Barbie is a female-led story that understands how difficult it is to be a girl in the world. Barbie's journey to the real world allows her to see how Barbieland is not anything like the real world. She recognizes the drastic differences between the two realities and how she and the other Barbies had not saved the world and solved all of its problems like she believed. Rather than have the film be a story of Barbie accidentally coming alive and struggling to fit into the real world, her journey involves her trying to figure out how to solve a real problem someone is having so that she can go back to her life.
Greta Gerwig's story gives a different type of life to Barbie than any other project. The different forms of sense of humor, acknowledging the various types of careers the doll can have, and directly being a satire film all add to the movie's personality and charisma. But, Barbie is not the only movie out there that tackles themes of feminism, identity, and striving to prove yourself in the world. Feminity does not have to be replaced for a woman to be successful, and there are plenty of other films focused on positive female friendships and stories that help develop those ideas.
Life Size (2000)
Lindsay Lohan and Tyra Banks take on a doll comes-to-life, fish-out-of-water story. When Casey accidentally turns her Eve doll to life, Eve must learn to understand reality. Casey and Eve become friends as Casey struggles in the aftermath of her mother's death and does not have many close friends. The movie may be an interesting choice, as Eve must help Casey figure out how to handle her life, similar to how Barbie helps Gloria and Sasha when their lives have hit an impasse. However, the movies conclude with drastically different endings.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Blonde shares Barbie's love of owning pink. Elle Woods and Barbie are each off on a journey of self-discovery, even if Elle does not recognize it quite yet, given her original motivation is to reunite with her ex-boyfriend. However, Elle's journey becomes more about herself and less about her ex-boyfriend as the movie continues, and Legally Blonde proves itself to be a film about a smart, independent woman, who can want an empowering career. Elle Woods is in control of her own life and can choose how she wants to live it, just as Barbie is given that same option.
John Tucker Must Die (2006)
John Tucker Must Die follows Kate, Beth, Heather, and Carrie as they work together to ruin John Tucker's life after he has dated and cheated on each of them. John Tucker Must Die recognizes that John is the antagonist of the movie. He plays with girls' feelings so that he can get the results he wants. When the girls team up, they want to make him undateable to the rest of the girls at school. However, the movie also highlights that it is difficult to tear down the golden boy's reputation, who manages to find a way to avoid all consequences. However, the movie still recognizes female friendship, showing the girls banding together and recognizing that their biggest problem is John Tucker and not each other.
Do Revenge (2022)
An unexpected sisterhood arises when unlikely friends end up being surprising enemies. Drea and Eleanor's messed up friendship works perfectly in its satire and comedy, but Do Revenge also shares Barbie's wish to tackle the patriarchy. When Drea's private video is leaked, Max receives no consequences for being responsible for it. Drea and Eleanor call out the double standard and successfully prove the villain Max truly is.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Enola Holmes is a duology about identity, with the sequel emphasizing Enola's wish to remove herself from her brother Sherlock's shadow. Enola works hard as a private investigator and is talented at her work. Sadly, her age and being a woman prevent her from reaching her brother's success. Even if Sherlock recognizes Enola's brilliance, and others do as well, Sherlock is the person who gets the jobs first. Still, Enola is an intelligent young woman trying to make her place in the world.
13 Going On 30
The question about identity is a big one, with 13 Going On 30. Jenna Rink, at thirteen years old, is ready to grow up and be a charming and confident adult. But, when she wakes up in the future at age thirty, she realizes there is more to adulthood than she anticipated. Jenna's journey of self-realization follows her discovering who she would become if she continued following the path of popularity she so desperately wanted, which meant no longer talking to her parents, having no connection to her childhood best friend, and being a traitor to the company she loves. Jenna's adventure of adulthood teaches her a few lessons about who she is, who she wants to be, and a more positive vision of the future if she chooses to be herself rather than try to be someone else.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Barbie and Ken make appearances in Toy Story 3, with Ken even showing signs of his villainous behavior. However, in this case, it is not the patriarchy that causes Ken to be the antagonist. In this case, it is toy politics. Still, while Toy Story 3's iteration of Barbie and Ken is drastically different from how Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling invented Barbie and Ken, it is still a fun movie to watch these characters interact in a different setting, where Ken even gets his own small redemption arc.
Easy A (2010)
Olive Stone sticks it to stereotypes, tropes, expectations, and patriarchal beliefs in a film that has everyone believe that she is having sexual relationships with many of her male classmates. Olive, unsurprisingly, starts to gain a reputation, one that men would never be given in the same position. There is a difference between how people see women's and men's sexual activities, and placing Olive at the center of a scandal, where a young man in her position would be celebrated by his classmates, portrays the stark difference in a double standard. Still, Olive fights against those looking down on her, wanting to come out of this as a strong, independent young woman.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig directs the movie focusing on the young woman, Jo March. Little Women is a female-focused movie about a young writer trying to make a point about her life. She does not need a man to be happy and successful. A woman's place does not begin and end with falling in love. Little Women tackles the complexities of women and what it means to be a girl growing up in a period piece. However, Little Women also delivers a speech about how Jo, although wanting to not want love, can not help but feel the loneliness of not having someone to share her life with. Jo features a variety of contradictions and complexities that allow her to feel like a flawed human.
Miss Congeniality (2000)
Sandra Bullock reminds society that women can be anything in a movie that shows Gracie Hart, a spy, become an undercover beauty pageant contestant. Miss Congeniality finds a way to meld female friendship and support into a movie that also showcases women to be tough, talented, intelligent, and well-rounded individuals.