If you loved
Barbie
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2023
If Barbie captured your heart, you will love these stories that explore the messy, beautiful process of finding your authentic self.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Ready Player One: A Novel
Ernest Cline · Book · 2017
Explores: Nostalgia, Virtual Reality, Escapism.
Like the artificial perfection of Barbie Land, this story uses a high-concept virtual reality to critique the way we escape our own reality through consumerism and manufactured nostalgia.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig · Book · 2020
Shares 2 threads with Barbie: Existentialism, Self-Discovery.
Just as Barbie faces a profound identity crisis upon leaving her bubble, this novel forces its protagonist to confront her existential regrets and choose who she really wants to be.
Becoming
Michelle Obama · Book · 2018
Explores: Race and Identity, Social Mobility, Public Service.
Barbie grapples with the weight of being an icon, and this memoir provides a grounded, real-world perspective on the complex challenge of defining one's identity within the public eye.
The Woman in Me
Britney Spears · Book · 2023
Explores: Fame and its consequences, Loss of control, Mental health struggles.
Barbie discovers the harsh reality of being controlled by others, and this raw memoir mirrors that struggle by detailing a fight for personal agency and freedom from restrictive systems.
Series on the same thread
Community
Dan Harmon · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Barbie: Self-Discovery.
Much like the ensemble cast in Barbie, this show uses a colorful group of misfits to explore self-discovery and the importance of community while navigating a strange, structured world.
ONE PIECE
Matt Owens · Series · 2023
Explores: found family, relentless optimism, superpowered combat.
If the vibrant world-building of Barbie appealed to you, you will appreciate this journey where a dedicated group relies on relentless optimism and friendship to overcome their external obstacles.
Barry
Alec Berg · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Barbie: Identity Crisis.
Barbie examines the existential burden of a predetermined role, a theme this dark comedy explores through a hitman attempting to break free from his own identity and moral ambiguity.
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with Barbie: Existentialism.
The surreal, existential humor that defines Barbie is present here, as these heroes navigate a magical landscape while dealing with the heavy, relatable realities of growing up and changing.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
Barbie celebrates the power of female connection, and this podcast offers a similar space for women to share their truth and find comfort through shared experiences and community support.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
Barbie questions the nature of human connection, and this show hilariously probes the boundaries of intimacy, forcing us to consider the reality behind the public personas we all project.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the plot of the 2023 Barbie movie?
In the 2023 movie Barbie, Barbie and Ken live in the colorful world of Barbie Land. When they receive an opportunity to travel to the real world, they experience the joys and perils of living among humans for the first time.
Is Barbie: The World Tour related to the 2023 Barbie movie?
Barbie: The World Tour is a book that serves as an adaptation or companion piece to the 2023 Barbie film. It provides additional context and visual material related to the production and themes explored in Greta Gerwig's cinematic version of the Barbie story.
Does the Barbie movie take place entirely in Barbie Land?
No, the 2023 Barbie movie does not take place entirely in Barbie Land. While the story begins in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land, Barbie and Ken eventually travel to the real world to encounter the challenges of human life.
Should I read Barbie: The World Tour after watching the Barbie movie?
You can read Barbie: The World Tour after watching the 2023 Barbie movie to further explore the material. As an adaptation, the book offers a deeper look into the world established in the film directed by Greta Gerwig.