We all have guilty pleasures. Some people are car-freaks, others mince together odd combinations of pickles and peanut butter. But mine is the eclectic, [insert word for legendary] franchise that took the world by storm in 1987: the Mattel Barbie movie franchise. 

While seemingly lighthearted, these movies are a major source of my [serenity] during stressful times, and are the keepers of nostalgic moments from my childhood. I never cease to find meaning in these films, but I must admit there are a few that strike me as the most [impactful]. So I’ve compiled a list of my top ten favorite Barbie movies, ranked by [explanations] included, for your reading pleasure: 

Scoring will be determined by four factors: Infuriating Villains, Heroine Development,  Memorable songs, and nostalgic value 

Barbie in Thumbelina : 11/20

I have distinct memories of watching Thumbelina at my grandmother’s house on days after returning from grade school. So when Barbie: Thumbelina was released, I was ecstatic! In this colorful rendition of the classic tale, Thumbelina is a tiny girl that lives amongst the Twillerbees in a field of wildflowers. Thumbelina embarks on a journey to save her home from being destroyed by humans, and turned into a factory. This adaptation made the cut as I was inspired by the message of home, conservation, and humanity’s potential for destruction. At six years old, I couldn’t fully grasp the message of this tale, but now looking back I have a profound appreciation for it. There are home heavy issues tackled in this light hearted film. Though there were not many notable tunes or much heroine development, the villain of this story is perhaps the most notorious of all Barbie movies, humanity. For that reason, Barbie Thumbelina made the Top Ten cut.  

Ratings: 

Infuriating Villain: 5 starts 

Heroine development: 2 stars 

Memorable songs: 2 stars

Nostalgic value: 2 stars 

Barbie Princess Charm School: 13/20

I have a soft spot for the “long lost princess triumphantly reclaims her birthright and steps into her power” trope, and this movie perfectly executes. On days when I wish to fill the air with background noise, or fill my mind with something light and [fun], I turn on Barbie Princess Charm School. In the kingdom of Gardenia, Blair Willows is a seventeen year old commoner that wins a lottery to attend the prestigious Charm School for princesses. On this journey, Blair finds true friends and the truth about her mysterious past. Blair is really Sofia, the lost princess of Gardenia. She defeats the corrupt ruler in power, saves her neighborhood from gentrification, and finally steps into her power. 

Ratings:

Infuriating Villain: 5 starts 

Heroine development: 4 stars 

Memorable songs: 2 stars

Nostalgic value: 2 stars

Barbie and the Diamond Castle: 17/20

Cottage core, wild flowers, evenings filled with song. One day, Alexa and Liana’s simple lives are transformed forever when they are given an enchanted mirror and befriend the mysterious girl trapped inside. In a quest to save their new friend, Alexa and Liana journey to find the Diamond Castle, and put their friendship to the true test. Joined together in song and friendship, the two girls save their friend, and uncover the Diamond Castle. The message of friendship in this film is the most striking and powerful. The song Connected will sometimes invade my brain at the randomest of times. The cultural impact of this song is close to unbeatable, and for these reasons, Barbie and the Diamond Castle is among my highest ranking choices. 

Memorable songs: 5 stars

Infuriating villain: 4 stars

Heroine development: 4 stars 

Nostalgic value: 4 stars 

Barbie and the Three Musketeers: 17/20

“True courage is pursuing your dream, even when everyone else says it’s impossible.”

Barbie and the Three Musketeers is the epitome of feminism. 

Corrine, a young country girl, heads to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a musketeer. In Paris, Corrine meets three other girls with the same dream, and they work together to become the first female musketeers. Together they uncover a plot to overthrow the monarchy and they save the prince. Corrine and her friends undoubtedly face sexism in their pursuit of becoming musketeers. Their unfailing determination is inspiring, and their struggles are realistic. This message is powerful to all the young kids (and seventeen year-old girls) watching. For this reason alone, Barbie and the Three Musketeers 

Ratings-

Infuriating Villain: 4 starts 

Heroine development: 5 stars 

Memorable songs: 4 stars

Nostalgic value: 4 stars

Barbie Fairytopia: magic of the rainbow- 12/20

It is for one reason and one reason alone, that Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow ranks so high on my scale. Bibble, Elina’s faithful puffball, is clearly the star of this magical tale. However, the rest of the story is quite fascinating as well. Elina is a fairy, selected to become a magical apprentice and learn the flight of spring at a prestigious school. Elina soon learns that the evil Laverna plans to take over Fairytopia. With the help of her friends, Elina must defeat the evil sorceress and save the land from being stripped of its magic. The magical abilities of the main character and frog henchmen of the evil sorceress in this film stand out as memorable. For small reasons like these, the nostalgic value of this movie is immense in my heart. 

Ratings-

Infuriating Villain: 4 starts 

Heroine development: 2 stars 

Memorable songs: 2 stars

Nostalgic value: 4 stars

Barbie in the Nutcracker- 16/20 

In this adaptation of The Nutcracker, Clara is a young girl that goes on a magical journey of self discovery. Clara’s always yearned for adventure, and finds that very thing one night when she’s shrunken by the evil Mouse King. Clara embarks on an expedition with her nutcracker through a magic portal in hopes of finding the brave, kind Sugar Plum Princess that will save the day. On this journey Clara embraces her love for dance, and finds the strength and courage within herself to recognize that she is the Sugar Plum Princess. 

Ratings-

Infuriating Villain: 4

Heroine development: 3 stars

Memorable songs: 4 stars

Nostalgic value: 5 stars

Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princess: 14/20

I have always dreamt of finding a secret door to a hidden world, as one does. The magical quality of this movie is enchanting, and never fails to transport me to a universe in which things like this occur on the daily. In this 2006 classic, Princess Genieve and her eleven sisters are forced to be reckoned with, as athletes, scholars, and spirited souls. Diverse as they are they all have one thing in common, though, their love for dance. With secret portals forged by lost mothers, conspiracies to overthrow the king, and evil duchesses with poison, this movie is awarded its position for it.

Ratings-

Memorable songs: 3 stars

Infuriating villain: 3 stars

Heroine development: 3 stars 

Nostalgic value: 5 stars 

Barbie of Swan Lake: 17/20

As the opening scene unfolds and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Theme fills the air, I am imbued with a unique tranquility. In this adaptation of the classic ballet Swan Lake, the evil wizard Rothbart turns a young girl, Odette, into a swan. Bolstered by the powers of a magic crystal, Odette finds the courage to defeat Rothbart, while also discovering her true love. I remember watching this movie with my best friends under the cover of pillow forts in the front room of my house. As I click on this film on my Mac, I am transported back to the era of DVDs and once again I am in the 5th grade. Just as I will always envy Odette’s purple dress and jewel crown, I will gladly watch this movie on any given day. 

Ratings-

Memorable songs: 5 stars

Infuriating villain: 4 stars

Heroine development: 3 stars 

Nostalgic value: 5 stars 

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 18/20

At one point in my life, I wanted nothing more than to be a mermaid. I wished to explore the depths of the ocean with my faithful dolphin friends and solve the riddles of the sea. But alas, I am human and at ten years old the closest thing to this reality was Barbie in a Mermaid Tale.  

Talented surfer Merliah Summers just turned sixteen years old, and with her birthday came the revelation of her hidden mermaid heritage. With the help of her aquatic friends, Merliah finds her lost mother, the queen of Oceana, and frees the kingdom from the despotic clutches of her evil aunt. Merliah finally recognizes the two parts that combine to create her identity, and decides to never compromise them.The mermaid factor, Merliah’s willingness to embrace her identity, and the Queen of the Waves song all combine to create one of my favorite Barbie movies of all time. 

Ratings-

Infuriating Villain: 5 stars

Heroine development: 4 stars 

Memorable songs: 4 stars

Nostalgic value: 5 stars

Barbie as the Island Princess: 20/20

Claiming the coveted first place position is the one and only Barbie as the Island Princess. Memorable songs? Check. Heroine development? Check. Epic villain? Semi-check. Nostalgic value? Check times infinity. In this film, Ro lives on an island with her family animals— a peacock, red panda, and miniature elephant— after being shipwrecked and washing ashore many years ago. With no recollection of her past, the only memory tying her to her distant life is a song. Ro is discovered by an explorative Prince (of course) and comes to his kingdom in hopes of finding answers about her past. Ro battles a vengeful queen, overcomes the judgement of her acquaintances, and saves the kingdom from being poisoned by a group of villainous rats. In the end she finds the answers she was looking for, and finds an unexpected connection. This movie is a tale of familial reconnection, love, and staying true to oneself. Ro is powerful, independent, and can speak with animals! As one of the first Barbie movies I’ve ever watched, this movie holds a special place in my heart. 

Ratings-

Memorable songs: 5 stars 

Infuriating villain: 5 stars

Heroine development: 5 stars

Nostalgic vale: 5 stars