Life in plastic: ‘Barbie’ already a hit in Saskatchewan

Theatres around Saskatchewan will be a sea of pink this weekend as “Barbie” hits the big screen.

The film opened Friday, but theatres around the world had preview screenings Thursday. The film recorded one of the best box office previews in history, raking in $22.3 million before its opening day.

“It was a sold-out show,” said Amir Said, who caught a Thursday screening. “Everybody was wearing pink. They were wearing Barbie merchandise.”

People have been taking to social media with their outfit ideas, flooding Facebook and Instagram with pink.

Said said people all ages were present at the screening, including people who have grown up with Barbie, and people who are young and immersed in Barbie’s world.

“There were people from all different backgrounds,” Said explained. “There were little babies crying during the show and there were seniors at the show and so it was a really cool, diverse crowd, and I think that goes to show how the movie’s made for pretty much all audiences.”

Theatre workers are gearing up for a busy weekend. In Saskatchewan, “Barbie” is being shown up to seven times in a single day. Every other film this weekend is only being screened four to five times a day.

Kelly Hiebert, a local theatre employee, said she’s not worried about the huge crowds. Instead, she’s excited that Barbie is becoming popular again.

“There’s just such a positive vibe around the movie, and in the theatre when you’re with a whole bunch of other movie-lovers and fans. There’s just an energy there that you can’t get otherwise,” said Hiebert.

“I think Barbie’s such a popular cultural icon, and now to see this resurgence, it’s just so fun.”

Hiebert said the film will be competing with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” biopic this weekend, and cinemas around the province will be packed with movie-lovers from two completely different genres.

“There’s a little bit of a box-office battle going on,” said Hiebert. “That’s definitely just increasing ticket sales, right across the board.”

Hiebert said she can’t wait to see the film for herself, and to dress up with all of her friends.

Macy and Kristine Aranas at a screening of ‘Barbie.’ (Submitted)

Younger fans are dressing up for the film too. Six-year-old Macy Aranas wore a Barbie dress for the early screening yesterday.

“It was like a dream come true,” Aranas said.

Her mother, Kristine, said the theatre was packed. She tried getting tickets for her other children and husband, but the initial screening was so full that she could only get tickets for her and her daughter.

Kristine said she was happy to have taken her young daughter to a film with so many ties to feminism. She said she was shocked at how uplifting it was.

“You can see Barbie as a fireman or doctor,” said Kristine, “and what reality is versus being a perfect doll.”

“Barbie” opens Friday and will be running for the next few weeks in theatres.