Every Barbie In The Barbie Movie Explained

Contains spoilers for "Barbie"

Director Greta Gerwig brings the iconic doll — "Barbie" — to life with her latest film which features a star-studded cast, dazzling visuals, and a surprisingly rich story. Although the Barbies believe that they are thriving in Barbieland and inspiring women in the real world to do anything they set their minds to, there's one Barbie (Margot Robbie) who starts to feel differently about her place in the world. So, she heads to the real world alongside her closest friend Ken (Ryan Gosling) to find her destined child and figure out what's gone wrong. There, both Barbie and Ken make self-discoveries that change their entire perspective and cause new conflicts in Barbieland.

With a diverse and wickedly talented cast being involved in "Barbie," it's no wonder why fans have so many Barbies and Kens to meet. While the Kens are a solid part of what makes Barbieland special, the Barbies are truly the ones in charge — meaning that there's a variety of Barbie variants to see. From general civilian Barbies doing odd jobs around every corner to Barbies that make up the government, there are tons of unique and interesting Barbies to touch on in this film. Some are even based on real-life Barbie dolls that are either beloved or discontinued. So, let's do a quick rundown of the most notable Barbies in "Barbie."

With Barbieland having a functioning government run by the Barbies, there must be someone at the top, right? Well, that Barbie is President Barbie — who is played by Issa Rae. President Barbie reminds everyone of her position by always having her presidential sash displayed and being the head of all the big meetings that happen in Barbieland. No policy change can occur without her approval and every Barbie cheers when she bangs her gavel after a new law is decreed. Rae gives President Barbie the right kind of vibe as her presence and distinctive charm show why the Barbies love and respect her as a leader.

Believe it or not, there actually was a "President Barbie" that was created for the 2012 election called the Barbie I Can Be U.S.A. President Doll. While Rae's version of the doll iteration isn't heavily tied to that one, a new doll based on the film version has been created. So, it seems like girls of a new generation can be inspired by this new President Barbie. Despite her strengths as a leader, though, President Barbie is also brainwashed by the Kens into serving their needs. Luckily, she snaps out of it like the rest of her Barbie cohorts and is rightfully reinstated in her role as president by the end of the film.

The film's depiction of Barbie's history of varying looks and designs is incredibly deep and even features some versions of the character that are rarely seen — including ones with physical disabilities. Back in one of the trailers, fans could spot a Barbie that works alongside President Barbie who has a prosthetic arm. It gave some inkling that we could see more Barbies with disabilities in the movie somewhere, and luckily there's another that can be prominently seen in the film. During a couple of sequences — including the film's extravagant early dance number — viewers can spot a Barbie dancing in her wheelchair.

As mentioned by the Barbies, they're meant to represent everything that women can be and inspire everyone to be their best selves. So, the inclusion of Barbies with disabilities solidifies that ideology and it's a great reminder of how Barbie has become a brand for everyone. It's a great nod to both Barbies with prosthetic limbs as well as ones that come with wheelchairs — both of which actually exist — and a meaningful inclusion that further highlights the film's diversity.

As we meet the wide variety of Barbies found throughout Barbieland, we come across a Barbie making an impassioned speech in court with some powerful words and a strong conviction. This is Lawyer Barbie (Sharon Rooney), and she's not the one you would want to face in court. She's incredibly skilled at convincing a jury to take her side and can easily win everyone in the courtroom over through her strong line delivery. Along with a noteworthy introduction, Rooney delivers the perfect kind of performance to make Lawyer Barbie stand out.

Although she displays strong independence and a good ability to sway others, she ends up falling under the same spell that all the other Barbies do when the Kens take over. Thankfully, she's able to be snapped back to reality just in time to help the Barbies pull off their big plan. In Barbieland, every Barbie could use a great lawyer — and Lawyer Barbie should always be their first call.

Another incredibly intelligent member of Stereotypical Barbie's core friend group is Physicist Barbie (Emma Mackay) — a Barbie who's earned a Nobel Prize for her work in Physics. Honestly, there isn't too much to say about this Barbie since she's not shown a whole lot. But she does have some aspects to her outside of her career that make her stand out. Not only does she have some adorable freckles on her face, but she has a close friendship with one of the Kens (Ncuti Gatwa). However, that friendship takes an unfortunate turn when the Kens take over and Physicist Barbie ends up trading out a lab coat for a maid's outfit. 

Thankfully, when the Barbies reclaim Barbieland, Physicist Barbie is able to return to her former life and even maintain her friendship with her favorite Ken. While we don't get to know Physicist Barbie all that well, she still maintains her role as a highly intelligent member of the Barbies and could maybe find a bigger role if a sequel ever comes. 

Although it might not be a different Barbie altogether, there is a moment where we see Stereotypical Barbie deliver a nod to another iconic Barbie figure when she comes to the real world. As she and Ken enter Venice Beach, they slide in on some sweet roller skates and wear outfits that feel like a legit throwback. The very psychedelic style and bright colors that pop are a total treat for the eyes and actually act as a reference to a very memorable Barbie doll known as Hot Skatin' Barbie.

The doll debuted back in 1994 and featured the same type of clothes, style, and — of course — roller skates that Barbie wears in the film. For longtime fans, it's a fantastic reference to an all-time favorite doll variant and it's easily a part of one of the most memorable sequences of the film. Sure, it could've been cool to see someone representing Hot Skatin' Barbie back in Barbieland, but Stereotypical Barbie and Ken putting on outfits in her honor is pretty rad too. 

Hari Nef portrays a Barbie who might not win a ton of awards like her friends, but she saves lives, which is arguably more important. Dr. Barbie has the skills to heal and save anyone who gets injured. Whether it's a Ken who gets hurt when trying to surf the plastic waves or a Barbie who has maybe had a bit of a workplace accident, Dr. Barbie is always ready to answer the call. But that doesn't mean that she can't party and have fun like the rest of the Barbies — she's also shown partying with the rest of the town and enjoying time on the beach, too. 

Sadly, she too is tricked by the Kens into falling into their patriarchal ways, but is saved by her fellow Barbies. The Dr. Barbie doll is an iconic variant that embodies what Barbie is all about: being a symbol that shows that women are capable of being anything. Just like her doll counterpart, Dr. Barbie shows her importance in this world and is one of the notable standouts in the vast Barbie cast. 

While Diplomat Barbie (Nicola Coughlan) doesn't have a big role in the "Barbie" movie and is more like a blink-and-you-'ll-miss-it cameo, she still plays an important role in Barbieland. After all, what functioning government doesn't have a diplomat of its own right? Even more so, Diplomat Barbie is meant to represent that women can play all sorts of roles in the world, and she likely acts as an important figure to represent Barbieland in case they ever interact with another land — maybe even the real world. 

Sure, she's not immune to falling under the same spell that her fellow Barbies do when the Kens flip the script in Barbieland, and maybe she could've done more to stop the Kens from taking over — but this could be a changing moment for her. Who knows, maybe she can play a bigger role in a sequel story now that Barbieland has interacted with the human world, and her story could just be unfolding. 

As Stereotypical Barbie becomes more gutted by her views of the world being dismantled, she becomes consumed by depression and desires to just give up. With everything that happens in Barbieland influencing Mattel's output of the dolls, it doesn't take long for a new version of the Barbie doll — called Depression Barbie — to release, and audiences are treated with a hilarious commercial centered around the dolls. These dolls cry, struggle to see the brighter side of life, and are constantly having an existential crisis about death. They embody the grim yet funny turn that Barbie takes in the film and the scene leaves such an impact that you can't help but wish that these dolls were real. 

Depression Barbie is easily one of the most memorable parts of the entire film and a darkly humorous take on the usually empowering and positive feeling dolls. Eventually, with the help of the other Barbies and Gloria, Stereotypical Barbie is able to get out of this mental funk and find her own path forward. However, it's hard not to love what came out of Barbie's saddest moment since Depression Barbie is probably the most unique Barbie of all.