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Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

Play trailer Poster for 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.
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Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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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

Audience Reviews

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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 geralt g 05/07/2019 This doc gave a really good look at how people fighting for change inside a for profit company sometimes get bashed coming and going. This was a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the bigger struggle women and girls face daily. 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
Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

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Cast & Crew

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Andrea Blaugrund Nevins

Director

Gloria Steinem

Self

Richard Dickson

Self

Amanda Foreman

Self

Peggy Orenstein

Self

Roxane Gay

Self

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Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie (2018) Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie (2018) View more photos

Movie Info

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
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