Barbie Movie Map Controversy Causes Ban in Vietnam

July 3, 2023

Vietnam authorities have banned screenings of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie in their country.

The Warner Bros. film based on the famous Mattel dolls stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. This fantasy comedy movie was initially set to release in Vietnam on July 21, but it has been removed from the release schedule.

There is a scene in the movie where we see a map with the “nine-dash line,” representing China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty. As a result, the National Film Evaluation Council in Vietnam has banned the film’s release.

Dreamworks’ animated film Abomination in 2019 was banned for the same reason.

When is the Barbie movie release date?

Barbie will be 1 hour and 54 minutes long. It will release on July 21, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The film stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Kate McKinnon, Ariana Greenblatt, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Hari Nef, Will Ferrell, Helen Mirren, Dua Lipa, and more.

Jonathan Sim is a film critic and filmmaker born and raised in New York City. He is a member of the Critics Choice Association and Hollywood Creative Alliance, and has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Newsweek, and Radio Times.

He has met/interviewed some of the leading figures in Hollywood, including Christopher Nolan, Zendaya, Liam Neeson, and Denis Villeneueve. He also works as a screenwriter, director, and producer on independent short films.