Barbie
We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they’ve come.
One topic that comes up often in the film community is how wide the gap has grown between mainstream crowd-pleasers and arthouse “awards” films. My parents, for example, barely recognized most of the nominees during the Oscars this year. So when a movie comes along that completely breaks through those boundaries it’s genuinely thrilling. We’re seeing Sinners do that right now, which is exciting in its own right.
Barbie was a movie that became more than the movie. It was a cultural moment. Everyone knew about it. Everyone had an opinion. The wave of enthusiasm sparked by “Barbenheimer” reshaped the landscape of post-Covid cinema, and much of where the industry is headed today can be traced back to that singular event. Its influence has been massive, and I’d argue largely positive.
Of course, it also helps that Barbie is a downright masterpiece. Its comedy is layered and inventive—both campy and smart. Its themes are timely and surprisingly deep. And most importantly, on a technical level, it’s show-stopping. The screenplay, direction, production design, costume work, original music, and lead performances are all top-tier. I’ll gladly die on the hill that Barbie is one of the greatest films of the past several years.
2023: Ranked