Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

Play trailer

Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

2018

1h 31m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Examining over 60 years of women through the lens of Barbie, the most popular plastic doll ever created. She's been a fashion icon and a target for feminists.

Watch on Disney+

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A thoughtful rumination on beauty standards and feminism, Tiny Shoulders goes beyond plastic observations to create an even-handed examination of Barbie's role in the broader culture.

Read Critics Reviews

Sophie Gilbert

The Atlantic

05/01/2018

But the most fascinating aspect of the movie is how it uses Barbie as a metaphor for a culture that's still infinitely more preoccupied with what a woman looks like than what she says.

Go to Full Review

John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

04/27/2018

There's some lovely filmmaking-an opening sequence in which a handmade Barbie moves from stage to stage, from hair-weaving to lip-painting, is gorgeous.

Go to Full Review

Kate Erbland

IndieWire

04/27/2018

B+

Nevins does quick work of making her audience care about the earning potential of a multi-million dollar business by honing in on some other remarkable women.

Go to Full Review

Linda Cook

OurQuadCities / WHBF-TV (Illinois)

07/30/2023

3 stars

This is a thoughtful documentary on the phenomenon that is Barbie.

Go to Full Review

Alexandra MacAaron

Women's Voices for Change

06/05/2018

8/10

Has a piece of plastic even been so politically charged? No, argues filmmaker Andrea Blaugrund Nevins in this interesting and entertaining documentary.

Go to Full Review

Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

05/15/2018

4/5

Comprehensive docu about iconic, controversial doll.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

01/05/2020

A peek behind the pink curtain manages to capture just how difficult it is to be charged with being Barbie or, in this case, Barbie's guardian. Excellent documentary.

See more

lucero k

@lucero0922 05/04/2018

One of the best documentaries around

See more

04/26/2018

What could have been a very interesting story, was told in a dull manner with disconnected historical events. I was excited to see the doll's evolution, however, the film proved that impetus for change was not feminism, however, consumer criticism and falling revenues. Lacked a critical and engaging perspective into the thought process behind evolving barbie .. overall poorly told story

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Andrea Blaugrund Nevins

Director

Gloria Steinem

Self

Richard Dickson

Self

Amanda Foreman

Self

Peggy Orenstein

Self

Roxane Gay

Self

The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons

80%

%

The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons

Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

69%

89%

Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

Twiggy

100%

%

Twiggy

Watchlist

The Real! Zendaya - From Disney Castle to Dune Dreams

%

%

The Real! Zendaya - From Disney Castle to Dune Dreams

Watchlist

Invisible Beauty

100%

82%

Invisible Beauty

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Invisible Beauty

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Examining over 60 years of women through the lens of Barbie, the most popular plastic doll ever created. She's been a fashion icon and a target for feminists.

Director: Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
Producer: Andrea Blaugrund Nevins, Cristan Crocker-Reilly
Screenwriter: Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
Production Co: Hulu, Rare Bird Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 31m