Barbie (film). Plot Timeline

In the matriarchal society of Barbieland, Stereotypical Barbie and various other Barbies thrive in prestigious roles such as law, science, and politics, while the Kens spend their days at the beach. This utopian world is where Barbie is every woman, embodying perfection and capability.

During a dance party, Barbie suddenly starts questioning her mortality, marking the beginning of her existential crisis. This event sets off a chain of physical changes, including bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet, disrupting her perfect life.

The next day, Barbie discovers her physical changes and is advised by Weird Barbie to travel to the real world to find the child playing with her to resolve her crisis.

Barbie travels to the real world, with Ken ("Beach Ken") stowing away in her convertible. Upon arrival in Venice Beach, they experience the harsh realities of the real world, including getting arrested after Barbie defends herself against a man who gropes her.

Barbie tracks down her owner, a teenage girl named Sasha, who criticizes Barbie for promoting unrealistic beauty standards. Barbie discovers that Gloria, Sasha's mother and a Mattel employee, inadvertently caused her crisis while playing with the doll during her own identity struggle.

As Mattel executives attempt to capture Barbie to put her back in a toy box, she escapes with the help of Gloria and Sasha. They travel back to Barbieland, pursued by the Mattel CEO and his team.

In the real world, Ken learns about patriarchy and feels accepted for the first time. He returns to Barbieland and convinces the other Kens to take over, subjugating the Barbies to submissive roles.

Barbie tries to restore the status quo but is rebuffed. Inspired by Gloria's speech about the conflicting expectations of women, Barbie regains her confidence and, with the help of Sasha, Weird Barbie, and discontinued dolls, manipulates the Kens into fighting among themselves, allowing the Barbies to regain power.

Barbie and Ken reconcile, with Barbie encouraging Ken to find his own identity. Barbie, still unsure of her purpose, meets the spirit of Ruth Handler, Mattel's co-founder, who explains that Barbie's story has no set ending and her impact surpasses her origins.

Barbie decides to become human and returns to the real world. Gloria takes her, now named Barbara Handler, to her first gynecological appointment, marking the beginning of her new life as a human.

As Barbara Handler, she begins her journey in the real world, navigating the complexities and realities of human life, symbolizing her growth from a perfect doll to a self-discovering individual.