The Barbie Movie Is Banned In Algeria; Here’s Why

Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster film, Barbie is facing another banning from an Arabic country, Algeria although the movie had been showing at some cinemas in the country for several weeks.

According to local news site 24H Algerie, the Algerian Ministry of Culture and the Arts cited the film for “promoting homosexuality and other Western deviances”. Algerians will no longer be able to watch the feature film, which raked in more than a billion dollars at the box office worldwide. In Algeria, the Barbie movie has been sold every day since its release on 19 July 2023.

Furthermore, an official source told the publication the film “does not comply with Algeria’s religious and cultural beliefs”. The country seems to follow in the footsteps of several other Muslim-majority nations in prohibiting the Barbie movie such as Lebanon and Kuwait. Lebanon banned the Warner Bros film last week, saying it “promotes homosexuality and sexual transformation”. While Kuwait said it promoted “ideas and beliefs that are alien to Kuwaiti society and public order”. For political reasons, Vietnam has banned the movie due to a map showing disputed Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.

On the other hand, the Barbie movie is making waves in Malaysia as many praised the film for its diversity and heartfelt message for adults and younger audiences. In our review of the movie, we said:

“It’s an incredible feat that Greta Gerwig and the cast have managed to pull off such a meta and refreshing movie in the middle of what has so far been a middling summer season this year in 2023. When other recent blockbusters have felt stale with a few exceptions, the Barbie movie proves that even with an IP like, well, Barbie; anything is possible with a great director and a great cast”.

The Barbie movie is a pink madness that may revolutionize Mattel’s brand as a whole.

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