 |
| Minions Creators Are Making the First-Ever Barbie Animated Movie for Theaters. |
Barbie is heading to the big screen again—this time in animated form! Mattel Studios and Illumination, the animation powerhouse behind Despicable Me and Minions, are teaming up to create the first-ever animated Barbie movie made for theatrical release.
While there's no official release date yet, it's been confirmed that Universal Pictures will handle distribution, continuing its close partnership with Illumination on funding and global releases. As of now, details about the plot and creative team remain tightly under wraps, with all parties—Illumination, Universal, and Mattel—declining to comment.
This exciting announcement comes two years after the massive success of Greta Gerwig’s 2023 live-action Barbie film, which starred Margot Robbie. The film grossed over $1.44 billion worldwide, becoming the top-grossing movie of the year. It received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and took home the Oscar for Best Original Song thanks to Billie Eilish’s heartfelt track “What Was I Made For?”
Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has remained a global icon, dominating the doll market and maintaining top brand status among girls on social media. According to stats, over 100 Barbie dolls are sold every minute around the world!
Mattel is not slowing down with its Hollywood ambitions. The toy company has multiple live-action and animated adaptations in development. In 2026, fans can expect Masters of the Universe from Amazon MGM Studios and Matchbox from Skydance and Apple. Other IPs in the pipeline include Hot Wheels, American Girl, Polly Pocket, UNO, Thomas & Friends, and more.
Interestingly, actress Sydney Sweeney has expressed her interest in joining a possible Barbie sequel—especially if Margot Robbie returns to the role.