Best Barbie Movies (October 2025)

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I’ve always thought Barbie is just… incredible. Seriously, there seems to be absolutely no limit to what she can achieve! She’s not just a doll; she can rocket into space, she can save the world, and she’s equally at home as a prima ballerina *and* a spy! There are so many amazing Barbie stories out there – Mattel really created a queen – but let’s be real, most of us probably don’t have time to watch all 52 movies. I’m guessing many of you grew up with Barbie, but maybe aren’t up for a full marathon these days – and that’s totally fine! So, I’ve put together a list of some of the very best Barbie films, perfect for a trip down memory lane or to share with a new generation.

What are the best Barbie movies as of 2025?

As a big movie fan, I remember when the first Barbie film, Barbie in the Nutcracker, came out in 2001. Since then, the series has really gone through some changes! If you think about it, you can divide it into different periods. First, there were those classic fairy tale movies from the early 2000s, then a big phase of musicals and princess stories in the mid-2000s. The 2010s saw a bit of a fantasy makeover, and now we’re in this really cool action-adventure era. It’s great to see Barbie focusing on her career now – go girl! I love it!

We could definitely include Greta Gerwig’s Barbie on this list, but it wouldn’t be a fair comparison. Everyone knows the 2023 pink, postmodern, pop culture sensation was a success and is easily one of the best Barbie movies ever made. However, for this particular list, we’re focusing only on the animated films.

Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001)

Frequently considered the top Barbie movie, Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001) started the whole series of animated films. It’s inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, and Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. You might be surprised by how well the movie combines these sources, especially the well-known music.

Barbie in the Nutcracker starts with Barbie reading a story to her younger sister, Kelly, who is worried about performing a ballet solo. The story then transports us to a magical world where Barbie plays Clara. Clara joins forces with a special nutcracker to defeat the Mouse King. It’s basically a Barbie-themed take on the traditional holiday story. If you enjoy Barbie’s holiday adventures, you might also like Barbie in a Christmas Carol (2008) and Barbie: A Perfect Christmas (2011).

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Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper (2004)

Let’s be real – didn’t many of us play out a version of *The Princess and the Pauper* when we were children? The story of “a wealthy girl and a poor girl who are completely different but become best friends (or even discover they’re sisters)” is popular for a good reason. Barbie’s 2004 movie fully embraces this classic fairy tale with a musical twist. It was also the first Barbie film to include original songs, and they’re actually pretty good, especially when you remember these are meant for children.

In this story, Barbie takes on the dual role of Princess Anneliese and Erika, a kind-hearted seamstress. These two look-alikes, coming from vastly different backgrounds, cleverly trade places. Their goal? To thwart the kingdom’s treacherous advisor and prevent him from taking control.

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Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princesses (2006)

Regardless of your opinion of this movie, Catherine O’Hara’s voice performance as Rowena is enough to warrant its inclusion on our list. Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses is inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which is a relief because it’s considerably less graphic than a lot of other Grimm stories. We certainly don’t want to see animated versions of Cinderella with gore. That being said, my own mother allowed me to watch Halloween when I was seven years old.

The story starts with twelve princesses who aren’t known for being well-behaved. Their father, the king, asks his cousin, Duchess Rowena, to teach them how to be proper young ladies. However, Rowena ends up making their lives dull and joyless. Despite this strict new environment, Princesses Genevieve (voiced by Barbie), Blair, Ashlyn, and their nine sisters mysteriously vanish every night. That’s when Derek, a resourceful young soldier, begins to follow them, discovering a magical world of healing and enchantment. It’s important to note this isn’t a sinister place. At the same time, the wicked duchess is relentlessly scheming to gain control and overthrow both the king and the princesses.

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Barbie and the Secret Door (2014)

In the 28th Barbie movie, Barbie stars as Princess Alexa, a quiet royal who has trouble performing her royal duties because she’s very shy. Perhaps ‘extreme’ isn’t the best way to describe it, but she’s definitely a timid girl. Her grandmother helps out by giving her a storybook about a princess who learns she has magical abilities. While reading this book one day in the royal gardens, Princess Alexa finds a hidden door. She goes through it and finds herself in a fantastical world. There, she develops powers and joins forces with some likable companions to defeat a wicked leader.

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Barbie: Spy Squad (2016)

It was time for Barbie to move beyond princess stories and into a career as a spy. While we’re still hoping for a Barbie who’s a neurophysicist, Spy Squad really delivers. The movie also gives a fun shout-out to the Detective Barbie computer game that many of us played (and were sometimes a little scared by!) on our home computers back in 1998. In Barbie: Spy Squad, Barbie and her best friends, Teresa and Renee, are chosen to be secret agents for a very secretive spy organization. They have to get back a set of stolen, valuable gems, which means sneaking into secure places, being smarter than tricky enemies, and facing more and more dangerous situations. With lots of acrobatic stunts and cool gadgets, this movie feels like Barbie’s take on Charlie’s Angels or Totally Spies.

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How we picked the best Barbie movies

It’s true that fond memories likely influenced our choices, along with how well the movies were written and told their stories. But ultimately, these are simply really good Barbie movies. We also thought about the animation quality, how fans reacted to them, and whether they’re movies you – or your children – would enjoy watching again. Even though many of us have grown up, these films are still fantastic to share with new, younger Barbie fans.

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2025-09-29 23:05