What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBarbie
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2023
If you loved Barbie, start with Barbie: The World Tour (Margot Robbie and Andrew Mukamal) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Barbie across media.
If Barbie captured your heart, you will love these stories that use sharp wit and surreal worlds to explore the complexities of identity.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain · Book · 2009
Shares a thread with Barbie: Coming-of-Age.
Much like Barbie, this narrative uses a journey through a changing landscape to force a confrontation with societal norms and the messy reality of individual moral development.
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien · Book · 1937
Shares a thread with Barbie: Self-Discovery.
This tale mirrors the departure from a comfortable home seen in Barbie, following a reluctant protagonist who discovers inner strength while navigating a world far beyond their own.
Discworld
Terry Pratchett · Book · 1983
Shares 2 threads with Barbie: Existentialism, Fantasy Comedy.
If you enjoyed the satirical world-building of Barbie, you will appreciate how this series uses fantasy to provide biting social commentary on the absurdity of our own systems.
Ready Player One: A Novel
Ernest Cline · Book · 2017
Explores: Nostalgia, Virtual Reality, Escapism.
This story reflects the themes of escapism and artificial reality found in Barbie, centering on a quest that questions the value of a curated digital existence versus reality.
Series on the same thread
Community
Dan Harmon · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Barbie: Self-Discovery.
This ensemble comedy shares the heart of Barbie, focusing on a group of underdogs finding their sense of self and community while navigating a bizarre and often nonsensical environment.
Barry
Alec Berg · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Barbie: Identity Crisis.
Like the existential crisis faced by Barbie, this dark comedy explores the tension between a constructed persona and the painful search for an authentic, meaningful identity.
Daria
Glenn Eichler · Series · 1997
Shares 2 threads with Barbie: Existentialism, Coming-of-Age.
Daria mirrors the outsider perspective found in Barbie, using sharp cynicism and satirical observation to navigate the rigid, often ridiculous social hierarchies of a high school setting.
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with Barbie: Existentialism.
This series captures the surreal charm of Barbie, blending whimsical fantasy with deep existential questions about growing up and the enduring power of friendship in a changing world.
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.
This podcast echoes the community-driven spirit of Barbie, offering a space where female friendship and shared storytelling serve as essential tools for navigating the darker sides of reality.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
Much like the self-discovery arc in Barbie, this show uses humor to examine the nature of human connection and the vulnerability required to build genuine, lasting relationships.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the plot of the 2023 Barbie movie?
In Barbie, the titular character and Ken live in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. The story follows their journey as they transition to the real world, where they experience both the joys and the perils of living among humans.
Is Barbie: The World Tour related to the 2023 movie?
Barbie: The World Tour is a book that serves as an adaptation or companion piece associated with the Barbie franchise. It provides additional context and visual documentation for fans who enjoyed the aesthetic and themes presented in the 2023 film directed by Greta Gerwig.
Who directed the 2023 Barbie film?
The 2023 movie Barbie was directed by Greta Gerwig. The film centers on Barbie and Ken as they leave their perfect life in Barbie Land to discover the realities of the human world, highlighting the contrast between their artificial environment and the complexities of human existence.
Does Barbie feature a journey to the real world?
Yes, the 2023 Barbie film depicts Barbie and Ken leaving their seemingly perfect home of Barbie Land. The narrative focuses on their transition into the real world, where the characters encounter the various joys and perils that come with living among humans.