Two years after Margot Robbie rollerbladed her way through Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar Barbie movie, the world’s most famous doll is heading back to cinemas – and she’s going animated.
Mattel has confirmed it is teaming up with Illumination, the animation powerhouse behind Despicable Me, to produce the first-ever animated Barbie movie for theatres.
Yes, Barbie has appeared in over 50 animated films since 2001, but those were direct-to-video or streaming offerings; this marks her first animated cinema outing, proving Barbie’s big-screen era is far from over.
Details are tightly under wraps for now, with Mattel, Universal and Illumination declining to comment further.
But the timing isn’t surprising: Gerwig’s Barbie wasn’t just a hit – it was a cultural earthquake, earning $1.3 billion globally, making it Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing theatrical release ever, and scoring eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture.
Beyond pink carpet premieres and endless Barbiecore TikToks, the film repositioned Barbie as a feminist icon in the public imagination while delighting audiences with its razor-sharp script and high-camp joy.
Before it became a phenomenon, even Robbie predicted its success, telling Collider she told the studio in the green-light meeting, “You’ve got Barbie and Greta Gerwig… it’ll make a billion dollars.” She wasn’t wrong.
Now, Mattel is looking to keep that momentum alive as it expands its ambitions in Hollywood. The company has plans for nearly 20 other big-screen projects, including Polly Pocket and Hot Wheels.
But bringing Barbie back makes sense: she’s a globally recognised brand, equally loved by children for her sparkle and by adults who connected with Gerwig’s film’s deeper existential questions.
So what will animated Barbie look like in 2026 or 2027, when the film is likely to land?
The potential is huge: a colourful, family-friendly adventure that can reach a new generation of children while leaning into the humour and style that made Barbie a household name.
Or, perhaps, it will take inspiration from Gerwig’s sharp take, weaving in wit and emotional resonance to keep older audiences interested while selling a mountain of dolls in the process.
While Barbie has long faced criticism for promoting unrealistic beauty standards, the success of Gerwig’s film showed that Barbie can evolve, reflecting new conversations about gender, identity and empowerment while still embracing fun and fantasy.
A theatrical animated feature could be the next evolution in keeping Barbie relevant, balancing her legacy with a modern refresh.
For now, Barbie fans can only speculate whether we will see her in princess gowns, astronaut helmets, or tackling new adventures with her endless roster of careers.
So dust off your pink jacket: Barbie’s cinematic reign isn’t over yet. .
