Barbie: The Screenplay

by Greta Gerwig

Barbie's perfect life spirals into existential chaos, prompting a soul-searching journey that challenges her perceptions of reality and self-purpose.

Genres: Plays, Film, Fiction, Fantasy, Feminism, Humor, Womens

138 pages, Paperback

Published December 19, 2023

About the author

Greta Celeste Gerwig is an American actress and filmmaker.

Reviews

[fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

this movie is my roman empire.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. So brilliant to see the genius behind what's on the screen, and understand the creative vision Greta Gerwig developed from the black and white words on the page. So full of love and femininity - and just as emotional ❤️

[Inès · Rating 5 out of 5]

That monologue ✨ gets me every single time
Wish I could watch this masterpiece again

[Anisha Inkspill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a fun movie that is trying to push Barbie into the 21st Century. Reading the screenplay, the story hangs on the plot that relies on noise that is dressed as comedy (like Mattel CEO and his board travelling to Barbie land on tandem bikes). This sequence is too long, is more of a distraction and adds nothing to its central message of identity and empowering women.

And yet, aspects of the movie are fun but I don’t buy its pitch for gender equality, the message I come away with is woman power can exist in Barbie Land, an imaginary place that continues to be a fantasy.

I would buy it if Stereotypical Barbie aspires to be an inventor. This sounds more fun and innovative and voicing women empowerment without spelling it out, but Amy Schumer’s idea was rejected and down the line replaced with Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig.

But every change needs a beginning, and I guess this is a good place as any to start.

[bri 🧸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this screenplay literally changed my life (real)

[Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean… Excellent.

[Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a barbie girl in a barbie world

[lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give literally anything to have been at the first Barbie table read. I know there’s footage somewhere RELEASE IT.

[lucy 🌀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4eva in my barbie era 🎀🩷

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greta Gerwig is a genius/ I am in my screenplay era

[Lindsay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

what do you expect it’s barbie

[Taylor Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed. I cried. I did everything in between. Seeing the film was an experience like no other, but reading the screenplay is a whole other experience in itself, equally as special.

I feel blessed to be able to discover the artistic vision for the film from the incredible mind of Greta Gerwig, who will certainly go down in history as one of the best and most bold and creative writers/directors of all time.

I am kenough.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love barbie so much, truly one of the best movies

[Sarah Allen]

Glad we have Greta here to remind us that screenplays should be FUN to read

[Sean O’Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ken’s job to beach is like my job to book and movie

[lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant🥰

[Ross Bonaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's screenplay for Barbie is like having the couple excitedly tell you what their film is going to be about. I believe I've read the screenplays for all the films Gerwig has directed, and this is by far the liveliest, most delightful film of hers on the page. While usually a screenplay will simply tell the reader what to expect when they see the finished project, Barbie is full of jokes, references, even photos, and exhilaration that only the reader will get. This is one of the rare screenplays where I actually wish I had gotten to read this before seeing the film, as there's such a joy that they clearly had while writing this screenplay and it shines through on the page.

I also think this does a great job of showing just how important Gerwig's directing is here. On paper, this seems absolutely bonkers, weird, and hilarious, and to see how she brought that to life is something else. It's also a testament to the actors that they were able to make these characters even better than they are in this screenplay, and make this nuts concept work as perfectly as it does. Most screenplays can feel so stiff and direct in what their film is going to be, but Barbie is a charming read, and you can sense the love in the written word.

[iona · Rating 5 out of 5]

the most special book i ever own for the movie that changed my life. my love for girlhood and womanhood is truly unmatched and greta gerwig captures the struggles of being a woman and joys of being with your girls so so incredibly perfectly. i will never stop loving this film and reading the screenplay made it feel even more special and personal!

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

She thinks I’m a FASCIST😦BUT I DON’T CONTROL THE RAILWAYS OR THE FLOW OF COMMERCE😭

[elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

— babie: the screenply
( 4 / 5 ✩ ) ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

just as fun as the movie, if not a tiny bit more because the action lines had so much life and kept making me giggle. greta gerwig i LOVE your brain<33

[oliwia]

beautiful beautiful beautiful

[Manu Jayamohan Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had way more fun reading this script than I expected :) Beautifully written, crisp, funny and just weird.

Made me think about how film can be quite distracting as a medium. There are so many things competing for your attention that sometimes you do miss out on the brilliance of one element or the other. With no visual and audio stimuli here, and just the written word, I think a lot more of the written material stood out with this one. Found myself straight up giggling at random points (and some of them were moments from the movie which I didn't really have that much of a reaction to).

Fun thing to think about :)

[Hamish Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had so much fun reading this!!!!

It’s Greta and it’s Noah, I love you

[Eleonora Dell'Orto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love script books because they always add another layer to the movie :) this one was really good and it's so fun to see some of the thought processes they had while writing!!

[katia · Rating 5 out of 5]

my friend saw me reading this and told be i should write a barbie sequel. i gotta get on that screenwriting grind

[Nora Dominick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Greta Gerwig. That’s it. That’s the review.

[Natalie Omahen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping this review short and sweet. I love the movie and I love the screenplay! It made me laugh and it made me tear up. This screenplay is a light speed fast read! It was also nice reading this before, during, and after this year’s Oscars. I highly recommend reading for anyone who is a fan of this amazing movie and who wants a fast read to up their book count for the year. 💖

[Dinea · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY MOVIE OF THE YEAR🩷

[Taylor (Taylor’s version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this movie sm