- Audiences have flocked to see "Barbie," and it's raked in over $800 million worldwide so far.
- "Barbie" fever has swept the world, including TikTok, with users posting clips inside the theater.
Sorry Tom Cruise, but the movie that truly won audiences over in this summer was undeniably Greta Gerwig's "Barbie."
Perhaps it was the "Barbenheimer" craze that whipped fans into a frenzy or the fascinating existential crisis that Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, finds herself in. And let's not forget Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, and his melodramatic — but catchy — tune, "I'm Just Ken."
The Warner Bros. movie has raked in over $800 million worldwide so far, and society has been awash with neon pink ever since.
But the obsession surrounding "Barbie," its outfits, and its plastic-perfect performances has unfortunately turned theaters into a TikTok playground.
Now, don't get me wrong — the toy-box photo opportunities are adorable, and it's great to see so many people enjoying a trip to the theater, especially after a few years of uncertainty due to the pandemic.
But what's not great is seeing people taking pictures inside screenings and filming the movie everyone's paid to see only to post clips on TikTok.
When I saw "Barbie" on its opening weekend, the film had only been on a few minutes before the darkened room was annoyingly illuminated by the flash of someone's cellphone camera, clearly taking a photo of a swimsuit-clad Robbie during the "2001: A Space Odyssey"-inspired opening.
Call me old-fashioned, but I found it incredibly distracting and selfish.
Yes, people are paying for the privilege to see the film, but that doesn't give them the right to distract and annoy other audience members. It's a shared space, after all.
Recording in the theater is selfish and illegal
TikTok is littered with videos of the funniest moments from "Barbie," such as Robbie's now-iconic line, "Do you guys ever think about dying?" and the choreographed dance scene with Gosling, Simu Liu, and all the other Kens.
This is actually illegal, and it ruins the magic of going to the movies in the first place.
Plus, the cast and crew behind these movies spend countless hours making these films so that they can be enjoyed on the biggest screen possible. Filming a grainy, out-of-focus clip just for a few TikTok likes spits in the face of all that hard work.
@madllr This scene was so cute! ❤️ #barbie #barbiespoiler #margotrobbie #barbiemovie #barbietiktok #dontletthisflop #trending #barbiegirl #spoilers⚠️ #trend #madllr #unshadowbanme #blowthisup #fypシ゚viral #dontflop #fypage #cute ♬ original sound - madllr
And is it really that hard not to look at your phone for the length of a movie?
Sure, I'm also guilty of having my own phone addiction, but when ticket prices are expensive anyway, it's better to get your money's worth and just enjoy the film.
While we're on the topic of theater etiquette: snacks.
Let's face it, it's all part of the experience to munch on popcorn, sweets, or ice cream. But use some common sense. Top tip: Open those infuriatingly loud foil packets during the trailers or during a loud scene instead of waiting for a quiet moment to rip into them.
Maybe this Barbie should work in a theater?