Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated Barbie movie has garnered praise for its empowering feminist themes and unique storytelling approach. The film follows Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery in the real world, with Ryan Gosling’s Ken as her steadfast companion. Critics and audiences alike have lauded the movie for its mesmerizing visuals, clever humor, and unapologetic championing of feminist ideals.
Despite the overwhelmingly positive response from both critics and verified audience members who purchased tickets, the Barbie movie’s Rotten Tomatoes audience score has experienced a sudden decline due to suspected review bombing. While the official audience score currently stands at a respectable 88 percent, the overall audience score has dropped to 73 percent, indicating a divisive reaction from viewers.
The discrepancy between the verified and overall audience scores can be attributed to the practice of review bombing, where certain users deliberately submit negative ratings to tarnish a film’s reputation. Review bombing, unfortunately, has become an unfortunate trend, often targeting female-led titles that promote feminist themes. This pattern was notably evident with Captain Marvel in 2019, and it has persisted with other female-led projects within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and beyond, including Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk on Disney+. More recently, The Little Mermaid and The Last of Us episode 3 also faced review bombing, with the latter receiving acclaim for its depiction of a gay love story.
Gerwig’s Barbie movie, with its unapologetic celebration of feminist ideals and humorous jabs at the patriarchy, appears to have fallen victim to this troubling trend. However, despite the malicious efforts to tarnish its reputation, the Barbie movie’s verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes remains overwhelmingly positive. The film has also enjoyed tremendous success at the box office, breaking records left and right. While a small segment of disgruntled users may have impacted the overall audience score, it is clear that the Barbie movie has triumphed as a significant achievement for Gerwig and everyone involved in its creation.
In the face of review bombing, the Barbie movie stands strong, delivering an inspiring and uplifting message for audiences of all ages. Its positive impact and critical success have solidified its position as a groundbreaking film that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling and empowers viewers with its feminist narrative. As the movie continues to make waves in the entertainment industry, it serves as a reminder of the importance of diverse and inclusive storytelling, even in the face of adversarial attempts to stifle its message. The Barbie movie is a testament to the resilience of filmmakers and audiences alike in championing progressive storytelling and embracing empowering narratives on the big screen.
