Top 10 Barbie Easter Eggs You Missed

Four years after calling Margot Robbie “Anchor Barbie” in “Bombshell,” Kate McKinnon finds herself playing Weird Barbie. It’s revealed later in the film that Robbie’s Barbie has become the plaything of America Ferrera’s Gloria. In a flashback, a link between Gloria and Weird Barbie is also hinted at. As a little girl draws on Weird Barbie’s face, cuts her hair, and splits her legs, Scrabble pieces spelling out the name Gloria can be spotted on a pole. Gloria mentions that she had a Weird Barbie growing up. It appears that McKinnon’s character is the same Barbie that Gloria played too hard with. Considering that Gloria conceived Thoughts of Impending Death Barbie, we’re not surprised that she got weird with her toys as a kid.

As Ryan Gosling’s Ken takes over Barbieland, he trades in the beach shorts for a boss fur coat. When people think of stereotypical masculinity, a fur jacket might not be the first thing that comes to mind. For someone who has based their new persona on Sylvester Stallone, though, Ken’s wardrobe choice makes perfect sense. In the real world, Ken discovers symbols of conventional manliness, from cowboy attire to “Rocky” posters adorning the walls of a gym. Rocky’s powerful image inspires Ken to reinvent himself with bling, gloves, and, of course, a fur coat - the same kind that Stallone wore during his peak of box office popularity. Given Ken’s newfound obsession with horses, it only makes sense that he would adopt the Italian Stalion’s look.

Who would’ve thought that “Barbie” would introduce Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece to a new generation of cinephiles? “2001: A Space Odyssey” commences with a group of hominins using a bone as a tool for the first time. Likewise, Greta Gerwig’s film opens with the dawn of Barbie, the original 1959 doll serving as a monolith that captures the attention of little girls everywhere. The “2001” parallels don’t end with the opening of “Barbie.” “2001” concludes with the monolith resurfacing and David Bowman becoming The Star Child, marking the next turning point for humanity. “Barbie” is also about evolution as the titular character grows from an idea to a fleshed-out individual. By the final scene, Barbie is no longer a doll, but a human being.

“Barbie” is loaded with nods to other iconic movies like “The Matrix.” Yet, Gerwig also draws inspiration from classic films that might not be as iconic to the average viewer. One such example is the 1967 comedy “Playtime.” Constructing a huge practical set, the aesthetic of Jacques Tati’s film is otherworldly. Yet, you could still imagine many of these locales existing in our world. The cubicles that make up an office are simultaneously mundane and whimsical. The same can be said about the cubicles at Mattel’s headquarters in “Barbie.” In both films, the cubicle backdrops seem bleak on the surface, but they also carry a maze-like sentiment. It’s the ideal middle ground between business and playtime, which is precisely how we envision a Mattel office.

The filmmakers aren’t afraid to look back at certain moments throughout Barbie’s history and ask, “What were they thinking?” Enter Tanner the dog. Barbie has owned a few canine pals over the years, but Tanner stood out for two reasons. 1) Barbie could feed this dog. 2) Tanner could turn dog treats into chocolate nuggets. Potty training is the most unappealing part of having a pet. Why did Mattel think a pooper scooper and trash bin would be fun accessories for Barbie? Not only was the idea flawed, but the loose magnets on the scoopers posed a safety issue, resulting in more than 680,000 Barbie-Tanner playsets being recalled. We guess that’s why Tanner now lives with Weird Barbie. Outsiders gotta stick together.

Barbie has been a fashion icon ever since debuting her Zebra striped swimsuit and sunglasses. In addition to her 1959 look, costume designer Jacqueline Durran pays homage to Barbie throughout the decades, reflecting the character’s endurance. From the disco jumpsuits of the 60s and 70s to the neon leotards of the 80s and 90s, Barbie has been there for every fashion trend. As vast as Barbie’s wardrobe is, her Dreamhouse’s garage must be even bigger. The film breaks out various vehicles you might’ve had growing up, such as the Barbie Space Discovery Rocket Ship, the Barbie DreamCamper Vehicle, the Barbie Sisters Snow Fun Snowmobile, the Barbie Dreamplane, and even the Barbie Care Clinic. We didn’t realize it until now, but our decor could use more pink.

Although Barbie is a flagship franchise for Mattel, the company’s leadership has been predominantly male. As Will Ferrell’s character points out, only a couple of women have held the CEO position during Mattel’s almost 80-year history. Barbie creator Ruth Handler co-founded Mattel, serving as president from 1945 to 1974. Fast-forward to 1997, Jill Barad became Mattel’s first female CEO, a position she held until 2000. Barad ultimately resigned due to the ill-conceived acquisition of The Learning Company. Mattel wouldn’t have another female CEO until 2017 when Margo Georgiadis accepted the job, although she’d leave after a year. Ferrell’s CEO acts as if this makes Mattel a diverse work environment, but it’s clear that even the people behind the scenes realize there’s progress to be made.

Gerwig’s treatment for “Barbie” included an abstract poem inspired by the Apostles’ Creed. This was perhaps the first sign that the film would employ some biblical subtext. When Ruth Handler hands Barbie a cup of tea, Gerwig mimics Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.” Gerwig was inspired by the story of Adam and Eve, although she reversed the roles with Barbie and Ken. According to the creation myth, God created Eve using one of Adam’s ribs so she could be his companion. Ken, meanwhile, was created after Barbie so that he could serve as her male counterpart. In that sense, Barbie is Adam, Ken is Eve, and Barbieland is the Garden of Eden. All that’s missing are a snake and an apple.

It was suggested that Gerwig cut the scene where Barbie is moved to tears upon meeting an elderly woman on a bench. Gerwig insisted on keeping this moment, and we’re glad she did. Not only does it tie into the film’s larger themes of life, but the scene shines the spotlight on one of our best costume designers. The woman is played by Ann Roth, who won Oscars for her work on “The English Patient” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Roth has been in the business for over 60 years, but “Barbie” marks her first acting credit. According to Gerwig, she has three friends in their 90s, Roth being one of them. Casting Roth in the role, Gerwig can’t imagine her film without this scene.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The “Skipper Incident”
Barbie’s Little Sister Has Gone From the Babysat to the Babysitter

Ruth Handler’s Tax Troubles
Barbie’s Creator Was Indeed Indicted For Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, & False Financial Statements to the SEC

“Si Se Puede”
This Line Pays Homage to America Ferrera’s Breakout Work in “Gotta Kick It Up!”

Hidden B’s
The Letter Is Hidden Everywhere, & We Mean EVERYWHERE

Slash & Wolfgang Van Halen Play Guitar on “I’m Just Ken”
We Need a Guns N' Roses Ken

You can’t make this stuff up… and we assure you that the filmmakers didn’t. Mattel actually introduced a pregnant Midge doll, which some argued endorsed teen pregnancy. For a period, Midge was romantically paired with Ken’s friend, Alan. Does that mean Alan was the baby’s father? That thought is almost as disturbing as Growing Up Skipper, who grew up a little too fast in 1975. The controversy didn’t end there. Sugar Daddy Ken was a misguided attempt to attract adult consumers while Video Girl Barbie resulted in an FBI warning. But hey, at least Earring Magic Ken became a gay icon, even if that wasn’t the intention. You won’t find them on store shelves anymore, but these dolls will forever live in Barbieland… and eBay.