The Barbie Movie Ending Explained

The Barbie movie is tricky. Many went into it expecting some comedy, references to the famous line of dolls, and lots and lots of pink. While the movie has all of this on the surface, it goes far deeper. By the end of the film, director Greta Gerwig has laid out an impressive message about humanity, independence, feminism, toxic masculinity, and more.

So, what is the Barbie movie about? What does the Barbie movie’s ending mean? This article will attempt to answer these questions and more. Keep reading to have the Barbie movie ending explained along with a few other key details.

The World of Barbie Explained

In Barbie, we are immediately introduced to Barbieland, a magical place where Barbies live perfect lives. In this land, the Barbies believe everything is perfect, that they exert a positive influence on girls in the real world, and that they have plenty of independence.

However, we quickly learn that none of this is true. Barbieland is not perfect, as there is a caste system that places Weird Barbies, Kens, and others far beneath regular Barbies. The Barbies may also create problems in the real world, serving as an unrealistic model for girls. And, Barbies appear to have little independence, as they are heavily influenced by the girls playing with them in the real world.

Barbie’s Journey

Barbie starts her journey with no desire for change. She wants to hold on to her perfect life, the belief that everything around her is perfect, and the knowledge that this will all last forever and ever. This is symbolized by her first confrontation with Weird Barbie. In this scene, she tries to reject the Birkenstocks, which represent reality, and take the heels, which represent her perfect illusion. However, she is forced to go on a journey of self-discover anyway.

Over the course of this journey, she is exposed to reality and decides she needs to make an effort to improve things. She helps make Barbieland a better place by overthrowing Ken. She also helps a mother reconnect with her daughter by showing that Barbie can stand for something positive. She even pushes Mattel to change by having them include more realistic Barbie designs (even if this only happens because it is profitable).

However, the most significant thing Barbie does is face her own humanity. Over the course of the movie, she saw the beauty of an older woman, the ability of humans to alter the world around them, and the joy that comes from growing and changing as a person. She sees that reality is messy and far from perfect but that there is something beautiful about all that chaos.

Then, at the end of the movie, Barbie is given a choice by her creator. She can choose to return to a perfect life in Barbieland where she will live forever or she can become human, enter the real world, and eventually die. With all this in mind, Barbie’s choice is clear. In the movie’s final scene, she is wearing Birkenstocks, the very same symbol of reality that she tried to deny earlier in the film. She is fully human now, ready to live a life where she controls and shapes her own destiny in a reality that is far from perfect.

Ken’s Journey

In Barbie, Barbie’s journey plays out directly alongside Ken’s journey. Ken journey start with him believing that his entire existence revolves around Barbie. We’re told that “Barbie has a great day every day, but Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him.”

From this, we can clearly understand that Ken sees little to no value in himself as an individual. He only sees value in his connection to Barbie. So, when she shows little to no interest in him, he feels worthless.

He initially finds what he believes to be a solution in the patriarchy. Ken becomes infatuated with the idea of having value simply because he is a man. So, he brings the idea back to Barbieland. While this satisfies him for a while, he discovers that the patriarchy has a downside. The competitive ideas that come from toxic masculinity quickly turn Ken against Ken until the situation devolves into all-out war. When this happens, Ken loses control of Barbieland and reaches his lowest point.

Luckily, he is brought back by Barbie. She explains to Ken that he is his own person and that he doesn’t have to be defined by his connection to her or anyone else. Ken understands, proudly proclaiming “Ken is me” and donning a new hoodie. Thanks to Barbie, Ken is able to end the movie with a sense of self-worth that he never had before.

The End of Barbie Explained

Barbie ends on this uplifting note. Both Barbie and Ken have undergone a journey of self-discovery and introspection that has made them better people. Even Barbieland and the real world have improved, as Barbieland has placed a greater emphasis on equality and Mattel is making “normal” Barbies.

The movie delivers a few messages through this conclusion. The beauty of humanity, the need to work to improve the state of the world, and the importance of self-worth are all stressed in the way this movie ends. So, the ending of Barbie ends up being packed with meaning.

Barbie Explained FAQ

What does “I Am Kenough” Mean?

Throughout the Barbie movie, Ken has a habit of coming up with his own names for things. He turns Barbie’s Dream House into his Mojo Dojo Casa House and turns Barbieland into the Kendom. His “I am Kenough” hoodie is another example of this. Ken is saying that he is enough and feels his own self-worth.

Is Ken the Villain in Barbie?

Is Ken the villain in Barbie? A little bit yes and a little bit no. Ken is definitely the film’s main antagonist. He directly opposes Barbie and is the cause of problems in Barbieland later on. After confronting him, Barbie is able to give the movie a happy ending.

However, one could argue that, even though Ken is the film’s main antagonist, the concept of patriarchy is the real villain. Bringing the patriarchy to Barbieland is what causes problems and the Barbies are only able to bring things back to normal by dismantling it. In addition, Ken suffers from the ideas of toxic masculinity that are imposed by a patriarchal society. His inability to find worth in himself is caused by this and is what leads him to his destruction.

Does Barbie Become Real at the End of the Movie?

Yes, Barbie becomes a real person at the end of the movie. The fact that she is seen wearing Birkenstocks, a symbol of reality, and going to the gynecologist, after previously confirming she didn’t have a vagina, confirm this.

Why Does Ken Sing “Push”?

“Push” by Matchbox Twenty is a song about an abusive relationship. Ken sees himself in a relationship like this, with someone who neglects and ignores him. This is particularly highlighted in lines like “I wanna take you for granted.” Thus, he likely resonates with the song.