicles Of Narnia. After all, his eponymous role in The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian was his big breakout and had a huge part in the career that he has built to this day. But does that mean he has any feelings of ill will toward the reboot of the franchise that is currently being developed by Greta Gerwig? Not at all. In fact, he's actually "thrilled."

Barnes latest project is a completely different adaptation – namely MGM+'s series based on Stephen King's novel The Institute – and during a recent interview on the show's press tour with Variety, he reflected on his experience with Chronicles Of Narnia and the future of C.S. Lewis' work in Hollywood. Discussing the fantasy epic, the actor explained that there is no one definitive way to adapt a beloved book, and he is excited to see Gerwig's vision, saying,

Ben Barnes made his debut as Prince Caspian in 2008, and he reprised the role two years later in The Chronicle s Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader. The blockbuster series ended following that film, but Greta Gerwig has been developing a new vision for Netflix since July 2023.

The new adaptation will reportedly be using The Magician's Nephew (the sixth of the seven books) as its primary source material, and the project has been building an all-star cast in the last few months. Emma Mackey will be playing the coveted role of the White Witch, and trades have announced Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig (linked to play Uncle Andrew) and Meryl Streep as also being attached. The movie is set to come out in time for Thanksgiving in 2026 (specifically on November 26), and the film won't be exclusively available for Netflix subscribers upon release: with the power afforded her by the billion-dollar success of Barbie, Greta Gerwig was able to negotiate a limited IMAX release for the blockbuster.

There will hopefully be more news very soon about the new Chronicles Of Narnia movie, so be on the look out for updates. And if you're curious about what the actor formally known as Prince Caspian is up to, you'll be able to see him star opposite Mary-Louise Parker in MGM+'s The Institute, which will make its premiere this Sunday, July 13.

Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Sarah Polley and Olivia Wilde. We’re four episodes into The Studio’s run on the 2025 TV schedule, and that’s only a few of the wildly impressive A-list directors Seth Rogen and co. have rounded up to guest star in this show. However, there’s one more director who I think would be a great fit for this series, and I desperately, and I mean desperately, need her to be on this fabulous Apple TV+ series.

Now, the director I’m talking about is Greta Gerwig, and I doubt anyone is really shocked by this choice. The first episode of The Studio is all about Rogen’s Matt Remick trying to secure a director for the Kool-Aid movie, and Barbie and its success are mentioned while talking about how it was an artistic anomaly in the world of IP-driven films. Plus, the Superbad writer has been open about how Gerwig’s movie influenced The Studio.

That alone makes her a great and fitting addition to this show. I mean, to have her come in and enter this ongoing conversation about the state of film would be perfect, based on that one episode alone.

However, I also want you to consider the other directors who have guest-starred on The Studio, because it gives us another reason why Gerwig would be a perfect fit.

Of the four directors I mentioned at the top of this story, three of them are or were also actors. Ron Howard got his big break playing Opie Taylor on the Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. Then, he went on to direct Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind (among many others). Olivia Wilde was on screen in projects like House and Tron: Legacy before she helmed Booksmart. And Sarah Polley acted in films like Dawn of the Dead and Go way before she directed Women Talking.

Gerwig is also an actor-turned-director. You can see her on screen in Frances Ha and Mistress America. However, she’s best known for directing Ladybird, Little Women and Barbie. She’d fit in perfectly with the talent that has been lined up for The Studio, and I just know she’d give an A+ performance.

All this is to say, so far, the director guest stars have been my favorites on The Studio because they are playing themselves, which helps show how relevant this series is, while also getting to show off their skills as performers. Ron Howard playing an absolute diva was hilarious. Sarah Polley getting more and more frustrated over that one-take was incredible. Then, seeing Olivia Wilde freak out about a missing roll of film was really, really funny. So, let’s get Greta Gerwig in the mix.

Her films have played a major role in making the film industry what it is right now, and she’s got the acting history to exceed on camera. Putting her in The Studio would give her a chance to show off both things while also providing a poignant and impactful commentary about the state of movies.

Quite literally, I think she’s the perfect person to get on this series all about making movies in this day and age, so Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, can we get on this?

In the meantime, Season 1 of The Studio is in full swing, and it will feature even more iconic directors and writers like Zack Snyder and Aaron Sorkin, as well as TV bosses like Hacks’ Paul W. Downs and Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson (among others). So, make sure you tune in every Wednesday with your Apple TV+ subscription, while I hope and pray that this dream of mine comes true.

Barbie was one of the most successful and best movies of 2023. The film by Greta Gerwig was thought-provoking, very pink, and genuinely hilarious, and it made so, so, so many people feel seen and understood. Now, it’s time to break down one of the reasons why this project is so beloved by going through over 30 of the Margot Robbie-led films’ funniest lines.

“Barbie has a great day every day. But Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him.” - Narrator

These are the first words uttered about Ken after we learn all about how fabulous and perfect Barbie’s life is. Then, after that, we see Ryan Gosling’s doll for the first time, as he hilariously reacts to all the Kens saying hi to Barbie.

“I’m here to see my gynecologist.” -Barbie

It’s a shocking yet perfect line to end Barbie on. While it was the last thing we probably all expected to see, it was also exceptional. It showed Barbie so excited to take on her life in the real world as she did something that literally all women have to do, go to their gynecologist to get a check up.

“There are no multiples of Allan. He’s just Allan.” - Narrator

What makes this line even better is Allan’s response, as Michael Cera’s doll said that he’s also “confused about that.” It’s the perfect way to introduce this one-of-a-kind character, and it adds another hilarious layer by including just one character in Barbie World who doesn’t go by Barbie or Ken.

“I can’t even beach here!” - Ken

When Barbie and Ken find themselves in the Real World, Margot Robbie’s character goes to a school to find the girl who owns her doll. Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling’s Ken goes on his own adventure which includes him trying to get a job so he can start patriarchy. This quest also includes him yelling in frustration when he’s denied a beach job after a lifeguard turns him down because he doesn’t have the skills necessary to be one. However, as Ken says, his job is not lifeguard, it’s beach.

“To be honest, when I found out patriarchy wasn’t about horses, I lost interest anyways.” - Ken

There’s a reason Ryan Gosling found himself on the list of 2024 Oscar nominees, and it’s because of the way he delivered lines like this one. The moment comes at the end of the movie when Ken concedes and he and Barbie have a heart-to-heart. He admits that running things is hard and that he actually didn’t want to do patriarchy once he found out it had nothing to do with horses.

“I would never wear heels if my feet were shaped this way!” - Barbie

After Barbie gets flat feet, she goes to see Weird Barbie. On her way to the house, she realizes quickly that heels aren’t what they’re cut out to be, because they’re incredibly uncomfortable if you don’t have unnaturally arched feet.

“What? You think the lady who invented Barbie looked like Barbie? Ha! I’m a five-foot-nothing Grandma with a double mastectomy and tax evasion issues.” -Ruth

Barbie is amazing because it takes expectations and flips them on their head. That includes our understanding of Ruth, the woman who created the titular doll. While Rhea Perlman’s character is a wholesome old lady, she also comes in swinging with this hilarious line toward the end to let everyone know that the woman who invented Barbie is nothing like her.

“Do you guys ever think about dying?” - Barbie

This journey begins with Barbie having thoughts of death during an epic dance number to a bespoke song, and the existential crisis that ensues is equal parts hilarious and thoughtful, which is a big reason why Barbie got such good reviews.

“She thinks I’m a fascist? I don’t control the railways or the flow of commerce!” - Barbie

The last thing I’d hear about in Barbie was fascism, but here we are. Not only is it mentioned in the movie too, but it’s also brought up because a tween calls Barbie a fascist, which leads to her balling out the hilarious line above.

“Jeez, you would think a construction site at lunchtime would be the perfect place for a little woman-power, but this one is so…male.” - Barbie

While they say comedy is funny because it’s true, in this case, it’s the opposite. This line is hilarious because, in the real world, a construction site is one of the last places I’d go for women power.

“Look, I’m just having a brewski beer in my Mojo Dojo Casa House. You can stay if you want, as my bride-wife or my long-term-low-commitment-distance girlfriend.” - Ken

Some of the most sublime details in Barbie revolve around Ken’s vocabulary. He’s trying so hard to be a cool bro-homie that he tends to name various things by combining many of a noun’s synonyms into one term.

“Do you know how many times I’ve just wanted to stand up in a board meeting and say, ‘Let’s just tickle each other!’” - Mattel CEO

Yes, you read that quote correctly, and yes, it is what Will Ferrell’s Mattel CEO leads with when he gives his big speech to the Barbies and Kens at the end of the movie.

“There’s no ‘just Ken.’ That’s why I was created. I only exist within the warmth of your gaze. Without it, I’m just another blonde guy who can’t do flips.” -Ken

Barbie works really hard to empower Ken to figure out who he is without her. At first, he can’t really accept that. However, eventually, he figures out that “Ken is me,” which is another hilarious line from Ryan Gosling’s character.

“I don’t know exactly what you meant by all those little quips, but I’m picking up on some sort of entendre, which appears to be double.” - Barbie

When Barbie and Ken literally roll up to the construction site, Margot Robbie’s character gets catcalled by the men working there. During that moment, the doll, who has never experienced sexism or misogyny before, calls out the double entendre that’s happening to her.

“We are a company made of women. We had a woman CEO in the ‘90s, and there was another one at some other time, so that’s two right there.” -Mattel CEO

When Barbie ends up at Mattel’s headquarters, she has a run-in with the CEO. However, she doesn’t realize that at first, because she assumed the CEO would be a woman. So, that leads to Will Ferrell’s character saying the silly speech above to try and convince Barbie that women have worked at Mattel.

“Goodnight Barbies! I’m definitely not thinking about death anymore!” - Barbie

After Barbie exclaims to the Barbie cast that she wonders if they have thoughts of death, she quickly tries to quell the concerns that moment caused by saying that she’s “definitely” 100% not thinking about death anymore as she goes to bed.

“We sell dreams and imagination, and sparkle. I get excited, I’m passionate. And when you think of sparkle, what do you think of after that? Female agency.” -Mattel CEO

The moment we meet the Mattel CEO includes him swiveling in his chair with pink drumsticks and talking about Mattel’s mission. While it’s a bit misguided, it’s also hilarious, because he’s convinced what he’s saying is correct.

“I’m just Ken, anywhere else I’d be a ten. Is it my destiny to live and die a life of blonde fragility?” - Ken

Not only was “I’m Just Ken” a hilarious phenomenon in the film, but Ryan Gosling’s performance of the Barbie song at the Oscars also might go down as one of the best musical moments in the award show’s history. The lyrics could truly make anyone laugh, and the fact that this track is used to show the Kens’ conflict rather than an all-out war is genius.

“I don’t have anything big planned, just a giant blow-out party with all the Barbies, with planned choreography and a bespoke song. You should stop by.” - Barbie

Sure, Barbie that doesn't sound like a plan at all…however, every night is girls' night and it’s very important to have an all-out bash planned for all the Barbies so they can “Dance the Night Away.”

“Not one person would care if Allan was in the real world. In fact, it’s happened before. All of NSYNC, Allan. Yes, even him!” -Allan

When Allan tries to make a break for it with Gloria and Sasha to get away from the Kens, they try to convince him that that’s not possible. However, Michael Cera’s character informs them that it’s not a problem, there are plenty of unnoticed Allan’s in the real world including the members of NSYNC, and I think the “even him” he’s referring to is Justin Timberlake.

“Is it just my imagination or did these mojo dojo casa houses just get dreamier?” -Ken

The Kens are “riding” up to their mojo dojo casa houses when they realize the Barbies have reclaimed them. In response, Ryan Gosling’s Ken makes maybe the best reference to Barbie’s dream house by saying the homes had gotten “a whole lot dreamier.”

“I'm a man with no power, does that make me a woman?” -Aaron Dinkins

Barbie was wondering if there were any women in charge of Mattel she could talk to. However, there weren’t. Although, Aaron Dinkins, who is not an executive at the toy company, did chime in to ask if he could be considered a woman because he’s a man with no power.

“I’m bummed, you’re a bummer, that’s a bummer.” -Weird Barbie

Technically, Weird Barbie gives Barbie a choice between knowing about her human or staying in Barbie World, and that’s illustrated by a Birkenstock and a high heel. Well, Barbie wants to stay and choose the heel. However, Kate McKinnon’s doll won’t accept that, which leads her to call out Margot Robbie’s character in this funny way.

“Come on in, I'll play the guitar at you.” -Ken

I think this line hit a lot of women because they too have experienced what it’s like to have a man not play the guitar to them, but at them. What makes it even funnier is Ken played “Push” by Matchbox Twenty right after that.

“It's like I've been in a dream where I was somehow really invested in the Zack Snyder cut of Justice League.” -Barbie

When Alexandra Shipp’s Barbie breaks out of the trance she was in because of the Kens, she describes what it was like by comparing it to being passionate about getting Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League. It’s a hilarious and light-hearted jab at film bros that went well with other jokes in the movie about men really loving The Godfather.

“The Nobel Prize in horses goes to Ken.” -Ken

While the Barbies get Nobel Prizes for journalism and philanthropy, the Kens get them for…horses. And with Ryan Gosling’s Ken in change, that feels very on-brand.

“This is the lowest I’ve ever been, emotionally and physically.” -Barbie

Now, I realize this is a serious point in the movie, because Baribe has realized fully that her world is not perfect. However, the tantrum she throws is quite funny, and then her falling to the ground, rolling onto her stomach, and saying the above line into the grass is hilarious.

*Walks out of shot* “Sublime!” -Ken

Greta Gerwig told a story about “Sublime,” saying that she was trying to figure out the funniest word for Ryan Gosling to say as he took in Barbie’s proclamation that she wanted him back behind closed doors (though there are no walls, so there’s really no privacy). Well, she was right, it’s truly hilarious.

“Well, the Kens have to start somewhere. And one day, the Kens will have as much power and influence in Barbie Land as women have in the Real World.” -Narrator

Gender roles are flipped in Barbie Land, which means men have less power than women. However, at the end, the Kens get a bit more power after President Barbie allows them a lower-level court position. After that, Narrator Helen Mirren comes in to note that eventually, the Kens will have the same kind of power as women in the Real World, which means they’ll have a little bit of it…but still not very much.

“I'll take a high-level, high-paying job with influence, please.” -Ken

On Ken’s escapade through the Real World, he tries to land a big job. However, he’s not really sure what that means, so he just asks for a “high-level, high-paying job with influence.” Also, when he’s denied that request, he tells the guy that they “aren’t doing patriarchy very well.”

“I'm a liberated man. I know crying is not weak.” -Ken

Men are allowed to feel their emotions too, and Ken knows that. So, when Barbie tries to console him he makes sure to note that he knows it's OK to cry.

“Okay, kids, it's time to run out and get the new Depression Barbie. She wears sweatpants all day and night. She spent seven hours today on Instagram, looking at her estranged best friend's engagement photos, while eating a family-size bag of Starbursts. And now her jaw is killing her. And she's going to watch the BBC's Pride and Prejudice for the seventh time until she falls asleep… Anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD sold separately.” -Depression Barbie Advertisement

When I saw Barbie in theaters, the fake advertisement for Depression Barbie, which comes right after Barbie falls onto the ground, got a massive laugh. I felt both seen and called out by it, because I think we’ve all had moments where all we want when we’re feeling down is too much candy and a comfort movie.

Honestly, this isn’t even close to all the quotes that could have ended up on this list, proving that Barbie is one of the great comedies!

Jane Campion just received the prestigious Pardo d’Onore Manor Award for lifetime achievement at the 77th Locarno Film Festival. In addition to accepting the honor, the acclaimed New Zealand director took time to speak with the press about a range of topics, including the remarkable success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. The 2024 movie schedule hasn’t produced anything quite like the viral Barbenheimer phenomenon of summer 2023, which is now even being turned into its own film. Still, Campion discussed how the Mattel-based flick’s billion-dollar triumph could impact the future of women’s budgets in Hollywood.

This time last summer, Greta Gerwig's Barbie took the world by storm, surpassing expectations at the box office,. It ultimately earned billions globally, racked up a ton of Oscar nominations, and solidified its place as one of the best movies of 2023. The fantasy-comedy flick's success extended far beyond its toy-based origins, as it reshaped the concept of what a movie based on a children's brand could be. This achievement also secured Gerwig’s position in cinematic history as the only solo female director to reach the billion-dollar milestone.

Jane Campion, the acclaimed director of films like The Piano and The Power of the Dog, discussed the broader impact of Ms. Gerwig’s success during her interview at the Locarno Film Festival. She highlighted how the movie’s triumph has significant implications for female directors, particularly in gaining access to substantial budgets in Tinseltown’s traditionally male-dominated landscape. Campion noted (via The Hollywood Reporter) that Gerwig...:

The Bright Star helmer’s comments highlight a broader shift in Hollywood, where female-led and female-directed projects finally gain the financial backing traditionally reserved for their male counterparts. Barbie helped prove that a female director could not only handle a big-budget film but could also deliver a blockbuster that resonates on a global scale. According to Jane Campion, this success could pave the way for more women to helm major projects in the future. She continued:

The significance of the Margot Robbie-led film's success can't be overstated. Many have long discussed the disparity that's been present between funding for female-headed productions and male-fronted ones. In many cases, the former are relegated to lower-budget projects regardless of the talent attached. Greta Gerwig’s ability to turn her fantastical romp into a box office juggernaut could mark a turning point, encouraging studios to invest in more women-led projects with the confidence that they can deliver both artistically and financially.

While it's uncertain whether Barbie's blockbuster breakthrough will bring lasting change, the future for women in Hollywood seems promising, with influential figures also advocating for progress like Jane Campion. One would hope that true change will take shape at some point. As for right now, it's great to see Campion, who made history with Power of the Dog as the first female-directed film to receive more than ten Academy Award nominations and became the first woman to earn multiple Best Director nominations, continue to make her voice heard.

Barbie is available to stream now with a Max subscription. And using a Netflix subscription, you can also see Jane Campion’s Academy Award-winning flick, The Power of the Dog.

Every so often a new movie is released and becomes a bonafide sensation. Greta Gerwig's Barbie (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) was definitely in that category, making money and even receiving a number of Academy Award nominations. Since then fans have been wondering if a sequel was coming with Ryan Reynolds' Ken, and now Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have responded, being quoted saying "we had way too much material for Ken.'

Barbie broke records for Warner Bros., so it seemed logical for the studio to move forward with a follow-up. Since Barbie's ending gave the title character her human happy ending, some thought that the sequel could be focused on Ken. Barbie duo Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach addressed this in a conversation with 60 Minutes, with the latter filmmaker saying there's “more on the Ken Effect in the real world.” As they shared:

• Greta Gerwig: We typed it like a bajillion times [in the script]. We also tapped into whatever the Ken-Ryan voice was in such a way we had way too much material for Ken. We would write and write and write.
• Noah Baumbach: Don’t give it away because we might do [something with it].

Color me intrigued... and pink. It sounds like the pair had a great time crafting the character of Ken, who was one of the biggest scene stealers in the Barbie movie. Ryan Gosling even performed "I'm Just Ken" at the Oscars after his musical number went viral. And while Gerwig didn't confirm that a Barbie sequel is happening, their love for that universe is definitely offering fans some hope.

Of course, it might be difficult for lightning to strike twice, creating a bonafide Barbie cinematic universe in the process. After all, the surprising content of the movie is part of why it was such a delightful experience in theaters. Although after Greta Gerwig was snubbed from the Best Director category at the Oscars, some fans want to see her give it another go and finally get her flowers.

During the appearance on 60 Minutes, the Little Women director was straight up asked if Barbie was getting a sequel. She kept her cards close to the chest, offering:

Way to keep us on our toes. But with no official deal inked at Warner Bros., it makes sense that she might want to keep some secrets. And even though there was plenty of leftover material for Ken, that doesn't mean that another Barbie movie is going to be easy to write. There's got to be enough of a story to support an entirely new film.

But given how much Barbie has pierced the pop culture landscape (and inspired Halloween costumes), the audience for another installment is seemingly there. We'll just have to wait and see if Greta Gerwig actually moves forward with development.

Barbie is streaming now on Max. Be sure to check out the 2025 movie release dates.

Considering the phenomenon that was Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, it’s only a matter of time before its success is sought to be replicated somehow. And when the Mattel-produced blockbuster had just been out for one week last summer, it was announced that Lena Dunham was writing and directing a Polly Pocket movie with Lily Collins as the star. A year later, we have an update from Dunham on her project, and as it turns out, the Girls filmmaker has already moved on from Polly Pocket playtime. 

While promoting her latest movie, Treasure, Lena Dunham bluntly told The New Yorker she’s out on Polly Pocket by her own accord. In her words: 

When the Polly Pocket movie was spoken of last July, the president of Mattel Films, Robbie Brenner, called Lena Dunham’s script “great” and said that they had an “incredible collaboration.” She also described the Girls creator as someone who "rolls up her sleeves and really likes to roll around in notes and listen”. Apparently, the filmmaker and Mattel ended up disagreeing on something. As Dunham continued: 

Dunham has been taking cues from other respected female directors who have really changed the game with their films. 

Greta Gerwig in particular showed that a powerful movie could be made about a very commercial doll that doesn’t feel like it was made to sell toys. The writer/director even had the chance to take jabs at Mattel in Barbie, and she was encouraged to do so by the Mattel CEO who said he gave the filmmaker “full creative freedom because she deserves it.” 

In turn, Barbie was the highest-grossing movie of last year with nearly $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office. It also was nominated for eight Oscars (winning one for Billie Eilish’s viral song). 

When it comes to the development of Dunham’s Polly Pocket movie, it sounds like she hit a wall when it came to that creative freedom she craved. But hey, the Barbie movie went through a few cooks in the kitchen (including Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway once tapped for the main role) before it became such a big hit! 

While Dunham’s update means the Polly Pocket movie is back to the drawing board, the filmmaker does have a new show among Netflix's new releases. She created a rom-com series called Too Much starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe which is expected to premiere later this year. 

Acting and directing are two very different skills, and for someone to be able to do both is a mark of a hard-working and talented person. It doesn't always work out for actors, but it's remarkable how often it does. Here are 32 such examples of great actors who became great directors as well. 

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood's career has lasted an unbelievable eight decades. He started humbling with small roles in the '50s and as the decades have gone on, he's only gotten bigger and bigger. After directing his first movie, 1971's Play Misty for Me, he's gone on to helm a remarkable 39 more and has won 2 Best Director Oscars, for 1993's Unforgiven and 2005's Million Dollar Baby.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard has been in the lives and living rooms of Americans since he was just a kid as an actor on The Andy Griffith Show. He went on to star in Happy Days in the 1970s before directing his first low-budget film, Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He's since gone on to direct such classics as Splash, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and many others. 

Bradley Cooper

If the start of Bradley Cooper's directing career is any indication, you can expect huge things. So far, the actor-turned-director has only helmed two movies, A Star Is Born and Maestro and both have been nominated for Best Picture Oscars. Not a shabby record. 

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall got her first big break on the sitcom The Odd Couple but became a household name as Lavern in Lavern & Shirley. She didn't stay in TV though, instead, she started directing and made two of the most beloved Gen X movies of all time, Big and A League of Their Own. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck might not have been the first actor you picked to become a director, but his stellar career as an actor is matched by his work as a director. In fact, though he's never won an acting Oscar (something that should be remedied), he did win Best Director for Argo. 

Robert Redford

By the time Robert Redford directed his first movie, Ordinary People, in 1980, he was already one of the most legendary film stars ever. The second half of his career is as known for his directing as it is for his acting, with movies like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau's acting career started humbling with supporting roles in movies like Rudy and PCU. After he wrote and starred in Swingers, his star shined a little brighter. That was only the beginning though. Favreau has the honor of directing the movie that launched the most successful film franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Iron Man and its sequel. He's since moved on to Disney live-action remakes with The Lion King and The Jungle Book. Oh, and he also directed one of the most beloved holiday movies ever with. Elf.

Mel Gibson

The controversial career of Mel Gibson began with a small movie that made huge waves in his native Australia. Mad Max made him famous and by the late late-'80s, he was one of the biggest stars in the world. He then moved into directing and reached his pinnacle early with Braveheart for which he won Best Director. 

Richard Attenborough

As an actor, Richard Attenborough starred in massive hits across generations with movies like The Great Escape and Jurassic Park. As a director, he helmed some of the best biopics of all time, like Gandhi, A Cry Freedom, and Chaplin as well a the legendary war flick, A Bridge Too Far. 

Regina King

Regina King's directorial career is only getting started, but judging by her first movie, One Night In Miami, the future is bright. So far, the Academy Award-winning actress has mostly directed TV shows, but you can be sure more films will be coming her way.

Denzel Washington

What can we say about Denzel Washington that hasn't already been said? He's a living legend at this point, as a multiple Oscar winner and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's also one heck of a director with movies like Fences and The Great Debaters.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski became part of our collective family as Jim on The Office. Who would have thought from that role, his career in Hollywood would reach the point that he is a major power player? Now that he's moved into directing, the sky is truly the limit. The first movie Krasinski directed, The Hollars, made for a humble beginning, but his second, A Quiet Place established him as a force to reckon with and it's since become a franchise.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks might not have been an actor you'd have guessed would go into directing, like others on this list, but she has in a big way. She has shown she can direct blockbusters like Pitch Perfect 2 and indie darlings like that one about the bear who indulges in some, uh, white powder he finds, and goes on a rampage.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is quickly becoming a voice of a generation. Her direction and writing of Barbie has been praised far and wide for its snappy dialog and heartfelt message. Gerwig's acting career started in the mid-'00s when she was mostly in smaller, supporting roles. Since moving into directing, she's become a huge star.

Jordan Peele

Key & Peele was a huge hit for Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, and made them both stars. No one expected Peele to turn to directing horror movies, but that's exactly what he did and we should all be grateful for it. With massive hits like Get Out, Nope, and Us, the future is bright for Peele and for all of us too, who will get to watch his work.

Rob Reiner

Though he had a leg up coming from a Hollywood family, Rob Reiner has staked out a claim all his own in the entertainment business. First as an actor on the hit show All in the Family, then as the director of some of the most loved movies of all time. Starting with his first movie, This is Spinal Tap, and running through the '80s and early '90s, he had an unbelievable run that included The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Misery. Wow!

George Clooney

Not only is George Clooney one of the most bankable movie stars ever, he's also a fantastic director. His acting career is legendary and his directing career, while not quite at the level of his acting, is still fantastic. He's directed TV (Catch-22) and movies (The Boys In The Boat, The Midnight Sky, Good Night, and Good Luck, among others) and you can be sure there will be more from him.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's directing career hasn't always gotten the best reviews, but I'd say her movies are very underrated. The talented actress has an eye for behind the camera as well, and movies like Unbroken and First They Killed My Father are powerful movies.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton's acting career came on as a slow burn to fame, but his directing career started with a band. His first film was a masterpiece called Sling Blade. he followed that up with the underrated All The Pretty Horse and a few others, though his pace has slowed over the last couple of decades. Let's hope he finds that directing bug again. 

Ben Stiller

There was a time in the '90s and '00s when it seemed like Ben Stiller was in every movie released. Not only was he working hard in front of the camera, he was killing it behind the camera as well. Starting really with Reality Bites, and moving on to great movies like the controversial but hilarious Tropic Thunder, and the Zoolander movies. 

Jodie Foster

The great Jodie Foster has been an acclaimed actor and star since her teenage years and of course, that talent has translated to directing. Though lately she's done mostly TV work like directing episodes of Black Mirror and Orange is the New Black, she's done a few movies too, like Little Man Tate and Money Monster.

Kevin Costner

In addition to being one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Kevin Costner has never shied away from making epic films. Though he's only directed four movies in his career, they have all been big films. Starting with Dances With Wolves in 1990, he's since directed The Postman, Open Range, and 2024's Horizon: An American Saga.

Tim Robbins

The directing bug caught Tim Robbins in the early '90s and he directed a couple of great movies with Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking. He's directed a smattering of movies and TV shows more recently, but he's mostly stuck to acting over the last few years. 

Sean Penn

Since the early 1980s, Sean Penn has been wowing moviegoers with his impressive acting chops and diversity. In the '90s he dipped his toe into directing with his first film, The Indian Runner and has directed a good handful of movies since, with his best being Into The Wild in 2007. 

Zach Braff

Acting-wise Zach Braff's big break came as a regular cast member of the hit sitcom Scrubs. As a directed, he burst onto the scene with his very first movie, Garden State in 2004. He's continued directing here and there over the last 20 years, including the great movie about getting older, Going In Style, and a few others, in addition to some TV work. 

Warren Beatty

In the 1970s, there was no bigger movie star than Warren Beatty. By the end of the decade, he had moved into directing as well, starting with 1978's Heaven Can Wait and continuing the '80s and '90s with acclaimed movies like Red and maybe his most remembered, Dick Tracy in 1990.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is a force of nature. For decades she's been one of the best and most popular actresses in Hollywood, and though she's only dipped her toes into directing, mostly in TV, she's on this list for one important reason. Keaton directed the music video for "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and that is a stone-cold Gen X classic. 

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh might be as well known for his directing as he is for his acting, and that's really saying something. Not only has he directed some of the best Shakespeare adaptions for the silver screen, but more recently he's been killing it with his Agatha Christie adaptations. 

Leonard Nimoy

Appropriately, Leonard Nimoy's first foray into feature film direction came in the Star Trek franchise when he directed both Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Outside of the iconic franchise he helped make famous he also directed the beloved Three Men and a Baby. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has always been a self-starter. His work to get the original Rocky made is legendary and after it made him a huge star, he wasted no time getting into directing, starting with Rocky II and adding Rocky III, Rocky IV, and 2006's Rocky Balboa as well. Of course, he's also directed in two other franchises he was at the center of with 2008's Rambo and the first Expendable movie. 

Helen Hunt

This one might surprise you, but Helen Hunt has had an impressive career as a director. Most of her work has been on television on shows varying from her own Mad About You and This Is Us. She also has two feature films under her belt with 2007's Then She Found Me and 2014's Ride. 

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton is seemingly everywhere these days, popping up in all kinds of movies and TV shows from Star Wars stuff to Dark Matter. He's also started directing, but his output is limited, with 2015's underrated The Gift and 2018 Boy Erased. Let's hope he finds more time to direct in his busy schedule. 

Barbie is one of the biggest movies of the last few years. Not only was Barbie a massive box office hit, but it garnered several end-of-year award nominations. However, that success only led to headlines when a couple of key Oscar categories, specifically Best Director and Best Actress, failed to recognize Greta Gerwig or Margot Robbie specifically. Ryan Gosling is still upset about it.

When the Oscar nominations came down, and Gosling was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, he publicly stated his frustration that his fellow Barbie cast and crew were not. It seems that even that statement wasn’t quite enough for him, as he tells Variety, he cut down the original statement, and the issue nearly drove him even further. He explained…

The question remains: what is a “beach off?” The Barbie movie makes a joke about it, and we’re still never given the whole story. Honestly, I would love to have seen Ryan Gosling and some Oscar voters have a beach-off over the movie. It looks like the actor was ready to show us what he could do, as he felt very passionately about the fact that Gerwig and Robbie were overlooked when it came to the Oscars.

It’s not hard to imagine that Ryan Gosling was truly upset by the whole situation. It had to be nice for him to get his own nomination, but the fact that he couldn’t share it with Margot Robbie or Greta Gerwig was probably frustrating. And he wasn’t the only one. A lot of fans were confused why Barbie would see a significant number of nominations, without recognizing the director or the star that are arguably responsible for everything else that worked so well.

Gosling is clearly very protective of the movie, but that’s perhaps not too surprising. Barbie was a powerful movie that meant a lot to a lot of people. It’s a movie that got people talking and reflecting, and even now that’s the case. Gosling is still in awe of the way people talk about Barbie which may have been part of the reason he himself got so heated. He continued…

While Barbie ruled the box office in 2023, it came up short to its Barbenheimer competition on Oscar night. Oppenheimer dominated the 2024 Academy Awards, and Barbie came away nearly empty-handed, despite major nominations, including Best Picture and Gosling’s own nom, the movie only took home the prize for Best Original Song. Barbie did have the highlight of the night when Gosling to the stage for "I'm Just Ken," and hopefully that was enough.

Kingsley Ben-Adir has had some great roles in recent years and has been a star on the rise. In 2023 he appeared in Marvel’s Secret Invasion and Margot Robbie’s Barbie and 2024 has been off to a huge start with his role starring as Bob Marley in the biopic Bob Marley: One Love. Ben-Adir received strong reviews for his performance in the new film, and he may have Barbie director Gerta Gerwig to thank for that, as she greatly assisted in his preparation for the role.

And it was a role that Kingsley Ben-Adir almost didn’t even take. In an interview with Esquire the actor reveals that he didn’t initially think he was right for the role, but it was one that he was nevertheless drawn to go after.

Why Kingsley Ben-Adir Almost Said No To Bob Marley: One Love 

Playing Bob Marley in a biopic was going to be a tall order for whatever actor took it on. It seems that the scope of the role was both the most compelling reason that Kingsley Ben-Adir was interested in the role, and the reason he thought he should stay away from it. As someone who apparently couldn’t sing or play guitar, even he didn’t think he was right for the part, but he was also excited by the fact that he wasn’t sure how to approach the role. The actor explained…

In the end, he put together an audition tape and ended up meeting with the Marley family before being given the role. But that meant he would need to prepare to play Bob Marley in the middle of his role as one of the Kens in Barbie. Luckily Greta Gerwig had his back.

How Greta Gerwig Helped Him Prepare On The Set Of Barbie

Considering just how big this role was, and that even Kingsley Ben-Adir admitted he didn’t know where to start, preparing for the role was going to be even more important than usual. Luckily, the actor has a key supporter in Barbie director Greta Gerwig. While the One Love production began to get the actor's Bob Marley look right, Esquire reports that Gerwig carved out a space, literally right behind the Mojo Dojo Case House, where Ben-Adir learned the guitar and would be free to practice his Marley mannerisms and start to find the character.

Based on the response to Kingsley Ben-Adir’s performance, the work was worth it. While the film overall wasn’t given rave reviews, the lead performance by Ben-Adir was generally seen as the strongest part of the film. Apparently, the Mjo Dojo Case House was a very useful space for at least one Ken.

Greta Gerwig is a lot of things: actress, director, writer extraordinaire, and now, also one of the 12 TIME Women of the Year. She’s been a powerhouse, so of course all the work she put into Barbie landed it at the top of box office lists, with many considering it one of the best movies of 2023. And, if that’s not enough, with the 2024 Oscar nominations out and the event right around the corner, the pink extravaganza is nominated in a number of categories including Best Picture and Best Costume Design (but not Best Director, which displeased many). Because it’s been so well-received, there have been numerous rumors about the possibilities of a Barbie sequel. Based on what Gerwig recently said, she has very specific conditions for a revisit to Barbie Land to happen.

Gerwig, whose movie legacy includes killer movies she’s both acted in and directed, didn’t mince words (but not brutally) about what she would need to make a Barbie sequel come to life. When she was asked about it while at the West Hollywood Edition for the TIME Women of the Year Gala (via Variety), she didn’t provide a precise "yes" or "no" answer, but instead described that for her artistic process to thrive, she needs to be able to explore the deep, fascinating stories that lie underneath all the pink, waiting to be unveiled. 

Here’s the full lowdown of what Gerwig said:

From obscure, thought-provoking jokes like Proust Barbie to many other hilariously awkward moments, Barbie – no matter how pretty and perfect it is – isn’t the type of movie that allows viewers to just turn their brains off. Instead, its quirkiness and wit helps to start conversations in a way many other movies can’t, or just try too forcefully to do. It’s quintessential Gerwig, and her honesty is greatly appreciated: A Barbie sequel shouldn’t be a hollow shell compared to the original -- it needs those in-depth stories.

Gerwig further explained her reasoning:

While taking another trip down the pink brick road of Barbie land would be great, it seems that it won’t be happening any time soon. Margot Robbie, who produced the movie, even said that it wasn't designed to have sequels. Of course, things change, and I'd be remiss if I didn't note Ryan Gosling hilariously pitched "husky Ken" as well. But the silver lining for fans is that if a sequel eventually does happen, that means Gerwig found that undertow she’s been looking for. 

You can watch Greta Gerwig’s Barbie using a Max subscription. Along with a standard version, there is also a American Sign Language version available.

As Barbie writer/director Greta Gerwig gets ready for her movie to be celebrated among the 2024 Oscar nominees in less than two weeks, the filmmaker is already getting ready to adapt another beloved property: C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. As Gerwig preps her take on The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Netflix’s CEO has shared thoughts on the vision that has me even more excited. 

Much like Greta Gerwig, I devoured the Narnia books as a kid and always imagined the entire book series getting a complete adaptation. While Walt Disney Pictures made a strong start to the franchise with the 2005 movie, the property soon fell apart with its sequels. Here’s what Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos recently said about Greta Gerwig’s version: 

Sarandos spoke about the upcoming Narnia movies Gerwig is making for Netflix in the filmmaker’s Time “Women Of The Year” cover story. While it’s not necessarily a lot to go on, it’s a great tease for what’s to come from the director who made the highest-grossing movie of 2023, after breaking records for Warner Bros. and otherwise with Barbie. 

What always drew me in about the Narnia books was the deep and very detailed world C.S. Lewis created. It’s comparable to Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, and yet it’s surprising the series has yet to get a great movie series to reflect that. Apparently Gerwig has signed on to helm at least two of these Narnia movies! Sarandos called Gerwig’s vision for Netflix’s Narnia movies “incredible visionary,” along with sharing they will very much be “rooted in faith” like the books are. Greta Gerwig also said this about her next movie: 

Gerwig has previously gotten honest about feeling really “intimidated” about adapting the property, but in a good way since she feels like the franchise is “worthy” of being intimidated by. Greta Gerwig has been working on Narnia since before she stepped on the bright pink set of her latest movie. The director obviously just created a cultural phenomenon with the Barbie movie last year, so interest and confidence in the filmmaker has only skyrocketed. 

Along with Greta Gerwig loving the Narnia books as a kid, she said she’s really attracted to C.S. Lewis’ “euphorically dreamlike” writing style. Following the filmmaker previously adapting Little Women with such care and blowing my mind with Barbie, I honestly feel like the franchise is in the right hands! 

There's always a lot of discussion around the Hollywood awards season, especially whenever it comes to snubs, and this year is no different. Some notable omissions from the 2024 Oscar nominations include Barbie's Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig for Best Actress and Best Director, respectively. The two, however, were nominated in other categories. Still, the perceived slights have sparked conversations about the intricacies of award selections and the nature of cinematic achievements. Amidst many differing opinions, Helen Mirren, added her own grounded perspective, explaining why she isn’t upset over the Academy overlooking her fellow Barbie cast member and her director.

The celebrated British actress spoke to Entertainment Tonight at the 37th Annual American Cinematheque Awards. It was there that she reflected on the Academy's supposed cold shoulder with a disarmingly pragmatic and philosophical outlook. Her words offer a refreshing reminder of the bigger picture in the competitive world of film accolades. As the Catherine the Great performer’s puts it:

Helen Mirren makes a solid point. Most, including myself, can hardly remember what movies were nominated in 2023. However, I remember how I felt watching Viola Davis in her powerhouse performance in The Woman King, for which she did not get nominated. The Anna actress may know what she's talking about.

In January, when the Academy Award nominations were announced, many people were surprised that Greta Gerwig wasn't nominated for Best Director and Margot Robbie wasn't nominated for Best Lead Actress, despite their movie's success and their pivotal roles in that success. Robbie was still nominated for Best Picture as a producer on the film, while Gerwig received a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay alongside husband Noah Baumbach. Even though many would've liked to have seen the Barbie collaborators get those nods, Helen Mirren believes that how audiences responded to Gerwig's work is far more important and lasting. She continued:

These comments underscore a fundamental truth about the film industry: a movie's impact is measured not just in trophies and titles but in the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide. Barbie, under the helm of Greta Gerwig and the star power of Margot Robbie, achieved something remarkable—it transcended traditional moviegoing experiences. It even created a cultural moment with the box office hit Barbenheimer craze and conveyed a great message that resonated with millions. 

Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig may not have scored those big nominations this year but, hopefully, they'll continue receiving the love and recognition from the industry and fans for their efforts. If you are eager to revisit Barbie before the awards ceremony, you only need a Max subscription. You can also check out the 96th Academy Awards on March 10 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. Those looking forward to what this year has to offer in film can also look over the 2024 movie schedule.

Barbie (which can be streamed with a Max subscription) was arguably the biggest movie of last year. Barbie was a massive box office hit and it stands a chance of going home from the Oscars with more than one statue. Barbie received several major 2024 Oscar nominations, despite its star and director both being criminally overlooked. The movie is a staggering achievement, being both an IP-driven tentpole based on a popular toy, and a serious look at just what that toy means to the culture at large. It's incredible the movie works as well as it does, so maybe it’s not too much of a shock that Margot Robbie completely freaked out before production.

Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie both recently spoke with the Los Angeles Times about Barbie, and the actress admits that she ended up at her director’s house the night before filming was set to begin, having a “crisis.” She says she didn’t feel like she knew what she was doing and wasn’t going to know how to handle the character when the time came. Robbie explained… 

Robbie says that it’s not uncommon for her to feel this way about any character she is playing before filming starts, so that part wasn't necessarily a surprise. We know Robbie has unique ways of preparing for roles. Still, it was no less a problem for Robbie. And it’s ultimately understandable. Barbie is a movie that walks a tightrope. It deals with some pretty serious themes, but through a character who, at the start, isn’t a person. Robbie says this lack of character history was the thing she couldn’t get over. She continued… 

One might believe that Margot Robbie was exaggerating her experience, but director Greta Gerwig confirms the incident at her house. She also empathized with her star, as she says writers can have a similar experience in their process. Gerwig said…

Together the two talked through things, and we can tell now from the result that what they did certainly worked. Baribei is without question one of Margot Robbie's best movies. While Robbie missed out on an acting nomination and Gerwig was not nominated for Best Director, both may still take the Oscar stage next month. Gerwig is nominated as the writer of the Barbie screenplay and Robbie, as a producer of Barbie, will take the stage if the movie wins Best Picture.  

The announcement of the 2024 Oscar nominees sparked discussion among movie enthusiasts, mainly because of the not-so-good look of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig, both being overlooked by the awards body despite both of their critical roles in the billion-dollar Barbie success story. This controversy arose amid their film securing eight nods, including Best Picture. Ryan Gosling earned one in a prestigious category for his portrayal of Ken in the blockbuster. Interestingly, the 43-year-old star is facing pressure from fans across the globe to forfeit his nom. Now, a reported insider has dropped some claims about how Gosling will allegedly respond.

Ryan Gosling, along with fellow actor and Oscar nominee America Ferrera, have been very vocal about their dissatisfaction with neither his co-star nor director being nominated. While Gosling has spoken out about the situation, he stopped short of forfeiting his Academy Award nod. An insider who spoke to the Daily Mail revealed that he has no intention of doing so. The insider disclosed:

In his recent statement, the La La Land star expressed that he believes Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig's work deserves recognition alongside the other worthy nominees. He concluded his thoughts by congratulating America Ferrera and other artists who played a significant role in making the film groundbreaking. The source close to him continued:

The source indicates that Ryan Gosling is following his heart in his decisions and enjoys the backing of his fellow cast members and the director. They further noted:

Released in July 2023, Barbie made an impressive splash at the global box office, amassing $1.45 billion, including $636 million from its domestic release. Notably, both leading figures were recognized with Oscar nominations for their contributions to the flick. Greta Gerwig received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, while Margo Robbie earned a nod for Best Picture as a producer. However, it's surprising that Gerwig was overlooked for a Best Director nomination, considering the film's achievements. Echoing Ryan Gosling's sentiments, “There is no Ken without Barbie,” and it's essential to acknowledge Margot Robbie's critical role in the film, both on screen and behind the scenes.

A separate Daily Mail source highlights why the Academy voters might have snubbed  Barbie's lead actress and director. They shared:

Greta Gerwig had earlier received a Best Director nomination for her 2017 movie Lady Bird, which was her debut as a solo director of a feature film. Additionally, she earned nominations for the screenplay of that movie and for the script of her subsequent project, the 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's renowned novel Little Women. 

This year's Oscars are highly anticipated, and it'll be intriguing to see how it all pans out. The recent snub may work in favor of Barbie, leading Ryan Gosling and the team to win several of their eight nominations. Only time will tell on that front, though. 

The 96th Academy Awards will be broadcast on ABC on March 10 as part of the 2024 TV schedule. In the meantime, you can stream Barbie to prepare for the event if you have a Max subscription.

It was pretty much a given that the 2024 Oscar nominations were going to stir up some conversations amongst cinephiles. After all, just about every year, movie lovers dissect the nods when they arrive. However, I’m not sure anyone could have foreseen the discourse surrounding Barbie’s Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig not being nominated for Best Actress and Best Director, respectively. A considerable number of people – from general fans to major celebrities – have taken issue with them being omitted from the categories and have spoken out. Now, an Academy Awards expert has entered the chat, and they didn’t hold back when discussing this turn of events. 

During the course of this awards season, the box office behemoth that is Barbie has received a considerable amount of accolades. The Academy even awarded it eight nominations, including one for Best Picture. That’s arguably one of the reasons why so many are wondering what’s up with Greta Gerwig not getting a directing nom and Robbie not getting one for acting. Author and Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger has seen and analyzed his fair share of nominations over the years. And when it comes to Gerwig’s fantasy flick, he believes these two snubs will not soon be forgotten:

When talking all of this out, it should definitely be mentioned that the two stars are indeed nominated for Oscars this year due to their work on Barbie. The Lady Bird filmmaker scored a Best Adapted Screenplay nod, while her collaborator is nominated for Best Picture as a producer on the film. Still, as Dave Karger explained to People, “it’s definitely not a good look” that neither were added to the other major categories. Krager went on to share with the trade what he thinks might’ve factored in to the Academy’s decisions:

These perceived snubs led fellow Barbie cast members Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera to speak out in support of their colleagues. Gosling expressed gratitude for his Best Supporting Actor nod, though he also praised the work of his director and castmate. Best Supporting Actress nominee Ferrera similarly lauded her collaborators for what they were able to achieve and bring to the movie. Even the woman who inspired the eponymous doll shared thoughts, saying that there’s “something wrong” about the filmmaker and leading lady not getting noms.

Even though it’s been several days since this controversy all began, it would appear that the discussions amongst movie pundits and fans are still being had. It is honestly surprising that Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie weren’t nominated in those two specific categories, considering the work they put in and the praise they’ve received. Then again, it’s fair to say that no one is ever guaranteed an Academy Award nomination or win, regardless of the aforementioned factors. 

Barbie is currently available to stream using a Max subscription.

The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards were recently announced, and it caused some controversy. The record-breaking blockbuster Barbie snagged eight nominations, including Best Original Song nom, Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling, and Best Picture. However, many people have been vocal about the fact that Margot Robbie (the movie's star and producer) and director/writer Greta Gerwig were both snubbed. Barbara Handler, the woman who inspired the famous fashion doll, is one of the people who spoke out about the Academy's mind-boggling oversight. 

Barbara, the daughter of Ruth Handler, the inventor of the iconic toy, has expressed her admiration for the Barbie movie to TMZ. She allegedly told the outlet that she had seen the movie twice and enjoyed it even more on the second viewing. Handler expressed her disappointment Margot and Greta did not receive Oscar nominations. She believes these talented actresses and filmmakers deserve recognition for their exceptional contributions to the movie, telling the outlet that “something wrong about Margot and Greta not getting Oscar nominations.” 

The Real Barbie Is Not Alone In Her Opinion

Barbara expressed to TMZ her regret that Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig have been overlooked for their outstanding work on the critically acclaimed movie. Barbara's opinion is shared by many, who believe that the film was exceptionally produced, with Greta and Margot being critical factors in the movie’s wild success. Nominees Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera have also spoken out about their fellow Barbie cast member/producer and director's snub.

Actor Ryan Gosling recently issued a statement (via The New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan) expressing his gratitude for being nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Ken. The La La Land star acknowledged that he was proud to be recognized for portraying a plastic doll. However, he also credited his fellow co-star Margot Robbie and his director, stating that the movie would not have been possible without them. In Gosling’s words: 

Actress America Ferrera, who played the role of Gloria, a Mattel employee in the movie, has expressed her disappointment that Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were not nominated for Oscars this year. Ferrera shared her thoughts with Variety and focused on praising the contributions of the film's director and co-writer. The Ugly Betty vet had this to say:

This Marks An Unfortunate Trend

The Lady Bird filmmaker is hitting a curious trend – Little Women landed six Oscar nods in 2020, yet she was sidelined for Best Director. Odd, right? Both her films were Best Picture material, but the brains behind the brilliance? Skipped over. It makes you wonder if her films are the cream of the crop and some of the biggest hits of the year, why isn't Gerwig getting her directorial due?

Although Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie were not nominated, the success of the Barbie movie at the box office and the buzz it generated among audiences cannot be ignored. I suspect it will have a significant cultural impact for years to come. It remains to be seen how many Oscars Warner Bros. will win at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024, which will be a highlight of the 2024 TV calendar. However, you can stream Barbie before the big awards night if you have a Max subscription.

Last Friday, I celebrated a birthday – and I will egotistically say that I appreciate the prominence of the date in Stephen King’s bibliography. Among other things, January 19 is the day of the final showdown in Christine, it’s the deadline for Barton George Dawes to move out of his house in Roadwork, and it’s the day that King finished writing The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (per the author’s journal entries featured in The Dark Tower VI: The Song Of Susannah). But there’s no time to go over all of the appearances of the date, as there are more significant stories and developments in the world of Stephen King from the past week to discuss.

In this week’s edition of The King Beat, there is a brand new Dollar Baby Film you can watch for a limited time, and news of a King short story that will be published this spring and won’t be included in the new collection You Like It Darker. But before we dig into those stories, let’s first put a spotlight on Stephen King’s multi-Tweet reaction to this week’s Academy Award nominations.

Stephen King Is Evidently Not Too Happy About The 2024 Oscar Nominees, Particularly The Barbie Snubs

While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences recognized a number of phenomenal films with the nominations that were announced this week, the cries of celebration were arguably overshadowed by those of outrage. In particular, the fact that Barbie’s Greta Gerwig didn’t get a nod for Best Director and Margot Robbie likewise didn’t get recognized for Best Actress earned widespread scorn and condemnation. Stephen King hasn’t gotten as heated as some have on social media, but he did share a level of displeasure with the choices that were made for the 2024 Oscars.

In the wake of the Academy Award nominations being announced, Stephen King posted a pair of Tweets, and neither of them suggested he was a big fan of the results. In the first post, he questioned the distance between the opinions of Academy members and average movie-goers, writing,

To play devil’s advocate here, Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer collectively earned 21 nominations, and they also collectively earned $2.4 billion at the global box office. That being said, it has been a while since the Academy Awards actually gave the Best Picture trophy to a true populist hit, the last time arguably being Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech (which made an impressive $430.1 million during its worldwide theatrical run).

It was with Stephen King’s second Tweet that he specifically targeted his biggest gripe about the 2024 Oscar nominations:

As noted, Stephen King is not alone in his indignation here. A lot of great directors did phenomenal work last year, and those artists are being celebrated with Best Director nominations, but movie-goers who love the biggest blockbuster hit of 2023 wanted to see Greta Gerwig get her flowers for her major cinematic achievement.

Though it may feel like a backup prize given the consternation about the Best Director category, Gerwig is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay along with her co-writer/husband Noah Baumbach.

The Academy Awards are set to air on ABC on Sunday, March 10, and CinemaBlend will be very active covering the biggest stories of the night.

You Like It Darker Is Coming This Spring, Another Stephen King Story Will Be Published Outside The Book As Well

The best thing about being a Stephen King fan is that it never feels like he isn’t providing his audience with enough to read. In addition to the dozens of novels he’s written since the mid-1970s, there is always new material right around the corner. Since the release of his latest book, Holly, last September, Constant Readers have been anticipating the publication of his latest collection, You Like It Darker, but it turns out that won’t be the only new fiction we get from King this spring.

We learned back in November that You Like It Darker will be made available from retailers on May 21, but that book won’t include “The Extra Hour,” a new short story by Stephen King. Instead, the only way you’ll be able to read that is by getting your hands on a copy of the 79th issue of Cemetery Dance magazine. The publication hasn’t revealed any kind of a logline, but it’s promised to be “a brand new classic tale of terror from the master of horror.”

“The Extra Hour” is the big sell for Constant Readers on Cemetery Dance #79, but it’s not the only treat that will be featured between the covers. There will also be an interview with Stephen King by Stephen King scholar Bev Vincent, and there are multiple pieces about Gauntlet Press’ Hope and Miracles: “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” (including an interview with writer/director Frank Darabont).

A specific release date has not been announced for Cemetery Dance #79 (the website simply says “Spring 2024”), but the magazine is available for pre-order in two forms: the standard magazine and a limited edition hardcover signed by Cemetery Dance editor Richard Chizmar (who co-wrote the books Gwendy’s Button Box and Gwendy’s Final Task with Stephen King). I have already put my own pre-order in, and you can be sure that I will make room to write about “The Extra Hour” in The King Beat when it’s released.

For A Limited Time, You Can Watch One Of The Last Dollar Babies

At the end of 2023, the sad news was delivered that Stephen King’s Dollar Babies program has ended. For decades, the author made select stories available for adaptation at the price of $1 (with specific conditions attached), but Margaret Morehouse, who King calls “Margaret, the Mistress of Dollar Babies,” is retiring. The one silver lining to the news was the promise that existing contracts would be honored – which means that there are still short films that can be made.

This week, one of last Dollar Baby films has been uploaded online – but the catch is that you can only watch it for a limited time.

Thanks to Stephen King’s program, writer/director/producer Julia Marchese has made I Know What You Need, a 45-minute movie based on the short story of the same name from the 1978 collection Night Shift, and it is presently available to watch as part of the Movie Play International Film Festival. It’s available to stream on the MovieplayIFF website, and it will only be until January 27 when the festival concludes. (You can access the Vimeo embed on the site using the password that is included at the bottom right of the video).

Constant Readers will appreciate that I Know What You Need is faithful to the source material (albeit with a few changes), but what makes the movie particularly enjoyable for King fans is the wide array of Easter eggs that you’ll be able to spot. Nozz-A-La Cola is the main beverage of choice, both Derry and Castle Rock get name drops, and the number “19” is everywhere. Stylistically, there are hints of John Carpenter and George A. Romero, and the cherry on top is that the production shot on location in Bangor, Maine (if you’re paying attention, you can even see Stephen King’s house at one point).

It’s because of stipulations in the Dollar Baby contract that I Know What You Need is only going to be available to watch for a limited time, so do yourself a favor and check it out now.

Recommendation Of The Week: “I Know What You Want”

I think my reasons for this Recommendation Of The Week are pretty obvious. I had a weekly series here on CinemaBlend called Adapting Stephen King which was entirely dedicated to comparing and contrasting King adaptations and their source material, and I’m suggesting that you give it a try yourself by checking out the short story on which Julia Marchese’s movie is based.

“I Know What You Need” begins with college student Elizabeth Rogan cramming for an exam in the university library when she is approached by a strange young man named Ed Hamner Jr. The title of the short story is his opening line, and while Elizabeth is doubtful that the weirdo with mismatched socks can deliver on his suggestion, she is floored when he suggests a strawberry double-dip ice cream cone. Over the course of the next few months – and following a personal tragedy – she comes to find that Ed always seems to know what she needs… and she is ultimately horrified to learn the secret as to why.

This edition of The King Beat has reached its end, but be sure to come back here to CinemaBlend next Thursday to find my latest column. Meanwhile, there is plenty more about Stephen King to read here on the site, including my guide to Upcoming Stephen King Movies and TV shows and my features both hailing the best Stephen King films of all time and the best of Stephen King on TV.

The nominees for the 96th Academy Awards were announced earlier today, and Barbie, the highest-grossing movie of 2023, did quite well for itself, scoring nominations in seven categories. However, in addition to Greta Gerwig getting snubbed from the Best Director category, Margot Robbie was also left out of the Best Actress lineup. Now Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera, two of Barbie’s other prominent actors, have spoken about about neither women being recognized at the next Academy Awards ceremony.

To be sure, today was a good day on the Oscars front for both of those actors, with Gosling being nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Ferrera being nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Nevertheless, they made sure to voice their dissatisfaction with neither Gerwig nor Robbie being nominated. Starting off, Gosling issued a statement (via The New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan) that started off with him saying he’s “extremely honored” to be nominated for an Academy Award, and “incredibly honored and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.” Then he laid out:

Gosling went on to say that Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s work deserved to be “recognized along with the other very deserving nominees,” than concluded his statement by congratulating America Ferrera and the “other incredible artist who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film.” Gosling’s Oscar nomination follows shortly after the internet delighted in his reaction upon learning that the song he belted out, “I’m Just Ken,” won the Critics Choice Award for Best Song.

As for America Ferrera, who played Mattel employee Gloria in Barbie, she informed Variety that she was “incredibly disappointed” that Robbie and Gerwig weren’t nominated for the next Academy Awards ceremony, then elaborated on her thoughts by first saying the following about Barbie’s director/co-writer:

Had Greta Gerwig been nominated for Best Director, this would have been the second time this happened, as she was previously nominated for 2017’s Lady Bird. Instead, the category’s lineup this year consists of Anatomy of a Fall’s Justine Trier, Killers of the Flower Moon’s Martin Scorsese, Oppenheimer’s Christopher Nolan , Poor Things’ Yorgos Lanthimos and The Zone of Interest’s Jonathan Glazer. As for Robbie, who was also one of Barbie’s producers, Ferrera said this:

Margot Robbie was previously nominated for Best Actress in 2018 for I, Tonya, and for Best Supporting Actress in 2020 for Bombshell. Alas, when it comes to the Best Actress category this year, we’ll have to see who comes out on top among Nyad’s Annette Bening, Killers of the Flower Moon’s Lily Gladstone, Anatomy of a Fall’s Sandra Hüller, Maestro’s Carey Milligan and Poor Things’ Emma Stone.

In addition to the aforementioned categories, Barbie was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and twice in Best Original Song. We’ll see how many of those golden trophies that Warner Bros. Picture releases takes home, if any, when the 96th Academy Awards premieres March 10 on ABC, one of the 2024 TV schedule nearer viewing options. Feel free to stream Barbie ahead of time with your Max subscription.

It's no secret that Barbie was a wild success, making a ton of money at the box office, inspiring the Barbenheimer movement, and eliciting a strong emotional reaction from audiences. With Awards Season upon us, all eyes are on how many trophies the acclaimed comedy will snatch. The Golden Globe winners included Barbie, and the movie was also among the 2024 Oscar nominees. But after all that, why TF did Greta Gerwig get snubbed for the Best Director category?

There's no arguing that the Barbie movie was Gerwig's brain child, as she directed the film, and also wrote the script alongside husband/creative partner Noah Baumbach. While she and Baumbach got nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Greta Gerwig was noticeably snubbed for Best Director. And I doubt I'm the only one confused about this. 

Sadly, this seems to be a trend for the acclaimed filmmaker. Her previous film Little Women was nominated for six 2020 Oscar nominations, but unfortunately Gerwig was similarly snubbed for Best Director back then. Both movies got a Best Picture nom, which makes her snub all the more confusing. If the films are one of the year's best, then why not recognize the woman behind the camera?

While moviegoers are scrambling to figure out how to watch the Best Picture nominations, Barbie is a title that most people went to theater to see during its run. Luckily for those who missed it, the comedy is also streaming with a Max subscription. And smart money says plenty of fans are going to re-watch Barbie to try and figure out how TF Greta Gerwig could possibly have been snubbed for the Best Director category. 

The Barbie movie was universally acclaimed upon its release, including CinemaBlend's own Barbie review. Plenty of moviegoers really identified with America Ferrera's monologue in particular, resulting in her getting a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nom.

Gerwig getting snubbed again for Best Director is sure to turn heads, especially given the discourse surrounding the Oscars over the last few years. The industry has been calling for more representation behind and in front of the camera, after hashtags like #OscarsSoWhite went viral. It's very common for all of the Directors in the category to be men. That didn't happen this year, as Anatomy of a Fall filmmaker Justine Triet was recognized with a Best Director nom.

Regardless of Gerwig's latest snub from the Film Academy, you can't take away what an impact Barbie had on both the box office as well as individual audience members. The movie has remained part of the pop culture lexicon in the months since its release in theaters. We'll just have to wait and see if the movie manages to take home any Oscars.

Barbie is streaming now on Max, and the Academy Awards will air March 10th on ABC. Check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next trip to the theater.

Now, the Barbie cast was pretty much perfect as is, but in the months following the movie's release, a lot has come out about who could have been in the ensemble, and they are too good to not be bummed about. Great talents like Dan Levy, Jonathan Groff and Bowen Yang were almost Kens, but for a while now I’ve been the saddest about how Greta Gerwig couldn’t bring her Little Women and Lady Bird leads back for a third round. After Gerwig previously revealed that Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet almost had cameos in Barbie, Ronan has expanded on what almost was. 

Be warned, after learning who Saoirse Ronan almost played in the Barbie movie, you might become Depression Barbie. It’s just that good. Here’s what Ronan shared: 

Ronan revealed the information while speaking to Variety at the Sundance Film Festival, where she premiered her new film, The Outrun -- which will hopefully premiere on the 2024 movie schedule. Back in 2022, the Oscar-nominated actress said she was “gutted” she couldn’t make the movie work due to scheduling, especially after she led Gerwig’s other two directorial efforts, 2017’s Lady Bird and 2019’s Little Women. 

And no offense to Ronan in any way, but she would have been perfect as another Weird Barbie. While the actress has gravitated to a lot of dramatic roles over the years, she’s great at comedic timing, and I think her moment with Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie (as another Weird Barbie) would have been a highlight of the film. When asked more about the specifics of the role, she also said this: 

Yeah… she would have crushed this, and it would have been hilarious to see more worldbuilding regarding the Weird Barbies of Barbieland. Is there an entire side of the world where Weird Barbies are just weird together? Anyway, I did warn you knowing about this might trigger the Depression Barbie in you. 

Along with Saoirse Ronan’s lost role in Barbie, her Little Women cast mate Timothée Chalamet was almost in Barbie as well. While on The Tonight Show, he  said he might have played “one of the rejected Kens,” implying it might have been “a reject French one.” Like Ronan, he had his own scheduling conflicts and couldn’t make the cameo work. Not having two of Gerwig's frequent collaborators in Barbie is truly the biggest bummer.

While Ronan and Chalamet are not in Barbie, you can currently watch it with a Max subscription. Here’s hoping the pair will reunite with Greta Gerwig for her next feature! 

At one point, there were talks that Dan Levy, of Schitt’s Creek fame, would join the cast of Barbie as a Ken. However, sadly, we never got to see the David Rose actor in the Mojo Dojo Casa House, and we never got to hear him say “Ew, Ken!” And guess what? He’s sad about it too, and explained why.

It’s not that Dan Levy didn’t want to be in the Mattel movie. In fact, he is a big fan of Greta Gerwig, and he wanted to be part of the billion-dollar blockbuster that is Barbie. However, he wasn’t able to simply because of scheduling issues, as he told People:

While Levy didn’t specify which project took him away from Greta Gerwig's movie, he’s been booked and busy with four projects that came out in the last year. In 2023, he was part of the casts of Sex Education (which Barbie’s Emma Mackey and Ncuti Gatwa were also in), and Haunted Mansion plus he was in one episode of The Idol. He was also busy writing, directing, producing and starring in his film on the 2024 movie schedule, Good Grief– which is currently available through a Netflix subscription. So, it makes sense that “logistically” he wasn’t able to embrace his Ken-ergy in Barbie Land. 

However, even though you won’t see Levy as a Ken if you watch the movie with a Max subscription, you better believe he’s praising it as many Barbie reviews did in July. Speaking about how much he loves  Gerwig and the film in general, the Emmy winner said:

He also seemed to believe that Barbie was one of the best films of 2023, and as he explained, saying no was really hard. Reflecting back on having to turn down a role as Ken, Dan Levy said:

I bet that was a tough day! Not only would that have been a fun film to work on, but it’s also a cultural phenomenon. 

It turns out, Dan Levy isn’t the only actor who wasn’t able to play a Ken. Matt Bomer said no to Barbie too. The White Collar vet said no to the project, and, it was because he didn’t want to spend a lot of time away from his family. Then, like Levy, he ended up working on other big projects – Maestro and Fellow Travellers – and he has no regrets about not doing the film inspired by the iconic doll.

Similar to my feelings about Matt Bomer, I do really wish we could have seen Dan Levy as a Ken. That would have been iconic. However, I totally understand why he wasn’t able to. Now, while you can’t see him in Barbie, you can catch his feature-directorial debut, Good Grief, which he also wrote, produced and starred in, on Netflix, and that’s pretty fantastic!

Director Greta Gerwig is no stranger to taking risks. Her message-oriented, comedically-minded take on Barbie was a major gamble for a studio that may have been looking for a more straightforward approach to the iconic Mattel toy. However, her creative efforts paid off, and Barbie became a box office sensation while also garnering stellar reviews from critics. After such success, fans were confident in Gerwig's ability to adapt the C.S. Lewis book series for Netflix's Chronicles of Narnia project. However, the Lady Bird filmmaker revealed that she is in a state of “terror” when it comes to her vision for Narnia. 

Gerwig recently chatted with BBC Radio 4’s Today program about the incredible phenomenon that is Barbie, and her upcoming Chronicles of Narnia adaptation. The Frances Ha star’s deep love for the source material seems like the catalyst for making Narnia her next project. On the other hand, her personal reverence is also what's making her most nervous about approaching the beloved fantasy series. She said (via Deadline):

Gerwig additionally explained that her sense of responsibility towards Narnia also comes from the fact that she's not English. C.S. Lewis is famously an icon of British literature, and she understands how important the author is to the nation, making her feel even more pressure. The director continued to say: 

The Little Women filmmaker also expressed her anxiety towards the Narnia project when it was first announced, and it seems like those butterflies still haven’t gone away. It’s understandable that she would be intimidated by the project, especially considering three movies based on the C.S. Lewis books have already been made. However if her previous work is any indication, Gerwig’s own personal style will likely distinctly separate her from previous iterations. With such a love of the books present, I have no doubt in Gerwig’s ability to create something truly magical for the new films. 

Netflix has been in possession of the rights to The Chronicles of Narnia since 2018, and originally planned on adapting Lewis’s series into a TV show. However, plans seemingly changed over time, and it was announced as a film series when Gerwig became attached. A most recent update for Narnia suggests that they will be starting with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, which is the first and most iconic book in the series, and the rest of the arc is still being determined. There is no cast announced yet, but some fans are hoping that frequent collaborators Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan will return to the Greta-verse for the much anticipated film.

It may be a while before we get more news about Narnia, as it’s still in the pre-production stage, but Greta Gerwig’s involvement alone is enough to get audiences excited. Fans of the director can check out her latest film, Barbie, which is currently streaming now with a Max subscription. For more information on other projects, like Narnia, that are landing on Netflix in the near future, make sure to consult our feature on everything new and coming soon to Netflix. 

Jo Koy made history this year as the first Filipino-American to host the Golden Globe Awards, but it's the polarizing punchlines the comedian made during the ceremony's opening monologue that will have people talking for years to come. 

During Sunday's awards proceedings — which saw big wins from Oppenheimer, Poor Things and The Holdovers on the film side, and Succession, The Bear and Beef in the TV categories — Koy kicked things off with a few jokes poking fun at some of 2023's top titles, especially the Barbenheimer phenomenon that dominated box offices last year. 

After ribbing the long runtime of Christopher Nolan's beloved epic biopic and joking that he felt "creepy" for being attracted to Ryan Gosling's chiseled Ken, Koy drew groans when he said that, while Oppenheimer was based on a "721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book," Barbie was merely about "a plastic doll with big boobies." It may not have played well with the Globes' audience, and his monologue was roasted online, but the movie's director Greta Gerwig had a good-natured reaction to Jo's jibes. She laughed it off in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program:

Despite Koy's diminishing wisecracks, it's clear that plenty of people saw Barbie as more than just a movie about a well-endowed plastic doll. The thoughtful comedy raked in more than a billion dollars at the box office, a staggering theatrical success that put it among 2024's Golden Globe winners as it took home the newly anointed Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category on Sunday night. 

Barbie also scored the trophy for Best Original Song, for Billie Eilish's ”What Was I Made For?” (which is also an Oscar frontrunner), and it earned nine total Globe nominations, including for Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, Best Actress for star Margot Robbie and Best Director for Gerwig.

As for transforming the titular fashion doll into one of this year's most beloved movie characters, Gerwig added: 

Greta Gerwig isn't the only Golden Globe attendee who has commented on Koy's catastrophic hosting gig from this weekend's festivities.

Only Murders in the Building star Steve Martin was similarly gracious toward Koy. He posted on Threads that he "tips [his] hat" to anyone who takes on the "very difficult" role of awards show host, calling it the "toughest gig in show business" and one that is "not for the squeamish." Martin would know: the comedy star himself has hosted several awards ceremonies in the past, including the Academy Awards solo in 2001 and 2003, and with Alec Baldwin in 2010. 

Koy echoed Martin's sentiments in his own response to the much-maligned monologue during a recent appearance on ABC’s GMA3:

We doubt Jimmy Kimmel will make the same mistake of talking down about Barbie when he plays host at this year's Academy Awards ceremony, which will be broadcast on ABC on Sunday, March 10. But even if he does, at least Greta Gerwig has a good sense of humor about things!

Barbie director Greta Gerwig and longtime partner Noah Baumbach are coming off a major year, thanks to the film’s far-reaching success. Together, they crafted the fantastical comedy's acclaimed script, which they protected at all costs. The power duo capped off their outstanding year by tying the knot, which may have surprised fans and folks in Hollywood alike. Now, after exchanging vows with Baumbach, Gerwig revealed why she and her partner decided to marry after being romantically involved for 12 years.

It was confirmed in late December that the Hollywood power couple made things official in late 2023. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach first met on the set of the 2010 romantic comedy Greenberg, before becoming a couple in 2011. After being an item (and welcoming two kids together) in the 12 years that followed, they had a low-key affair, as they got married at New York City Hall. ET caught up with the Barbie helmer at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala weeks after the nuptials. And as it so happens, a smaller affair wasn't their first idea:

So all it took was a Billy Joel concert to push the longtime couple to get married. That’s an amazing way to say, "I do," to say the least! I can't think of a better manner in which they could close out a year which included not only their film's success and the birth of their second child. One can also understand why they went small. Planning a huge wedding can be time-consuming for anyone, especially such a busy power couple like this duo. It sounds like they still plan to do something big at some point, though, and I'd imagine that they'll pull out all the stops when they do.

The Barbie train didn’t stop at the film’s incredible commercial performance. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have been raking in nominations for their screenplay, including a Golden Globes nom and one from the Critics Choice Awards. Gerwig even scored a few Best Director nods. The former ceremony will air on CBS at 8 pm EST on January 7 with comedian Jo Koy as the host. Many also expect that the couple will hear their names called again when Oscar nominations are announced.

After their whirlwind of a year, it's likely that Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach will will take some time to enjoy their marital bliss. However, that could prove challenging as well, since they already have other gigs lined up. After lending her writing prowess to the script for Disney's live-action Snow White movie, Gerwig is helming a reboot of the Chronicles of Narnia series – which recently received a dubious update from Netflix. As it stands, she's working on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe script. Noah Baumbach, meanwhile, is set to direct an untitled Netflix comedy starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler. You love to see the power couple booked and busy, but let's hope they get to relax for a while after finally being declared husband and wife.

You can check out their stellar work in Barbie by streaming the film with a Max subscription. You can also check out our 2024 movie schedule for information on upcoming releases.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was, somehow, a movie that was all things to all people. It was a bright and colorful movie that was every bit the movie you would expect from the name Barbie, while also being a great deal more. It's amazing that it works as well as it does. What’s more, it seems that even the people working on the film were far from sure, as Dua Lipa admits nobody knew what to expect.

Speaking, with Vanity Fair, Dua Lipa says the experience of making Barbie was “crazy” because of the wild variation that was going on. She has spoken previously about how she found time to record the song “Dance the Night” for the Barbie soundtrack but in the middle of touring she also became part of the Barbie cast and appeared briefly in the film herself. She called the movie a “secret,” which she felt like she knew, but nobody else did. The singer explained… 

"Dance the Night" is just one of the big songs in Barbie, which is a movie that has made an impact on the music world as much as it has the movie world. The song is one of the most fun parts of the first act, leading into the first big emotional twist. And it's maybe not even the biggest song associated with the movie which has a killer Billie Eilish track, and of course, Ryan Gosling's Ken song, which recently got a Christmas version.  

But while Dua Lipa may have felt she was in on a secret, that doesn’t mean any of it was going to actually work. Barbie is equal parts celebration of an iconic piece of pop culture, and an interrogation of that item’s place, and impact, on the world. The singer says that nobody knew quite what to expect from the Barbie movie, but she credits Barbie writer/director Greta Gerwig with making it all work. She continued… 

Barbie is the biggest hit at the box office this year, and it’s also racking up early award season nominations. It’s impressive when any movie can do both, but Barbie is a movie that has proven it’s capable of doing just about everything. Just like Barbie herself.  

Greta Gerwig's Barbie emerged as a record-breaking standout this year, earning a top spot on my list of the best comedies of 2023. However, its billion-dollar box office triumph wasn't always a certainty. According to the director, investors were apprehensive about the film's prospects due to concerns surrounding a banned Barbie-adjacent short film crafted by Todd Haynes over three decades ago.

In a candid conversation, directors of some of this year's standout films, including Blitz Bazawule (The Color Purple), Bradley Cooper (Maestro), Ava DuVernay (Origin), Greta Gerwig (Barbie), Todd Haynes (May December), and Michael Mann (Ferrari), gathered for The Hollywood Reporter's Director Roundtable. Amid the chat, Greta Gerwig and Haynes got into a captivating discussion about the hurdles the former encountered while bringing Barbie movie to life. Gerwig, acknowledging Haynes' influence, noted the unease his short film instilled in the movie's backers regarding her creative directions. She shared:

In 1987, Todd Haynes, then an MFA student at Bard College, collaborated with Cynthia Schneider to co-write and direct Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. This experimental biographical short explored the final 17 years of the iconic singer's life, focusing on her battle with anorexia and its eventual toll, uniquely using Barbie dolls as characters.

The film sparked controversies with both Mattel and the Carpenter family, each for different reasons. As the movie maker puts it: 

At the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, indie producer Christine Vachon, acknowledged by Todd Haynes with a "Special Thanks" credit for Superstar, shared an interesting anecdote. According to Vachon, Mattel visited their office upon the film's release, seemingly perturbed by its unconventional portrayal of the dolls. However, demonstrating his resourcefulness, the director had already anticipated their concerns. As told by Vachon and reported by Deadline: 

Dissatisfied with his family's depiction in Superstar, Richard Carpenter legally challenged the young filmmaker. Carpenter won the case, citing the lack of proper music rights and effectively preventing the film's theatrical release. Despite this setback, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story has gained cult status over the years and can be found in certain places around the web.

In retrospect, Barbie investors had nothing to fear, even if Superstar inspired Greta Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach in some way. The film, a critical hit, outperformed Warner Bros.' The Dark Knight and received a glowing 4.5 out of 5 stars from CinemaBlend's Nick Venable. As for Todd Haynes, his latest venture, May December (featuring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton), is garnering some praise for its dark comedy and heartbreaking scenes. The film is currently positioned to become one of Netflix's best movies. All in all, I'm glad everything worked out for Gerwig and co., and that Haynes continues to make intriguing films today.

You can stream Barbie with a Max (formerly HBO Max) subscription, and catch May December with a Netflix subscription. 

July 21, 2023, is a date that will likely live on forever in cinematic history. That day, of course, was the release date on the 2023 movie schedule for both Barbie and Oppenheimer. Both films were helmed by prestigious directors, starred A-list ensembles, were critically acclaimed and Barbenheimer crushed at the box office. However, before it became the phenomenon it is, Margot Robbie was asked to move the release date of the Mattel movie. Well, she refused, and she explained why while chatting with the historical drama’s star Cillian Murphy. 

While speaking about how Christopher Nolan almost always releases his movies in and around July 21, Margot Robbie explained that she received a call from Oppenhimer’s producer Chuck Roven about the shared release date. He wanted her to move Barbie, and she refused. While speaking to Cillian Muphy on Variety’s Actors on Actors about why she wanted her film to come out on July 21, she said: 

Truly, it was the “perfect double billing.” If you look at Barbie’s reviews they’re raves, and if you look at Oppenheimer’s reviews, they’re stellar. Clearly, the two films coming out on the same day didn’t cause any harm, in fact, it actually helped both a lot. As Cillian Murphy and Margot Robbie said:

Cillian Murphy: That was a good instinct.

Margot Robbie: Clearly the world agreed. Thank God. 

People really jumped on board with the Barbenheimer double feature. Memes about Barbie and Oppenheimer’s shared release were made for months, Barbenheimer T-shirts were made, and people dressed up as the titular doll and titular nuclear scientist. To say it was a cultural phenomenon isn’t an overstatement, it’s simply a fact. Robbie further explained why she refused to move the date, and why the pairing ended up working so well, saying:

Murphy agreed with her, saying that people “don’t like being told what to do.” He noted that fans decide, and they create interest and hype themselves. Clearly, the fascination of two polar opposite films from beloved directors with incredible casts coming out on the same day caught the world’s attention and created an explosion of a pop culture phenomenon. 

Along with the general premises of the two movies sparking interest, the I, Tonya star also noted that fans likely were “itching” for new films from the two directors. Before I knew much about Barbie, I knew I’d see it just because Greta Gerwig was directing it. The same is true for what I knew about Oppenheimer, just knowing Christopher Nolan was behind it was enough to get me into the theater. That, along with a myriad of other reasons, got so many to the cinema to support Barbenheimer, and it was magical.

Both Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy admitted that no one could have predicted the phenomenon Barbenheimer became. It truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic event. Thank goodness, Margot Robbie refused to move Barbie’s release date, because I think it’s safe to say the world is a better place with an event like Barbenheimer in it. 

If you want to experience Barbenheimer, you can buy or rent both Barbie and Oppenheimer, and you’ll be able to stream Greta Gerwig’s movie with a Max subscription on December 15. 

The buzz surrounding the billion-dollar box office success that was Barbie (the movie even broke a Dark Knight record) is starting to subside. And as of late, fans have been eagerly waiting for updates on the next theatrical venture of its director, Greta Gerwig, which is an adaptation of C.S. Lewis's beloved Narnia series. Fortunately, Netflix's film chief, Scott Stuber, recently shared an update on the highly anticipated project, giving fans a glimpse into the creative process behind bringing this iconic literary work to life.

During an extensive Q&A session with Variety executive editor Brent Lang, Scott Stuber discussed everything new and coming soon to Netflix as well as his perspective on the future of cinema. This insightful conversation occurred as part of Variety's Business Managers Elite Breakfast. Amid the chat, Stuber expressed his excitement for the Little Women director’s Narnia project, acknowledging the challenge of adapting a series with such a rich narrative history:

The Chronicles of Narnia is a seven-book portal fantasy series by C. S. Lewis and illustrated by Pauline Baynes, which was published between 1950 and 1956. Adaptations span radio, television, stage, film, and video games, chronicling children transported to Narnia, guided by lion Aslan, who shapes the realm's history against evil. The series encapsulates the fantasy world’s inception to demise and is considered a children’s literature classic. It remains Lewis’ best seller, boasting 120 million copies sold in 47 languages.

The mega streamer reached a deal with the Lewis estate back in 2018, and the initial plan was for the adaptation to be a TV show. That ultimately changed, and Greta Gerwig joined the project earlier this year, following  the success of her cinematic take on Mattel's most famous fashion doll. The acclaimed Lady Bird filmmaker has not been shy about being "terrified" to take on the children's classic, but it's a fear that Scott Stuber and Netflix do not seem to share. The exec praised Gerwig’s talent and shared insights into the collaboration, stating:

This revelation sheds light on the director's connection to the source material and suggests a thoughtful and faithful adaptation that captures the essence of C.S. Lewis' imaginative universe. The Narnia series, known for its symbolic elements and fantastical storytelling, has garnered a dedicated fan base since its inception, and they'll surely be eager to see what's to come.

Also, during a chat with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, the Film Chief discussed Netflix's approach to creating original intellectual properties (IP) compared to adapting stories from existing catalogs. Scott Stuber emphasized their proactive stance in those specific areas, saying: 

The streaming juggernaut continues to expand its content library, recently venturing into Roald Dahl's vibrant realm with the release of the Benedict Cumberbatch-led and Wes Anderson-directed short film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. The film branch exec also seems to be assuring fans that more captivating content is in the pipeline, urging them to stay tuned to Netflix's TV schedule. 

Specifics about Greta Gerwig's adaption of the series of fantasy novels remain under wraps for now. Though Scott Stuber's optimistic remarks suggest that 2024 will mark a significant step forward in bringing this enchanting adaptation to life. Let's hope she can indeed continue her glorious streak of making quality films and provide audiences with a true spectacle.

In the meantime, viewers can explore her other notable works for a taste of Greta Gerwig's directorial prowess. Dive into the schedule of 2023 new movie releases and catch the year's biggest hit, Barbie, which is available for rent across various platforms. Alternatively, you can stream her 2017 indie hit, Lady Bird, with a Netflix subscription.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie is filled with memorable moments, but one of the most quotable comes from Ryan Gosling’s Ken during the third act of the film. After Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie and some of the others hatch a plan to reclaim Barbie Land, she visits Ken to say she wants to become his “long-term long-distance low-commitment casual girlfriend” to which he goes to the other room of his Mojo Dojo Casa House to yell “Sublime!” How the heck did the Barbie filmmakers think of that? 

It’s a simple but effective word that has gone absolutely viral along with just about everything else in Barbie since its summer release. When writer/director Greta Gerwig recently reflected on the big hit, she shared how “Sublime!” made its way into the comedy. In her words: 

While speaking to Variety, Gerwig said that the moment was a combination of Ryan Gosling and her own ideas. The La La Land star had the hilarious thought to have Ken go into the other room and say something to poke fun at the fact that Barbie Land isn’t a private place. However, it was the Little Women director who thought it’d be funny if he said: “sublime!” On set, it sounds like the actor did a ton of takes of the scene with a whole bunch of variations, but the single word really worked the best. 

During the recent interview, Gerwig also spoke about how the movie itself came together, sharing that she and her partner (in filmmaking and life) Noah Baumbach wrote the script when the COVID-19 pandemic had people spending a lot more time in their houses. She said they decided to do something “outrageous,” never thinking it would actually get made. Once they were really happy with it, they decided they needed to “protect” the movie which led to her agreeing to direct. 

When Margot Robbie first read the script, she recalled her first reaction was thinking it was “genius,” but she also told her husband that it was “a shame that we’re never going to be able to make this movie.” Obviously, they very much did make Barbie, silly lines and all, and it broke a ton of records at the box office to become the 2023 movie schedule's biggest hit thus far. 

And among the Barbie cast list, Ryan Gosling’s Ken has been a huge hit, as you can see in reviews about Barbie and the public's response to the film. Between the hit song “I’m Just Ken,” to “Kenough” becoming a part of our pop culture’s vocabulary, Ken has earned the right to yell “Sublime!” in the corner. 

Just like how the Barbies worked to protect and save Barbie Land, Barbie’s co-writers, Greta Gerwig – who also directed the film – and Noah Baumbach felt a need to “protect” their movie. Clearly, their drive to create the film they originally set out to make paid off. Barbie received rave reviews, dominated at the box office this summer and it’s a pop culture phenomenon. Now, the screenwriters have explained why they felt such a strong urge to create the lovely bright pink movie they had always intended to make, and I’m overjoyed that they did. 

The screenwriters and directors spoke a lot about Barbie and their writing process during a Q&A with renowned screenwriter Tony Kushner. As they chatted at the Brooklyn Academy of Muisc, the partners talked about their urge to protect their movie (via People). Baumbach, who initially thought the comedy was a “terrible idea,” explained why he thought Gerwig had to direct it, saying:

Clearly, Baumbach came around to Barbie, and he knew his partner had to helm it. However, he wasn’t the only one who felt this passionate about taking care of the movie. Greta Gerwig also explained that writing the film during the pandemic, when “no one was making movies,” gave them the opportunity to “go-for-broke,” and make the project of their dreams. The Little Women director said:

From throwing playful jabs at Mattel to working in an iconic musical number for the Kens to incorporating complex commentary on women, men and power, these two created a film no one expected. And it truly blew audiences away. Gerwig said they were able to do all this because there were no movies being made at the time, so they could work with an air of “fearlessness.” She elaborated on this point, saying:

I’m overjoyed that the Lady Bird writer/director and the Marriage Story writer/director approached this movie with “protection and fearlessness.” This Margot Robbie-led film is easily one of my favorites of the year, and it’s because of how unique and meaningful it is. I never thought I’d be able to see a movie that is so silly and colorful as well as deep and profound. But, we got it, and it was because of these two’s urge to “protect” it. 

After Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's movie came out, it made over $1 billion globally at the box office, and it broke records for Warner Bros. This unique and ultra-creative mega-hit from the 2023 movie schedule made me hopeful for the future of film. I hope more directors and writers are able to approach their projects with the same kind of protectiveness and fearlessness so we can get even more one-of-a-kind movies like Barbie. 

Barbie is the biggest movie of the year, having made over $1 billion dollars at the global box office. As it stands now, the movie seems like the most obvious of success stories, but even one of the movie’s writers admits that he thought the whole thing was a terrible idea, at least at first.

When it was first revealed that Greta Gerwig would direct the Barbie movie fans collectively either got very curious or very confused, as the writer/director of Ladybird and Little Women seemed like an unusual choice for a major studio IP. But Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach were set to write Barbie even before Gerwig agreed to direct it. And if you thought that whole thing was strange, it turns out Noah Baumbach felt much the same way, as he recently told Variety he thought there was no way the movie could be good. He explained…

Baumbach apparently felt there was “no way in” to the story and no character to speak of, but during the global pandemic, when it seemed there was nothing else to work on, Gerwig walked Baumbach through her idea through some illustrations she had created. It was upon seeing this that he understood what she had in mind. At that point, he was on board. Baumbach continued… 

This scene isn’t one that appears in the Barbie movie, though the scene with Barbie and an old woman on a bench may have been inspired by it. One sees how it encapsulates the entire movie in a single concept. It takes the popular doll and doesn’t simply make a movie out of the character, but out of the idea of the character and Barbie’s history as a piece of pop culture. It’s something audiences have truly attached themselves to, making Babie an absolutely massive hit. 

While it seems there are no plans for a direct sequel, a Barbie follow-up is very much in the cards following this sort of success. Barbie making as big a splash during the upcoming awards season as it did at the box office is also a very real possibility.  

Billie Eilish and Greta Gerwig have a major hit on their hands with Barbie’s viral track “What Was I Made For,” and on top of their deserved success bringing me so much joy, their friendship is also something to marvel at. Every chance I get to see the cast and crew of the pretty in pink film together and smiling, I’m over the moon. However, after seeing the singer and director together at the AFI Fest, I really wish I could have been a fly on the wall, so I could simply witness what it would be like to hang out with them.

As Barbie continues to be a primary point of pop culture discussion, Gerwig and the gang behind her movie’s soundtrack got together at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles. They were all photographed at Harriet's Rooftop, and it looked like they were having a blast. However, the real highlight of all this was seeing Eilish and Gerwig hugging and smiling from ear to ear:

Isn’t that the cutest thing ever? I really wanted to be a fly on the wall and hear everything these two were discussing. Maybe they were celebrating the massive hit that is “What Was I Made For” and Barbie, maybe they were chatting about a future collaboration or maybe they were simply hanging out as friends. No matter what though, I would have loved to witness it, because they looked like they were having a ball with quite a few of the other artists featured on the film’s soundtrack.

While the cast of Barbie likely couldn’t be there because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the musical gang got together to celebrate the film and the festival. This included folks like producer and Margot Robbie’s husband Tom Ackerley, Eilish’s brother and collaborator Finneas, Gerwig’s co-screenwriter and significant other Noah Baumbach, Mark Ronson, who produced the soundtrack and score, and Dua Lipa, who sings the disco dance track “Dance The Night.” 

While I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at this party, I also would have adored simply going to the AFI Fest to see the films the Oscar-nominated director curated for it. She was the guest artistic director for the festival, per THR, and she picked out films like All That Jazz, An American in Paris, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and more to show. 

Overall, it was so fun to see the fantasy flick's musical team having a blast! They certainly all have a lot to celebrate. Along with Barbie getting rave reviews overall and some of the tracks becoming pop hits, “What Was I Made For” seems like an Oscar contender, and it wouldn’t be shocking if a few other songs snag nominations as well. Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas already have one golden statue, and it feels like they could easily get another one for this film. The smile I have just thinking about that is similar to the joy they seem to be feeling in this photo from the event:

Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of the Barbie team back together again in the near future. I know I’d love to hear them all discuss the movie and making it more, and I’d be especially interested to know how Gerwig and Eilish’s relationship has evolved, because they seem to be great friends now. 

While that’s simply a dream I have, what’s not a dream anymore is the Barbie movie, which is available to buy and rent online. After you watch the film and cry along to “What Was I Made For,” be sure to check out the 2023 movie schedule to plan your next trip to the movie theater. 

For quite some time, there have been actors who not only bring movies to life by acting on the big screen but also play a major role in crafting the stories. Over the years, multiple Best Picture winners have been written by talented thespians, who also happen to be accomplished wordsmiths. From stars who've pieced together films that would earn them their first Academy Award nominations to those penning passion projects, here are 32 successful actors who are also hit screenwriters.

Ben Affleck

In early 1998, Ben Affleck became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood after he and Matt Damon won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting. The movie made the longtime friends -- who didn't always work together -- into overnight sensations. Since then, he’s written four additional films: Gone Baby Gone, Live by Night, The Town and The Last Duel, which he co-wrote with Damon.

Matt Damon

As mentioned, Matt Damon took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting in 1998. The movie, of course, also featured his Academy Award-worthy performance as a troubled young genius. Since then, he’s co-written two additional Gus Van Sant-directed scripts – Gerry in 2002, Promised Land in 2012 – as well as the Ridley Scott historical epic, The Last Duel, which he penned with Ben Affleck.

Jordan Peele

After finding success with Key & Peele, Jordan Peele turned to more behind-the-scenes work, serving as both a director and screenwriter. From his 2016 comedy, Keanu to 2022’s Nope and Wendell & Wild, Peele has cemented his legacy as one of the strongest voices in Hollywood. He won an Oscar for his Get Out screenplay in 2018 and produced two of the best horror movies in recent memory: Us and Candyman.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey will forever be remembered as one of the best Saturday Night Live cast members, and that experience allowed her to fine-tune her writing and acting skills. In addition to starring in movies like Baby Mama, Date Night and Muppets Most Wanted, Fey famously wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls, which is one of the best movies of the 2000s.

Sylvester Stallone

A handful of the best action movies of all time were written by none other than Sylvester Stallone, who has flexed his muscles in front of the camera and behind the scenes. All of the Rocky films (as well as Creed II) were written by Stallone, as were the Rambo flicks and pretty much most of his best big-screen ventures.

George Clooney

George Clooney has plenty of notable movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Syriana, Michael Clayton and even the over-the-top Batman & Robin. But the Academy Award-winning actor has also penned quite a few screenplays over the years, including the ones for Good Night, and Good Luck, The Ides of March, Leatherheads, The Monuments Men and Suburbicon.

Kristen Wiig

Two of the funniest movies of the past decade-and-a-half – Bridesmaids and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar – not only featured the Saturday Night Live legend Kristen Wiig's on-screen talents, they were also co-written by the actress. And penning those screenplays alongside her was co-star Annie Mumolo.

Tyler Perry

In addition to being a committed philanthropist and all-around great guy, Tyler Perry is also an incredibly successful actor, movie producer, and screenwriter. Throughout his career, Perry has written multiple entries in the Madea film franchise as well as other films like A Jazzman’s Blues, Acrimony, and Why Did I Get Married?, to name a few.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig has become famous for her Barbie screenplay (which was co-written by Noah Baumbach), but that's only one of the great scripts written by the talented actress. In addition to starring in several dozen movies over the years, Gerwig also penned modern gems like Frances Ha, Lady Bird, Mistress America and Little Women.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

In addition to being a talented actress with multiple scene-stealing performances in movies like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Solo: A Star Wars Story, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a talented writer. She created and penned the shows Fleabag and Killing Eve and received a partial writing credit for her contributions on No Time to Die.

Justin Theroux

Throughout his career, Justin Theroux has starred in movies like Mulholland Drive, Miami Vice and American Psycho. However, he also has some impressive screenwriting credits to his name. With work on Iron Man 2, Tropic Thunder, Rock of Ages and Zoolander 2, he has quite the body of work.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is an actress with a great filmography, through which she's worked both in front of and behind the camera. In fact, Thompson has Academy Awards for  Best Actress (for Howards End) and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Sense and Sensibility). She’s also penned movies like Bridget Jones’s Baby, Last Christmas and the Nanny McPhee films.

Billy Bob Thornton 

Billy Bob Thornton is another actor who has won an Academy Award for writing, having scored a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for his work on Sling Blade, which he also starred in and directed. Over the years, some of Thornton's best movies -- like One False Move, A Family Thing, The Gift and Daddy and Them were also written by the actor himself.

Emerald Fennell 

After finding success with acting roles in movies like Albert Nobbs, Anna Karenina and The Danish Girl, as well as shows like Call the Midwife and The Crown, Emerald Fennell turned her attention to writing and directing. Her feature film debut, Promising Young Woman, earned her a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. She also crafted the script for the drama film Saltburn.

Tom Hanks 

Tom Hanks is another Oscar winner with a number of screenwriting credits to his name. In addition to leading some of the best movies of all time, Hanks has also penned the screenplays for That Thing You Do, Larry Crowne and the 2020 World War II thriller Greyhound.

Kumail Nanjiani 

Kumail Nanjiani has starred in all kinds of movies over the years, with Eternals, Stuber and The Lovebirds being just a few of them. But Nanjiani also wrote the screenplay for The Big Sick, the 2018 romantic comedy inspired by the battles he and wife Emily V. Gordon faced early in their relationship.

Paul Rudd 

Paul Rudd not only starred in one of the best Marvel movies such as Ant-Man, he was also one the writers given credit for its screenplay (alongside Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, and Adam McKay). But that wasn’t his first or last script, as Rudd contributed to Role Models and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Ethan Hawke 

Throughout his career, Ethan Hawke has starred in movies like Reality Bites, Boyhood, First Reformed and The Black Phone, among many others. However, the actor has also written his fair share of screenplays as well, with everything from the second and third installments in the Before film franchise to the gripping biopic Blaze featuring his handiwork. 

 Angelina Jolie 

Over the years, Angelina Jolie has become an instantly recognizable face and name thanks to a number of wonderful performances. The actress has also a few screenwriting credits, including In the Land of Blood and Honey, First They Killed My Father and By the Sea.

Kenneth Branagh 

To some Kenneth Branagh is arguably better known as a screenwriter than actor. That's because he won Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the semi autobiographical coming-of-age drama Belfast and received a nomination for his adaptation of Hamlet back in 1995. The Christopher Nolan collaborator has also written other films like Much Ado About Nothing, In the Bleak Midwinter, Listening and The Magic Flute.

Steve Coogan 

Steve Coogan is famous for his performances in the Night at the Museum movies, Tropic Thunder, 24 Hour Party People, and The Trip, but he’s also a talented writer. Over the years, Coogan has written movies like Philomena, The Lost King, The Parole Officer and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

Sarah Polley 

After making a name for herself as an actress with roles in movies like Go, The Weight of Water and the underrated Dawn of the Dead remake, Sarah Polley turned her jumped into the writer/director seat. One of her most well-known scripts is probably 2022's Women Talking, which earned her an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Seth Rogen 

Seth Rogen has written some of the comedies that defined the 2000s, such as Pineapple Express and Superbad, as well as more recent hits like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. This is on top of appearing in all three of those movies, as well as other classics like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which totally deserved its R rating.

Taylor Sheridan 

Taylor Sheridan is mostly known for crafting Sicario, Wind River, Hell or High Water and other riveting dramas. But the Yellowstone co-creator also had a decent acting career before making the big shift over the past decade. He appeared on shows like Sons of Anarchy and Veronica Mars.

Lake Bell 

In addition to appearing in movies like No Escape, No Strings Attached, It’s Complicated and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Lake Bell has also written and directed a few projects throughout her career. There are the shorts Worst Enemy and El Tonto, which she followed up with feature-length films, In a World… and I Do… Until I Don’t.

Owen Wilson 

When talking about Wes Anderson's collaborators, few names come to mind as quickly as Owen Wilson, who has appeared in a number of the director’s films throughout his career. But on top of appearing in seven of Anderson’s movies, Wilson also helped write three of them: Bottlerocket, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Jason Segel 

When it comes to the movie sphere, Jason Segel is probably best known for his portrayal of Peter Bretter in the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but some might not know he also wrote it. After that, Segel penned three additional feature films: The Muppets, The Five-Year Engagement and Sex Tape.

Ricky Gervais

On top of creating and starring on TV shows like the original version of The Office, Episodes and Extras, Ricky Gervais has also written some popular movies throughout his career. The British actor and comedian has crafted The Invention of Lying, Special Correspondents, Cemetery Junction and David Brent: Life on the Road.

Woody Allen 

Throughout his career, which goes back the mid 1950s, Woody Allen has written, directed, and starred in dozens of movies, many of which are incredibly well-received. Over the years, Allen has won four Academy Awards, three of which were for Best Original Screenplay – Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Midnight in Paris – on top of all kinds of other accolades. However, Allen has only appeared in four of his own movies the past 20 years.

John Cusack 

Not only did he star in some of the most iconic comedies of the 1980s, some all-time great ‘90s movies, and experience a great deal of success, John Cusack has written a handful of films throughout his career. This short list also happens to include some of his Cusack's best movies like High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank. His other writing credits include War, Inc. and We Are Not Animals.

Rashida Jones 

Rashida Jones is perhaps best known for her roles on NBC comedy hits The Office and Parks and Recreation, but the actress has also written a few screenplays throughout her career. This includes Celeste and Jesse Forever, the 2018 documentary, Quincy, which is about her dad -- music legend Quicy Jones. She also has a story credit for Toy Story 4 and wrote “Nosedive,” one of the best Black Mirror episodes.

Tom McCarthy 

Tom McCarthy is best known for writing and directing Spotlight, the riveting journalism movie that won Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 88th Academy Awards. But while he was in the process of becoming an award-winning filmmaker, McCarthy put together a decent acting resume that included a memorable turn on The Wire (during the final season), Meet the Parents, Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana and Michael Clayton.

Each of these nearly three-dozen actors has quite the resume, both in terms of on-screen performances and written work, making them more than deserving of any and all praise.

Barbie’s outfits are everything, and Barbiecore is having a major moment. The costumes from Barbie have gone viral, and when the film came out on the 2023 movie schedule, the outfits featured in Greta Gerwig’s film were replicated by fans immediately. Now, the creative team behind Margot Robbie’s doll’s look is opening up about crafting her wardrobe, and of her 30+ outfit changes they revealed the one that was hardest to get right. 

The crew of Barbie discussed how they crafted Barbie Land, and of course that included all of the dolls' iconic costumes, during a panel discussion at Deadline’s Contenders London. Ivana Primorac, the hair and makeup designer for the movie said:

I believe it! She changes often, and her looks are always on point. While it seems like Barbie’s outfits seamlessly come together in the movie, there was a lot of thought that went into them behind the scenes, and there was one extra challenging costume. Ironically, the getups in question are those Venice Beach rollerblading outfits we saw when the first photos of Barbie leaked long before the film came out, and the costume designer explained why they were so challenging to create. Jacqueline Durran, explained why these fits were the hardest to put together, saying:

All the Barbies’ and Kens’ costumes have tons of thought put into them, and many are inspired by or recreations of looks from the dolls’ history. As Durran said, trying to get the rollerblading outfit nailed down was difficult because they combed through so much Mattel history to curate and create it. 

Well, that hard work paid off. The ‘80s neon outfits Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie wear with the yellow visors and matching rollerblades are seriously iconic. Also, the looks really help drive the point home that Barbie and Ken are like fish out of water in the Real World. Showing the juxtaposition between Barbie Land and the Real World helps illustrate the greater conflict in Barbie, and the audience is able to understand that better through the costumes. 

Despite the challenge, these costumes quickly became a fan favorite. When Barbie came out in theaters, fans wore elaborate outfits to the theater, with some rocking the fantastic rollerblading ensemble. Commenting on how the public has embraced Barbiecore, Durran said she’s here for all of it! However, she also made a valid point that if folks are going to recreate the looks, like the rollerblading outfit, they should try to source their pieces sustainably by thrifting vintage and secondhand clothing.

Even though the rollerblading fit was tough to put together, and understandably so, they really did such a great job, and it’s for sure one of the super memorable ensembles from the film. However, the entire Barbie cast is truly dressed to the nines, and every single look is pretty iconic. These costume designers truly did a fantastic job curating and creating over 30 looks for Barbie. 

That kind of work ethic and attention to detail can be felt throughout the entire movie too – it’s no wonder Barbie received such great reviews. Not only is it a touching story, but it’s also a visually stunning and Easter egg-filled film. 

Luckily, you’ll be able to see this incredible detail – including the Venice Beach rollerblading costumes – when Barbie comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 17. You can also buy or rent Greta Gerwig’s film on Amazon now. 

You can officially say “Hi Barbie” from your home! The uber-successful bright pink film from the 2023 movie schedule will be out on Blu-Ray, DVD and 4K on October 17. However, with Amazon Prime Day happening right now, it’s the perfect time to pre-order Barbie, and we’re here to tell you why. 

With Amazon Prime Day returning for just 48 hours, you can grab your copy of Barbie on Blu-Ray for $24.96, which is notably 17% off of its original price. 

That’s a pretty good deal for one of the highest-grossing movies of 2023. 

For more information about how to purchase a physical comedy of Greta Gerwig’s movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, check this out:

If you order a physical copy of Barbie during Prime Day you get a Pre-order Price Guarantee, and it should be delivered on its release date, October 17. 

Along with the movie on Blu-Ray and digital, you’ll also get six “Barbietastic” featurettes. According to comicbook.com those special features will include the following:

• Welcome to Barbie Land 
• Becoming Barbie 
• Playing Dress-Up 
• Musical Make-Believe 
• All-Star Barbie Party 
• It’s A Weird World 

If these special features are anything like the blooper reel played at the end of Barbie’s IMAX screenings, we’re in for a treat! Based on these titles it seems like we’ll be getting special features that could include a peak into how Barbie Land was created, how the candy-colored costumes were designed, and the story behind how numbers like “I’m Just Ken” came to be, among other things.

Along with getting all these fun features, having Barbie on Blu-Ray also gives you the opportunity to pick up on all the sublime details in Margot Robbie’s movie you might have missed the first time you watched the film. 

As someone who has seen Barbie numerous times, I can confirm that each time it gets funnier and more meaningful, and it feels like new nuances and fun moments come to the surface. Having a physical copy of this movie gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in Barbie Land over and over. Each time, you can also find more meaning and hilarity in the story all about Barbie having an existential crisis and coming to terms with what it means to be her.

You can also rewatch the amazing performances the Barbie cast gives. From Margot Robbie's grounded and heartfelt performance to Ryan Gosling’s over-the-top hilarious depiction of Ken, this film is filled to the brim with A+ work from some A+ actors. 

Whether you’ve seen Barbie or not, this movie is worth the investment for a physical copy. Let the glowing Barbie reviews and box office numbers speak for themselves. This movie was and still is a cultural phenomenon, and it has the potential to become a classic.  

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is the biggest movie of the year. One of the most talked about parts of that movie is almost the big song and dance number “I’m Just Ken.” The movie (which is not a musical) stops for a moment and becomes something completely incredible when Ryan Gosling begins to sing. Even Gerwig knew at the time that the scene might have gone horribly wrong, but she believed it could be something great. 

Speaking at the London Film Festival (via Variety) Greta Gerwig spoke about her billion-dollar Barbie, including the film’s infamous song. Apparently, it wasn’t until production that it was entirely hashed out what exactly would be happening on the screen.

How Greta Gerwig Conceived The Dance Sequence 

Greta Gerwig explained that the initial script for Barbie she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, just described what started off as a fight between two factions in Barbieworld and became a “dream ballet,” but exactly what the script meant was open for interpretation. A lot of people didn’t seem to understand, and even questioned if the scene was needed, but Gerwig fought for it. She said…

Greta Gerwig clearly had an idea of what it was she was trying to create. She says she used Singin' in the Rain as an inspiration as the film had a similar sequence to what she was going for. That gave her some confidence that the scene would work, but she says she knew there was a possibility that the audience wouldn’t go along with her, and if that happened, it was all going to fall very flat. Gerwig continued… 

Clearly, Geta Gerwig was right. Not only did the scene work, but "I'm Just Ken" became a massive hit. However, a big part of what people love about the “dance battle” sequence is the song itself, and we know that Barbie could have handled the "I'm Just Ken" very differently.

How The “I’m Just Ken”  Song Could Have Been Very Different 

While the idea of a fight scene being worked out through dance was part of the script originally, it seems the song “I’m Just Ken” wasn’t always part of that. Soundtrack producer Mark Ronson has previously said that while the song was always part of the movie, it wasn’t specifically part of the “dream ballet” but it was eventually decided that’s where the song needed to be. Ronson said…

Barbie clearly went all in on “I’m Just Ken” and the good news is the scene worked in a big way. Barbie likely still would have been a massive hit without it, but the song made the movie become a viral social media hit as well, which may have driven a lot of people to the theater to experience it.  Many expect to hear "I'm Just Ken" at the Academy Awards, and it may not be the only major Oscar Barbie is in competition for. 

One of the things that fans of the Barbie movie like best is the way it tackles how the iconic Mattel doll fits into 21st-century life. Sure, she was created to empower young girls – but how has that played out in the real world? In order to address that topic, Greta Gerwig poked some fun at Mattel and its executive team. Now, Mattel’s CEO has gone on the record about how it felt to be at the center of a few playful jabs. 

Barbie follows Margot Robbie’s “stereotypical” Barbie into the real world in search of answers to her existential crisis. When she makes her way to Mattel HQ, hoping to speak to the woman she believes must be in charge, she is shocked to realize that the toy company’s entire C-suite is made up of men. Their leadership skills (or lack thereof) quickly become obvious. Their inability to understand what has made Barbie such a timeless childhood icon becomes a running joke throughout Barbie too -- this is done primarily through the out-of-touch Mattel CEO, played with a ludicrous lack of self-awareness by Will Ferrell. 

This portrayal could have easily ruffled feathers at Mattel – but in a recent interview, the real Mattel CEO, Ynon Kreiz made it clear that the company took it all in stride. He told Semafor’s On The Record that he adopted a healthy mindset when it came to how Mattel appeared in Barbie’s world: 

Ynon Kreiz also told On The Record that Mattel leadership believed in Greta Gerwig’s vision for the Barbie movie, and they did what they could to support her from their end: 

That trust has obviously paid off in more ways than one. Barbie isn’t just one of the most beloved movies among 2023's movie releases, it’s also a billion-dollar blockbuster that broke numerous box office records upon its release in July. Barbie also boosted Mattel’s revenue – according to On The Record, somewhere in the neighborhood of $125 million in added sales. 

While it looks like there won’t be a Barbie sequel, Mattel is now mulling its options for expanding in the cinematic world, including upcoming films about Polly Pocket with Lena Dunham and the big purple dinosaur Barney with Daniel Kaluuya. It’s too early to say if those films will also take not-so-subtle jabs at Mattel, but if they do, the toy company probably won’t take it to heart. 

Barbie is currently available to purchase and stream on Amazon. 

From breaking Dark Knight-level box office records to spawning a fashion movement, the Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie has made history many times over – and its mark on pop culture forever. But the comedy also paid homage to cinema history, with a wild and elaborate tribute to one of the most famous opening sequences of all time. Though the scene -- which nods to Stanley Kubrick's 2001 -- is already a cinematic classic in its own right, Gerwig revealed on CinemaBlend’s own ReelBlend podcast that she hesitated to roll with it at first. She even tapped her therapist for some advice before making the final decision. 

Greta Gerwig has cemented herself as one of the greatest filmmakers of the 21st century. And she delighted cinephiles worldwide when she began her history-making blockbuster with a detailed and hilarious tongue-in-cheek tribute to the iconic “Dawn of Man” opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey, replacing the prehistoric primates with little girls and the mysterious monolith with Margot Robbie dressed head-to-pointed toe as the OG Barbie. The scene is a masterpiece in and of itself, and Gerwig told ReelBlend that a lot of thought went into how it would play out:

The filmmaker revealed that the crew lovingly, and painstakingly, worked to recreate 2001’s opening sequence. They built the set to be similar to Stanley Kubrick’s, and used the same film plates and front screen projection to make sure that it played with “the utmost integrity and excellence.” 

Greta Gerwig was also well aware of the complexities of honoring such a legendary filmmaker within Barbie. With that, she even struggled with whether she was making the right call: 

It’s never a bad idea to check in with a trusted confidante and make sure you’re on the right track, so I can’t blame the Little Women helmer for hitting up her therapist for a second opinion. Take a look at this clip from her ReelBlend interview for more details on how she made the decision to move forward with the amazing Barbie opening sequence:

Any concerns Greta Gerwig had about kicking off Barbie with a Stanley Kubrick-inspired parody should be laid to rest by now. The heartfelt comedy has become one of the most successful and beloved movies of all time – the kind of film that future filmmakers may also end up lovingly paying tribute to. If you haven’t seen it yet, or want to revisit it from beginning to end, anyone with a Prime Video subscription can rent it digitally.

There are so many stories from the Barbie set that make me want to be a part of such a magical pink-painted experience. From inside jokes from the set, to a hilarious Ryan Gosling performance that must’ve been tough to keep a straight face through. Margot Robbie and the “Ken” actor recently shared a BTS story that involved the costume director having to yell ridiculous lines at Gosling on set, and I don’t know how the cast was able to control their laughter.

In a press junket interview with the Associated Press, the Barbie stars opened up about some of their favorite off-camera moments from shooting the mega summer blockbuster. Apparently some of the lines in the more Barbie-specific lines from the film were really hard to say, especially when it came to the outfit titles that the actors had to rattle off. Robbie revealed:

They were so tricky for Gosling that the production had to bring in some reinforcements. The costume designer, who was an expert on all things Barbiecore at this point, needed to be off camera to yell off outfit titles at the Oscar nominee for him to repeat. Gosling explained:

This must have been especially funny, because the scene in question features Gosling as Ken throwing Barbie’s clothes off of the balcony of the Dream House, while passionately and emphatically yelling out special edition outfit titles into the wind. Even the thought of a costume director yelling off ridiculous names like “Celebrate Disco Bell Bottoms,"  and Gosling having to yell them back at Robbie with all the energy he could muster, is enough to make me giggle. The performance is funny enough, but to have the costume person there to make sure he’s being accurate with the ridiculousness is even funnier. 

Not only does this story give insight into how funny it probably was to make the Barbie movie, it also shows how important the sublime details were to the cast and crew of the movie. The scene in question is played for laughs, as most of Gosling’s Oscar-worthy performance is, but they still wanted to make sure they were being authentic to the world of Barbie. When Ken throws the costumes off the balcony, the frame stops to tell the audience specifics about the costume, including the year it was released and for what doll. The film certainly indulges in its own silliness, but it never strays away from being truthful and accurate to its origin.

Barbie may be transitioning out of theaters to a home release, but I’ll never get tired of hearing behind-the-scenes stories from the set. The cast fully commits to the entire premise, and the fun, enthusiastic energy is apparent on screen. Not only did they keep audiences laughing throughout the runtime, but it seems like they all kept each other laughing off-screen as well. 

Barbie is currently at the tail end of its record-breaking box office run, and is still playing in theaters nationwide, in addition to being available to purchase digitally on Amazon. For more information on other highly anticipated films heading to cinemas this year, make sure to consult our 2023 movie release schedule. 

Barbie is the biggest movie of the year. And with a box office upwards of $1 billion you would think that a sequel is a question of if, not when. And yet, it’s sounding increasingly like Barbie 2 may not be happening soon. In fact, it may not happen at all. That doesn’t mean fans hoping for more should be disheartened, however, as a new rumor suggests that a movie focused on Ken may be in the cards.

Unnamed sources who have apparently spoken with RadarOnline are suggesting that Margot Robbie isn’t particularly interested in returning for a Barbie 2, despite the fact that the film was a massive payday for Robbie, and a sequel certainly would be as well. Instead, it’s being suggested that a follow-up movie could focus on Ryan Gosling’s Ken, and possibly star a different actress as a different Barbie. After all, there were a lot of them in the first movie.

The Ken movie is allegedly where WB is focusing its energy because a Margot Robbie-led Barbie sequel is currently considered “off the table” according to one source. The reason being that Robbie would be focused on the story, and the story for her Barbie came to a conclusion. She’s no longer a Barbie, and so any story that would take her back just isn’t necessary.

But there is lots of room for a Ken story. He went through a pretty significant character evolution over the course of Barbie, but he also has a journey of self-discovery in front of him, which could make for a compelling story.

Having said all this, even the sources that are indicating Barbie 2 won’t happen aren’t completely writing the idea off. It’s always possible that WB could try to throw all of the money at Robbie to get her back. Robbie would almost certainly still be involved in a theoretical Ken movie, as a producer. Which also means an appearance in the movie wouldn’t be impossible.

Since we're dealing with a lot of unnamed sources here we have to call this a rumor, and thus can't put too much stock in it all. But this certainly wouldn't be a shocking development. The fact that we haven't already been told that Barbie 2 is happening, and has a release date of summer 2025, would seem to indicate this franchise is not moving in the same way traditional franchises do. We might blame the ongoing WGA strike, as it means nobody could write a new movie right now anyway. But it's honestly shocking that a deal for Barbie 2 wasn't struck while the first movie was in production. WB certainly had a feeling Barbie would be a hit. 

All the reasons to not do Barbie 2 certainly make sense. The story did reach a satisfying conclusion, and as much as a lot of people would likely want to see more, it seems likely any plot that brings Robbie’s character back would need to undo that conclusion.

Barbie was one of the biggest and brightest movies of the year especially when it comes to its box office numbers, incredible visuals, and its catchy tunes. Seeing the Mattel Inc. doll light up the screen at your local theater was likely a magical experience, but you’ll get the chance to see this comedy on a much larger screen for its one-week IMAX run followed by brand-new bonus footage very soon. If you’re debating whether or not to revisit Barbieland on IMAX screens, the film’s director, Greta Gerwig, provided her own reasons for why it’s worth it.

Knowing that IMAX releases will provide you with sight and sound that you can’t get anywhere else is why audience members pour into these particular screenings. We saw the success of these screenings when Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer extended its IMAX run due to its popular demand. Compared to going back and forth on whether or not audiences should watch Barbie again on IMAX screens, Greta Gerwig spoke to IMAX about her reasons why a 70mm viewing will be an unforgettable experience.

It’s true that everything you see and hear on that IMAX screen will be taken up a notch. The overwhelming amount of pink paint in Barbieland will stand out more and the musical numbers like “I’m Just Ken,'' one of the best moments in the movie, will almost feel immersive. That scene in particular I can imagine will be a favorite to watch on an IMAX screen with its insane choreography from the Kens. Plus, I’m sure Margot Robbie’s iconic looks and Ryan Gosling’s holy abs and hair will also look much more striking on a larger screen. 

While Greta Gerwig promised us bonus footage that would take place after the credits, we don’t know what that’ll be yet. Whether this could mean outtakes, deleted scenes, or behind-the-scenes footage, I guess audiences will have to catch Barbie on the mega big screen to find out.

The success of Barbie has been booming ever since its theatrical release on July 21. Along with the critics writing about how life in plastic is fantastic, audiences helped it set a new record for 2023 by having the biggest domestic opening weekend of the year. Not only that, but it became the highest-grossing movie for Warner Bros., by a solo female director, and for the year. Barbie even managed to cross the billion-dollar mark! You can attribute its success to many things including seeing this iconic doll on the big screen for the first time, the stellar cast, Greta Gerwig’s direction, or those who took part in a double feature of Barbienheimer. No matter what the reason is, people love Barbie, and its achievements will likely continue through its IMAX run.  

Other than being popular with critics and audiences, Barbie could even get Oscar attention. According to Variety, Warner Bros. confirmed that this fantasy-comedy film is campaigning for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling. I also think Greta Gerwig could find herself in the nominations category soon for Best Director, and a few choice songs could find their way there like “I’m Just Ken” or Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” Gerwig’s reaction to the movie’s success has been a “mind-boggling” one, and she found the experience to be “fabulous and strange.” She should be very proud of what she’s given to the public.

If Barbie was quite the attraction in local theaters, Greta Gerwig believes audiences will be amazed at what they see in its IMAX re-release. Make sure to catch this 2023 movie release on IMAX screens for one week starting on September 22nd. 

SPOILERS are ahead for Barbie. 

There’s so many reasons why I love Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Not only was it a fun moviegoing experience I had the chance to enjoy while wearing hot pink with a lot more friends than are usually game to see a single movie at the same time, I also thought it was a hilarious comedy laced with quite a bit of impactful commentary about being human. And, I truly wasn’t expecting to find so much meaning in a movie about the world’s most famous plastic doll, but here we are. What I want to talk about right now is one of my favorite scenes in the movie, because not only has it really stayed with me, it apparently was almost a deleted scene. 

I can’t believe one standout scene in Barbie was almost left out of the film, had it not been for writer/director Greta Gerwig insisting that it stay. I want to talk about the story behind it and why such a small moment in 2023’s biggest blockbuster made all the difference to me as a fan of the film. 

Barbie Is Full of Great Scenes But The Bench Scene Is A True Gem

The scene in question is when Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie has just had a wild first hour in The Real World, between getting groped at Venice Beach, punching the man who did it, and then getting briefly arrested with Ken. As she and Ken decide their next move, Barbie gets to sit still and experience The Real World for the first time, as Ken runs off to learn about the patriarchy. Without any calamities occurring around her, she has a sweet moment of gratefulness where she takes the whole place in, seeing kids playing at a park, people laughing and so forth. The ambience of conversation goes on around her, she notices a massive tree in front of her, and the elderly woman the next bench over. 

Amidst Barbie having a cry and focusing on the humans she is connected with, she looks to her right to see the first woman she’s ever really looked at who is not a flawless Barbie. She tells her she’s beautiful and the woman sweetly responds “I know it” before the pair laugh together in a very wholesome manner. It’s a simple scene, but one of appreciation for the natural cycle of life we all share, but can take for granted. Barbieland may be gorgeous, but I love that Barbie looked around and noticed the inherent beauty in humans, no matter their age, and it ultimately made her want to join us in the Barbie ending.

Apparently, There Was Talk About Removing The Bench Scene

Given my thoughts on the scene, I was naturally surprised to hear that this scene in particular was actually nearly cut from the film. If it wasn’t for Greta Gerwig putting her foot down in post production and Warner Bros ultimately allowing it to stay put, we may have never seen what I felt like was such a key scene to the movie’s messages. While speaking to Rolling Stone, Gerwig shared this about the moment in Barbie: 

As Gerwig spoke to, the scene doesn’t necessarily move the story of Barbie along on the surface. It’s a kind of random moment, but at the same time it’s subtly so central to what Barbie is. As the writer/director also shared when speaking to the movie’s themes, she said this: 

So when Stereotypical Barbie meets the older woman in this moment, she’s literally confronting aging. And in another movie, Barbie could have looked at wrinkles in the face for the first time and become irked. But I love that both Barbie and the woman embrace the fact of life in that moment. It’s so important to what the movie symbolizes for me. 

But Greta Gerwig Fought To Keep The Scene In Barbie

Ultimately, the scene remains in Barbie. As Gerwig also shared about the scene: 

It absolutely is the heart of the movie. Without this scene it’s less plausible to me why Barbie would want to become human. Let me dive deeper into why…

I Can't Imagine The Bench Scene Not Being In Barbie For A Few Reasons

While Gerwig calls the short connection between Barbie and the stranger a “cul-de-sac of a moment” I think it’s the most quietly powerful scene that strings the whole meaning of Barbie together for me. Because, Barbie is about a lot of things. It confronts the inherent problems of the Barbie doll and the often uneven relationships between men and women and the unfair pressures women have in our society. There’s truly a lot going on. But, the woman on the bench grounds the whole thing for me. 

Because despite the mess of society that Barbie experiences in the matter of a day, what really matters is being a living, breathing, aging, feeling woman. More than anything else, Barbie takes Margot Robbie’s character through the realization of what being a human really means. It means having to deal with all these crazy social norms and pressures and yes, the patriarchy, but ultimately she’d rather trade her plastic persona, “perfect” world and clothes for it because it’s what is real. When Barbie trades her life in Barbieland and visits her gynecologist, she is embracing the mess that is life and that is being a woman. And looking an elderly woman in the face and recognizing the beauty of aging and changing was a moment that directly led to that. 

The scene is empowering because Barbie embraces being a woman, wrinkles and all, in that moment and so does the woman herself. How often have you seen a scene with an elderly woman being the butt of a joke or being cast out as ugly or less than? I absolutely will never get over the fact that Barbie chose that moment to show support and respect for the aging process, and womanhood in all its forms. 

Thank you Greta Gerwig for keeping the scene! 

Barbie is now available to watch at home. It's a great time to rewatch it and notice these sublime details. 

There are so many goofy sequences in the Barbie movie. From the Kens flirting with the Barbies (which Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas agreed to) to a commercial for a depressed doll that watches Pride and Prejudice all day, there's truly something for everyone. One of the most memorable moments from the movie is the “I’m Just Ken” sequence, in which Ryan Gosling’s eponymous doll belts out an outlandish ballad about his perceived plight of existence while he goes to war with his counterparts in Barbieland. The results are absolutely hysterical but, apparently, the original idea for the song was very different. 

In a recent behind-the scenes featurette released by Vudu, the crew and cast of Barbie talk about what it was like filming and writing the climactic “I’m Just Ken” sequence in the film. Mark Ronson, who produced the soundtrack for the summer blockbuster, revealed that director Greta Gerwig originally just planned for the song to be placed somewhere in the film, but not highlighted during a major sequence. But over time, the tune evolved into something more significant and became a huge movie set piece in the process. The music producer said:

The track is just so catchy, and it's used to great effect in the 2023 new movie release. The result is an epic battle in which all the Kens in BarbieLand fight each other. The catalyst for the scuffle is the Barbies pitting their male egos against each other as a distraction so they can reclaim the fictional utopia as their own. The Kens in the scene have a limited worldview of the “patriarchy” so the sequences infuses a childlike element to the fight. With that, the guys use toy horse heads on a stick and foam balls for transportation and weapons. As for Gerwig’s inspiration for the big scene, the filmmaker explained:

The absurdity of the big moment absolutely comes through in true comedic fashion. It's so incredibly over-the-top, letting the movie fully embrace the ridiculousness of its premise and style. Such a bold choice like this from an auteur aiming to appeal to mass audiences is so surprising. The movie fully goes for it, becoming as wonderfully campy and bombastic as possible. Ultimately, it works well and is a blast to watch. This can be accredited to an immense amount of commitment from the Ken actors, especially Ryan Gosling, who gives an Oscar-worthy comedic performance, and the wonderful story Greta Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach crafted.

Even though the scene is so far into the realm of silliness, it still finds a way to be so profound. The Kens are fighting for the sake of fighting, not realizing that the entire ordeal is about their own insecurities. They're all trying to be something they aren’t, attempting to emulate an idea of masculinity that they have seen in the media. The scene is played for laughs but still fits perfectly within the earnestness and message of the movie. 

Making the battle so long and drawn out imitates the exhausting length of many male-dominated war scenes in movies, especially westerns. It’s clever and a great choice for the film. Also, of course, the now-iconic tune that plays over it all is just the icing on the cake, and I'm so glad it was featured prominently. Needless to say,  Greta Gerwig and co. made the right choice when deciding on the final vision that ultimately ended up in the film. 

You can see the “I’m Just Ken” scene in the box office-dominant Barbie by seeing the film in theaters now or buying the movie with VOD from Amazon.