Barbie is one of those films that is going to stay in people's minds forever, and parents may even pass it down to their children. While there has been some amount of criticism for the movie as well, with some stemming from misunderstanding the themes, the message of the Greta Gerwig movie was pretty simple: working towards a world where everyone is treated equally. Following the big success of the 2023 blockbuster, Netflix is now stepping into the Mattel universe too, but with a narrower focus.

Lots of fans are curious about the new Netflix documentary on Black Barbie, especially after the historical success of Barbie. But what is it actually about? And is it connected to Margot Robbie's movie at all?

Three decades after the original Barbie debuted in stores, Black Barbie arrived in the year 1980. However, this was not just an overnight decision Mattel made. It was a personal journey undertaken by three Black women who drove the evolution of the Barbie brand. The upcoming Netflix documentary will make their stories heard and the impact they had on the male-dominated manufacturing giant. Directed by Lagueria Davis, the documentary will guide viewers through insider interviews and retellings of the events that transpired during that period.

Black Barbie is backed by a lineup of executive producers, including Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers of Shondaland. The Netflix documentary will hit the screens on June 19 this year and will feature Monica L. Bailey, Kitty Black Perkins, and Raj Brown, according to IMDB. Netflix's move to acquire Black Barbie could not have come at a more crucial time for the Barbie brand, riding on the coattails of the success of Greta Gerwig's movie. But there is more to it. 

“I’m not dismissing it…” – Greta Gerwig Opens Up on a ‘Barbie’ Sequel and Netflix’s Narnia Movies

Greta Gerwig's Barbie has kicked open the door for conversations about beauty norms and stereotypical notions of femininity, which might make more people curious about the documentary. 

One reason Barbie is loved all over the world is because she can be anyone. In the Barbie movie with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, they had lots of different Barbies, some famous ones and others not so much. They also made sure to include women of color. Issa Rae, a black woman, played one of the most important roles in the movie: President Barbie. And the attention she got in the 2023 blockbuster turned her into a real-life President Barbie.

“People will call me President Barbie when I’m just out on the street,” Rae said on The View last year. She also shared that when she was a kid, she noticed how Barbie dolls portrayed race in America and the stigma around it. "Barbies made me aware of race at a young age”, said the 39-year-old. This representation and the self-exploration journey the 2023 movie offered to women across various spectrums will surely enrich the upcoming Netflix documentary, Black Barbie, too.

With a Blockbuster Behind Her, What Ventures Will Modern-Day 'Barbie' Margot Robbie Tackle Next?

What do you think about the upcoming Black Barbie documentary? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!