The High School Musical franchise is perhaps the most successful product of Disney Channel ever. These movies went from being solely a DCOM to being shown in theaters because of how popular they were. The first movie focuses on Troy, a basketball star, and Gabriella, a math genius who is new to the school. They both secretly love to sing and like each other, but feel trapped by the status quo to stay in their respective social circles. The second movie shows them in the summer working at a golf resort, while Troy struggles to find the balance between his friends and his future. The third movie, shown in theaters, is their senior year, as they prepare to put on one last show and struggle to figure out their next steps in life.

The cultural impact of this movie is pretty extreme. People everywhere were shocked at the quality of these films considering that they came from Disney Channel. They have been referenced in other shows like Suite Life of Zack and Cody, mentioned in films like Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and even given the spin-off style show High School Musical the Musical the Series that single-handedly launched Olivia Rodrigo’s career. She’s now won THREE Grammy’s. These movies also launched Zac Efron’s career, who later went to star in films like The Greatest Showman, 17 Again, Baywatch, and more alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest actors (Hugh Jackman, Matthew Perry, Dwayne Johnson, etc). Kenny Ortega, the choreographer, also went on to choreograph other hit DCOMs like Descendents.

There does not seem to be a clear reason why this film was created, but is pretty consistent with the genre of early 2000s coming of age films. Though the lesson of the film, about defying social norms and choosing friendship and passion over the status quo, is not super novel, the film does it in a way that is creative- through music. There is literally a song called Stick to the Status Quo where they dance around tables about how smart people can’t dance and skaters can’t play the cello. It’s nothing short of iconic. Plus the development of Troy and Gabriella’s relationship throughout the three movies is so representative of a first love, and it’s so cute to watch them as they fall in love through their shared passion.

I do want to take a moment to discuss the personal impact these films have had on me. The first movie came out in 2006, when I was one. My parents have told me that I was singing High School Musical songs before I could read. I had a High School Musical 2 poster hanging on my wall for years, it was the first thing I would see when I woke up for years. I went to a High School Musical on Ice show, and during the song Stick to the Status Quo there is a part where Sharpay yells “everybody, QUIET!!” and I SCREAMED it at the top of my lungs making everyone look at me (I was two so it was cute). I still have High School Musical trivia games that are played through DVD. High School Musical was the movie I watched on my first ever date with my (now ex lol) boyfriend. I dressed up as Gabriella for Halloween with the red dress she wore in All in This Together at the end of the first movie. I know all of the songs, and can basically quote the whole movie. Not only are these just excellent films, but I have so many personal memories of them that make them so special. And considering how popular they were/are, I don’t think I’m alone in this.

Throughout these passion blogs, I have often ended with how many of these films are worth a watch. But High School Musical (all three!!!) are a must-watch, not only to understand the profound cultural impact they have had, but because they are REALLY good movies. I could gush about them all day and mention at least 50 different scenes that I love, but unfortunately this blog would be wayyy too long. Watch High School Musical, you’ll love it, I’d bet on it 😉

Starstruck is an AMAZING movie. It focuses on Jessica, who’s sister Sarah is absolutely obsessed with teen star, Christopher Wilde, while Jessica herself hates him. When Christopher accidentally hits Jessica in the head with a door, the two become intertwined in each other’s lives. They go on some unplanned adventures around California, where Jessica is visiting her grandma, and reflect on how their lives differ with Jessica being a “normal girl” and Christopher being a celebrity. This lifestyle difference serves to be a challenge for the two as Christopher seems to prioritize his image as a celebrity over his personal feelings and the feelings of those around him.

This movie highlights a lot of the negative aspects of child stardom, which is appropriate for the time period of the early 2010s when many child stars were struggling mentally, including Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. Christopher is just a teenager and yet is constantly berated by paparazzi. The movie also emphasizes how the media twists stories to fit a certain headline and prioritizes sales over honesty or authenticity. This is an issue that is rarely addressed so transparently in movies, and it was very important to get an honest reflection of how Hollywood media is so fake. Jessica goes on a very meaningful tangent about how the media will take any good, genuine person and turn them into a monster for a headline. Her tear-filled statement is immediately followed by the reporter going “did you get that?!”, showing how they will never change, both in the movie and in real life. It also helps viewers to realize that the glamorous life of child stardom is not all it pans out to be. Personally, I had always wanted to be on Disney Channel as a little kid, but this movie made me realize that I actually do not want paparazzi all over my lawn.

Because of these circumstances, a large lesson of the movie is to prioritize personal relationships over one’s image or the opinions of others. Christopher consistently was unhappy because he placed himself in activities and relationships that he did not like, but that looked good for his celebrity image. He did not even like his girlfriend or the movie he was supposed to do but felt he did not have a choice. I really like that Christopher’s best friend holds him accountable and points out that Christopher’s life is his and that he needs to make his own decisions instead of lying to the media about knowing Jessica and doing things he hates. Jessica also hold him accountable throughout the movie, highlighting how the celebrity treatment- skipping lines, having your friends on your payroll, etc- are not normal. Jessica is a very grounded character in general, which helps viewers better grasp their own personal normals. Christopher, by the end of the movie, learns to be his authentic self, quitting his movie, firing his parents as his managers so they can just be his parents, and uniting with Jessica no matter who sees.

This movie was also the OG enemies-to-lovers storyline, a trope that has become extremely popular. Jessica starts out by hating Christopher, then tolerating him, then liking him, then hating him, then liking him. This movie is really an emotional rollercoaster and feels as though whenever they start to like each other, Christopher says something dumb that starts them back from square 1 again. I mean, telling her that he needs to go back to his real life and that he needs to take her camera so the images do not leak after their fun day together? Bad move, Christopher. However, the up and down keeps the movie very engaging. And though I do wish there was a kiss at some point, I do also understand that the actor for Christoper was 21 and Jessica was 16.

Something that often goes unnoticed by viewers is the sister relationship between Sarah and Jessica. They do not seem particularly close in this movie, as they often look down upon each others hobbies. Yet, upon closer inspection, they really are there for each other. Jessica sacrifices her night just so Sarah can go to a club and see Christopher, Jessica makes sure Sarah has a ride home when she leaves with Christopher at the beach, and Sarah disses her best friend after she makes a rude comment about Jessica. As someone who used to fight with her sister a lot growing up, it was really nice to see a sister dynamic that was like ours, and that even if we don’t always like each other, we always love each other. My sister is my best friend now, though.

Just on a surface level, this movie continues to be really good. It’s incredibly funny, and I say this with all the DCOMs, but it is insanely quotable- including the weird voices they use. The songs, of course, are so good and really encapsulate what’s going on in the movie. In My Shades perfectly shows what it’s like to live in that fantasy celebrity bubble, Hero is emotion-filled and raw, and Something About the Sunshine is exactly how I would feel on my tour around California. This movie is just a Disney classic, and many cite Starstruck as one of the most underrated DCOMs of all time. It deserves all the love, or at least a watch.

Cloud 9 is one of the best Disney movies and one of my childhood favorites. Kayla loves snowboarding and is on the elite Swift snowboarding team with her boyfriend, Nick, who’s dad is the coach. But what she does not realize is that she isn’t that good at snowboarding and only made the team because her rich dad, the owner of the ski resort, funds the team. When Kayla is framed for misconduct that destroys both resort property and the property of resort employee, Will, she gets kicked off the team, broken up with, and is forced to work for Will at his dog kennel. Will also gives her a reality check that she is untalented and benefits from nepotism and rigged competitions. Kayla discovers that Will is an exceptional former snowboarder who faced a fatal accident years prior and enlists Will to help her become the best snowboarder and win in the Fire and Ice competition against her former team.

This movie was released in January of 2014, right around the time of the Winter Olympics. A lot of people were very excited to watch these winter events so having a movie with a similar theme was popular. It also stars Dove Cameron who had just launched into stardom on her hit Disney show, Liv and Maddie, and this movie helped showcase her acting abilities. Will is played by Luke Benward, who was also in the DCOM Girl vs Monster which came out in 2012. These actors have exceptional chemistry and are both very talented, especially with the wide range of emotions featured in this film. Crying scenes, near death for both characters, love, anger. They ace it all. Though the love story is not the main part of this movie as much as overcoming adversity is, you can’t help but kick your feet and giggle when Kayla’s ex gets jealous at her holding Will’s hand or when Will storms back up the mountain to kiss Kayla.

The obvious message of this movie is that anything is possible with hard work- the phrase “nothing is impossible” is actually repeated multiple times. But there are actually several others. First is the very cliche lesson to follow your own dreams, not your parents’, which is shown by Nick revealing at the end that his dad forced him to frame Kayla and break up with her, and that he was sick of never being good enough for his dad. There also is the lesson to not underestimate people, as everyone assumed that Kayla could not be a good snowboarder because her dad is rich and she is a girly girl. But she proves them wrong, and one of my favorite scenes is when all-star snowboarder Skye Sailor, who served as Kayla’s replacement on the Swift team, stands up to Nick’s dad. Nick’s dad snaps at Skye saying, “You said you could beat her”, with Skye responding, “and you said she was a pampered princess with no talent. But you were wrong. That girl can ride”. Though it’s subtle, this scene of women supporting women is very impactful on viewers. Plus, it’s great to see two women being girlbosses and dominating their sport.

The perseverance shown by many characters is admirable. Obviously, Kayla has to work extremely hard to get to the snowboarding level she wants to be at. There are montages of her continuously falling and trudging back up the mountain over and over. This shows the reality of hard work- its a process not just an outcome. Kayla has to leave her comfort zone throughout the movie, especially working at the dog kennel. But she makes the best of it and turns it into a great experience. After Will’s snowboarding injury in which he collapsed his lung and broke his back, among other things, he also has to overcome adversity and that mental block from his injury. He, too, must go out of his comfort zone.

Though Kayla’s family is extremely rich, this movie does show some struggles with money through Will’s mom who is struggling to pay rent. Though it’s not a main plot point, it is interesting to see this sort of representation for working class families.

I know I say this for every DCOM, but this movie is seriously so quotable and so funny. And despite not being a musical, the one song within the movie that plays over one of the snowboarding montages is one of the best Disney Channel songs to exist. It is so catchy and both characters are exceptional singers. This overall is such a feel good movie and despite being a little predictable, it is definitely worth the watch.

Geek Charming is one of my favorite DCOMs while simultaneously being one of the most underrated. The story follows Dylan, a girl who’s dream it is to win Blossom Queen (essentially Prom queen), which would allow her to become the most popular girl. Dylan already has the most popular friends and boyfriend, and despite being secretly very smart, she cares much more about her popularity. Josh is a film geek, and needs to make a film to submit to represent the school in a contest and win a spot at a Hollywood film camp. Josh chooses to make his movie about popularity, starring Dylan, while Dylan sees this opportunity as the perfect campaign for Blossom Queen. In working together, the two form an unlikely pair that eventually end up together (spoiler, sorry).

This movie was actually created based on a book, which is something I did not know. Disney probably adopted it because the success of the High School Musical franchise had a similar plotline with people from opposing social groups falling for each other. However, I feel like it was done differently as it is not a musical and HSM focuses on a common passion while in Geek Charming, they only originally worked together for personal gain. Sarah Hyland starring as Dylan was perfect publicity because she was also in Modern Family at the time, as well as Sasha Pieterse with Pretty Little Liars (real ones know her from Sharkboy and Lavagirl, though). Vanessa Morgan, from Riverdale and My Babysitter’s a Vampire, as well as Matt Prokop, from HSM3, were also in this movie. While the acting on Disney Channel can be -questionable- sometimes, this movie had some actually great actors that brought this movie to life.

This movie had a lot of creative aspects to it. One of the coolest parts of it is the side interviews that take place throughout the movie, similar to confessionals on reality TV. I believe this was due to the success of reality TV shows in the early 2010s when this movie came out, but it really adds another layer to the characters. They feel more real to the camera and you get a sort of side commentary of the movie that other DCOMs don’t have.

There are some really great lessons in this movie. It is one of the only DCOMs to deal with parent loss, at least as a main subplot. I think they perfectly incorporated the trauma of Dylan’s mom passing and did a great job of slowly revealing that her desire to win Blossom Queen was not actually rooted in a selfish need for popularity, but to feel close to her mom. Dylan also has to deal with the idea of a stepmom, and we see her gradually opening up to the idea of her stepmom while continuing to grieve over the loss of her mother, which is very deep for a DCOM. It can provide comfort to kids who have faced similar things with parent loss or hesitation to accept a step parent. Josh’s father is less of a plot point, but it is mentioned that his father is absent, likely due to divorce. This is something that is also pretty adult for Disney, but allows kids who are in that situation to feel seen.

Though the message of this film is still pretty cliche, mainly about being true to yourself and how true friendship matters more than popularity, it’s almost refreshing. Most movies of this nature with the people from opposing social groups falling in love center the message around that connection. They are mainly love stories. This movie, while incorporating the love story, also really highlights the importance of good friendships. Dylan is ditched from her “friends” the second that she becomes less popular, but is able to confide in one of her old best friends. She discovers that happiness and being with the right group of people is better than being with “cool” kids. This is especially an important message for preteens who may start to feel the pressure to fit in or peer pressure. Plus, I really like how, by the end, Dylan is not afraid to show off her intelligence. It really proves that girls can be both popular, pretty, nice, and smart all in one. It’s also an ironic contrast to her character, Haley, in Modern Family.

Overall, I think this is such a comfort movie for me, despite the later rumors of Matt Prokop’s abuse toward Sarah Hyland. Aside from that, this movie has SO MANY one liners that I’m constantly quoting with my sister. Like, I could name at least ten off the top of my head. It is underrated, and definitely worth a watch for DCOM lovers!

Camp Rock 1 and 2 are Disney Channel classics, and for good reason. The first movie follows Mitchie, a middle-class girl who loves to sing and who’s dream it is to go to Camp Rock- THE camp to be if you want to become someone. However, she can’t afford it…that is, until her mom gets a catering job there. When Mitchie gets there and realizes that the popular girls will only like her if she’s rich, she gets caught up in a web of lies that hurts a lot of people. Meanwhile, bad boy star Shane Grey hears Mitchie singing, not knowing it’s her, and spends the whole summer looking for “the girl with the voice”. In the end, Shane finds Mitchie, and Mitchie finds her true friends. Camp Rock 2 follows the same characters, except a rival camp, Camp Star, has opened up across the lake and is trying to steal their employees and campers. Impulsively, Mitchie suggests a competition where Camp Rock will compete against Camp Star in a performance and whoever loses has to shut down their camp.

First off, lets acknowledge this cast and how these are arguably some of the best singers Disney has ever had. Demi Lovato has PIPES and she absolutely obliterated every song they gave her. These songs are all bangers, with classics like This is Me basically inventing the Disney knees, and one of my all-time favorite DCOM songs, Wouldn’t Change a Thing. Like, seriously, that song is life changing and only Demi could have sang that song. I also appreciate how iconic the forest stomping is and the way we all thought they looked so cool back then.

I also very much appreciate how the entire franchise is good. I absolutely hate when there’s a great movie and the filmmakers go and ruin it by making a sequel, which happens far too often, especially on Disney Channel (I still love you Teen Beach Movie…). The fact that the second movie so nicely enhances the first is amazing, reincorporating all of our favorite characters while adding new, complex storylines.

I will say, I am not sure how plausible it is that this giant musical equipment would make sense to have in the woods, next to a lake. I also do not really understand how Camp Star just showed up one day and nobody knew it was being built, despite the giant buildings that would have taken years to construct. But, alas, it’s a kids movie so I won’t be too critical.

Now I’ll kind of go into what the cultural messages of each movie was separately. At first glance, the message of the first movie is just “don’t lie” or “just be yourself!” but it’s so much more than that. The fact that Mitchie was ashamed to be middle class and felt the only way she could fit in is by pretending to be upper class is very symbolic of class disparities in the US. Many kids can resonate with this feeling of being out of place, especially money-wise, and struggle with their sense of identity. Feeling like they want to be someone else and changing themselves to fit the mold of what they feel like they should be like is very harmful but much too common. Seeing how Mitchie overcame this and found true friends who don’t care about her parents status is inspiring for kids who have ever felt this way, or even adults. I think it is very relatable to a lot of kids to have a dream or something they really want, but it not being attainable because they don’t have the money for it. This movie allows them to keep dreaming.

I also think the first movie does a subtle nod to child stardom and paparazzi through Shane Grey. They try to make him seem like the bad guy for being all moody and noncooperative when really he’s just a teenager in the spotlight. Speaking of spotlight, I think the redemption arc for Tess is very well done. Seeing the pride she has for her mother’s success at the beginning of the movie to her just crumbling backstage when her mom prioritizes work over her performance is heartbreaking. I think it teaches watchers a good lesson about how sometimes the meanest people are the most broken and how you really don’t know what others are going through.

The second movie also has these very impactful messages, as Camp Star was basically a symbol of large corporations in America. They stole all of Camp Rock’s employees simply because they could pay them more, even though they had only opened up that summer. During the final jam, Camp Rock finds out that Camp Star has been sending advertisements and texts all across America to vote for their performance. A classic line is “I don’t need to be impressed to know to vote Camp Star”. This is super impactful because it kind of shows kids the brutal truth that heart and friendship doesn’t always win, it’s money and power. Don’t even get me started on the scene where Camp Rock loses. The silence. Watching their faces drop as Camp Star erupts in victory. We were all GAGGED as kids. Like I was so heavily impacted by that, it was genuinely a cultural reset. We had NEVER seen the good guys lose before. We had never seen a bad ending like this, and here Camp Rock 2 was, crushing our dreams on Disney Channel. Though, in the end, they kind of all come together and sing around the campfire about how their connection and authenticity is more important than winning, it doesn’t undermine the shock. The lesson that you can’t always win and to make the best of your situation despite drawbacks is honestly the best lesson they could have given to kids, and I really do applaud them from straying from a cliche end where Camp Rock wins and it’s just happily ever after because that’s not realistic.

Basically, to sum it up, Camp Rock 1 and 2 are absolute masterpieces and are a must watch for all ages.

Lemonade Mouth, a cult classic, follows the stories of five different characters, each with their own family struggles, who end up in detention together one day and start a band. This includes Olivia, a shy singer who lives with her grandmother after her father’s incarceration, Wen, a piano player who’s dad is dating a woman much younger than him, Charlie, the drummer who feels overshadowed by his older brother, Stella, the guitar player who feels like her parents do not understand her, and Mo, the bassist who feels pressure to be the perfect Indian daughter while also wanting to fit in at school.

First of all, this movie has some absolute bangers. She’s So Gone is one of the best songs that Disney Channel has ever made, and the part where her ex boyfriend sees her flirt with another guy during the song and is visibly jealous?? Eight year old me was GAGGED. This song and movie in general was such a cultural reset. Determinate?? More Than a Band? Somebody? Like these songs are not just good for a Disney movie. These songs are just good. They are still good and they are iconic.

All that being said, this movie honestly is very inclusive in showing a wide variety of family relationships. Many people associate Disney with picture-perfect nuclear families and this movie really challenges that. It shows single parents, mixed race families, divorced parents, immigrant parents, and living with a grandmother instead of a parent. It is not very often that a movie meant for younger kids deals with things like incarceration, but this movie literally ends with Olivia revealing that her narration throughout the movie was a letter to her dad who is in jail. This is groundbreaking for a kids movie and can help children who have gone through this same thing not feel so invisible. This can be said for all of the families in this movie. Mo’s family is another one that sticks out for this reason for me because it was one of the first times that I, as a kid, got a glimpse into what a non-white household might look like and the struggles with identity that one might face. Mo felt a constant internal struggle to satisfy both halves of her identity, as both a proud Indian daughter and American teenager, which is definitely relatable to millions of people. This could be the first time that a little kid sees their family portrayed or their struggles represented on screen, and representation is so important.

This movie does not have a clear reason for being made. I think the idea of people with different backgrounds all coming together for a collective passion was very popular at the time, as it has been for a while with classics like Grease, The Breakfast Club, and of course, High School Musical (LOL).

Some other random thoughts about this movie because I absolutely adore it and I feel like it is so beloved but also forgotten at the same time: I specifically remember thinking the lemonade in this movie looked so good and everyone knows Naomi Scott from playing Jasmine in live action Aladdin but she is forever my Mo. And lastly, I do really like how Mo’s loser boyfriend turns nice at the end and joins the band because everyone deserves their redemption arc.

Princess Protection Program, starring Selena Gomez as small-town girl, Carter, who’s dad rescues endangered princesses for a living. His job is to put them in a Princess Protection Program where they will be relocated to somewhere safe. However, he saves Demi Lovato’s character, Princess Rosalinda, from Costa Luna which is being overrun by foreign terrorists attempting a coup d’états. While her mom is held hostage in Costa Luna, Rosie is relocated to stay with Carter and her dad where they become close friends despite their different backgrounds.

This movie, as you can probably tell from the brief summary, touches on some pretty deep topics. Rosie is away from home concerned about the safety of her mother and country. These storylines were essential to teaching kids from a young age about foreign conflict and real-world issues like terrorism and foreign violence. The idea of Rosie getting plucked from her home and family with absolutely no warning resembles the experiences of many immigrant children or children experiencing war in foreign countries. Though it’s unknown whether this was the intention of the movie, it is heartbreaking to see her facing displacement alone. Though many kids cannot relate, they can sympathize with Rosie and later sympathize with people with similar stories. Within these storylines aligns a lesson of trust, as Rosie is plucked from her home and does not know who she can trust with her secret of being in protection. When the time comes that she needs help, she can rely on Carter’s father and her dressmaker back in Costa Luna to ensure that she and her mother are safe. Showing young kids the importance of having trust in the adults in their life is an essential message.

When the girls first meet, Carter is quick to label Rosie as a spoiled princess without knowing what she is truly going through. She resents that Rosie is stealing her dad’s attention as well as the attention of her crush (who is actually just a jerk). Seeing how these two girls look beyond their differences and see how their values align is important for watchers to see. This message goes deeper than two girls just becoming friends. In a place where Rosie knows and trusts basically nobody, she and Carter find that their values for kindness, trust, and love for their parents align. In the end, Carter ends up risking her life by playing bait for terrorist leader General Kane to capture her instead of Rosie. This kind of sacrifice goes beyond the standard idea of friendship that is typically displayed in movies, especially ones aimed for children.

Aside from the deeper meaning, this movie is just a really good watch. Selena and Demi have great chemistry, and watching Rosie try to live a civilian life and massively failing at mundane things like eating a cheeseburger is very funny. And, of course, the happy ending where Rosie is reunited with her mother and becomes the Queen of Costa Luna is exciting (despite being somewhat predictable) after a lot of tension. All in all, an excellent movie and definitely an underrated flic.

We have made it. The final passion blog of the semester and no better way to end it than with the best Barbie movie of all time: Princess and the Pauper. I don’t even know if I can do this film justice with my words alone. It is a cinematic masterpiece that stands the test of time.

Princess and the Pauper follows two polar opposite girls- Princess Anneliese and pauper Erika. Anneliese lives a privileged life in the castle, but when her kingdom begins to go bankrupt she is set up to be engaged to King Dominic, which is unfortunate for her because she is in love with Julian, a commoner who is her best friend. What they also don’t realize is that the Queen’s treasurer, Preminger, is the one stealing the kingdom’s natural resource of gold for himself so that the princess will have to marry him for his riches and make him the king. Erika, on the other hand, was born into poverty and works as a seamstress for the abusive Madam Karp to pay off her debt. The catch is, Anneliese and Erika look exactly alike (except for hair color– hence a wig). When Preminger kidnaps Anneliese to prevent the wedding to King Dominic that would interfere with his plan to become king, Julian enlists Erika to impersonate Anneliese where she ends up falling for Dominic.

Just by the storyline, it is clear that this movie is complex. This is not your basic kid’s movie with a predictable, two-dimensional storyline. There are twists and turns and betrayals. It’s complicated because when Anneliese “ran away” (was kidnapped by Preminger) she (Preminger) left a note behind but was signed with the wrong scent, which Julian recognized. He became suspicious of Preminger which is why he went to find Erika. He knew that when “Anneliese” (Erika) returned and did not instantly tell everyone about the kidnapping (because only real Anneliese knows), Preminger would get suspicious and go to check on Anneliese, where real Julian could follow her. Unfortunately, Anneliese ends up escaping but when she returns they don’t believe it’s her since Erika is in her spot. Preminger ends up finding out their plan and Anneliese and Julian both end up kidnapped, left for dead, but escape last minute. Preminger makes plans to marry the Queen and exposes Erika as a fraud, where she is then let free by King Dominic. In the end, Erika marries Dominic and Anneliese marries Julian.

I know I didn’t have to give the whole synopsis but it is SO GOOD I just couldn’t resist. There is so much dramatic irony that it makes watching it so suspenseful and engaging.

This movie easily has the best music of all the Barbie movies. Every single song is so catchy and amazing and I am absolutely convinced that this movie is the reason I can harmonize in thirds on the spot. Plus, this is the first movie-musical that Barbie did so it’s historic and iconic! When my sister and I were little we would dress up as Anneliese and Erika and perform an entire scene and song for my parents, delivering lines word for word. I have always felt I had a special connection to this movie because of how it reminded me of my sister and I, and these are memories that I continue to cherish.

Anneliese also promotes being a woman in STEM. She easily could have been a pretty princess with no substance or a damsel in distress but it is clear from the beginning that she is intelligent and quick-witted. In her songs she emphasizes her love for reading, and in the situation with her being kidnapped or almost drowning to death, her and Julian quickly come up with effective solutions. It is her discovery of geodes in the cave that she was trapped in that ends up saving the kingdom from financial ruin at the end of the movie.

As for Erika, she finally got her happily ever after not only because she got to marry a King, but because she got to fulfill her dream of traveling the world and singing. Plus the fact that King Dominic- a respectful, attractive, rich, talented, smart, kind, funny man waited for her when she went to travel when he didn’t know when she was going to return set the bar so high for men.

One of the best parts of this movie is the bloopers at the end. A couple of Barbie movies do this, but these bloopers are such a core memory to me. My sister and I would literally rewind the DVD and watch them on repeat over and over again; we could not stop laughing. This movie, like most of the movies on this list, are so quotable and memorable.

All in all, this movie is stunning and beautifully done. This is universally accepted as the best Barbie movie and is the epitome of old Barbie and great cinema. Princess in the Pauper is a clear number one.

This movie is the one that goes hand in hand with the #3 ranking, Barbie Fairy Secret, however this one comes first. In this universe, Barbie is a movie star but gets fired for creative differences with the director and receives hate online. Shortly after, Raquel tricks Ken into breaking up with Barbie on the phone, saying that they are rehearsing lines of a breakup scene, but secretly recording it. With her life falling apart at the seams, Barbie takes a trip to her favorite place as a kid- her Aunt Millicent’s fashion house in Paris. However, upon arrival, Barbie discovers that her aunt’s fashion house is in danger of closing and she as well as her aunt’s assistant, Elise, must put together a fashion show to raise enough money to help save the fashion house. They receive the help of flairies, little fairies with no wings, that have the power to glamorize clothes that inspire them, so they assist in saving too.

First off, the opening montage of this movie is so iconic. It’s a bunch of fashion drawings and it’s black and white, with the color getting painted over on the beat drop. Though this movie isn’t a musical in that the characters never engage in singing, the music that plays over the montages is so good and really catchy. Plus, the dresses throughout this movie are so gorgeous. The fashion show at the end has some of the most beautiful designs and I even had little fashion books when I was younger because I wanted to be a stylist like Barbie. The flairies essentially turn everything glittery, and my sister and I would have debates about what dresses would have looked better without any glitter.

Just like in Fairy Secret, this movie is very funny and has so many one liners that my entire family will just say randomly. Ken specifically serves as comedic relief as he has a storyline of his own. Upon discovering Raquel’s secret breakup with Barbie and him being blocked on all platforms, Ken goes on a journey to Paris to surprise Barbie with a “grand romantic gesture”, but not without obstacles along the way. From a slobbery, bratty kid on a plane to his pants ripping in the airport to missing the train to getting his sweatshirt eaten by a pig, Ken really sets the bar for men. If he wanted to, he would. 

This is one of the only times we see Barbie going through a relatable, tumultuous time. In a lot of other movies that revolve around magic, her issues are not really relatable, like her whole family being turned to ice in Magic of Pegasus or trying to break a girl out of a magic mirror in Diamond Castle (though that movie does deal with poverty but thats besides the point). Seeing Barbie just having raw emotions and watching her deal with a breakup and job loss was honestly really refreshing and just relatable.

Additionally, this movie was honestly inspiring to me as a kid. I thought Paris was so cool in this movie, and now I am biliterate in French. I genuinely think one of the first times I was exposed to French and international culture was through this movie, so it’s kind of a full circle moment. Barbie was also such a business woman in this movie. I mean, to put together an entire fashion line and fashion show in the span of, what, a week? A month? To advertise and raise enough money to save an entire business that is on the verge of bankruptcy, to revamp a brand that has already been given a reputation of being outdated in the media is no easy task. Barbie was such a girlboss in this movie and maybe that’s not the only reason I’m a marketing major, but I can definitely take notes.

Plus, spoiler warning, but I do like to see the happy ending, even if its a little cliche. Ken surprises Barbie at the fashion show and all is well, Barbie saves the fashion house, and she not only gets her reputation as a movie star back, but is offered the role as a director of a new movie due to her creative ideas and execution of the fashion show that was broadcasted on TV. I love to see a girlboss winning.

Again, since this is one of the later movies, released in 2010, many OG barbie fans haven’t seen it. However, this movie remains one of my favorites and is a constant rewatch for me and my siblings. Solid number two pick.

We are officially in the top three! Barbie Fairy Secret is one of only three movies on this list where Barbie is actually named Barbie! In this universe, Barbie is a famous movie star with boyfriend Ken, who is abruptly stolen by fairies and brought to the fairy world, Gloss Angeles, to be married to fairy royalty, Graciella. What Barbie doesn’t know is that her two best friends and assistants, Taylor and Carrie, are both also fairies, and Graciella was placed under a love potion, which is why she stole Ken. Barbie, Taylor, Carrie, and rival Raquel all journey to Gloss Angeles to break Graciela’s love spell and bring Ken home safely.

This movie is very interesting because it serves as the unofficial sequel to the #2 movie on this list, which is the only Barbie movie duo I can think of that does this. While there are plenty of Barbie movies with sequels, this one simply exists in the same universe and references things from the original movie, incorporating the same canons. When I was little, realizing how these movies tied in together was so cool, and the first time I had seen Barbie do something like this. This movie is also very often overlooked because it isn’t a part of the “original” Barbie movies like Rapunzel or Diamond Castle, which came out in the 2000s. Fairy Secret, by comparison, came out in 2011. I actually distinctly remember seeing commercials for this movie saying “Coming to DVD in Spring 2011” and BEGGING my parents to get it for me. I’m pretty sure this was the first present I opened on my sixth birthday, and I remember unwrapping it in the car. The second I saw those rainbow wings I was so excited. This was also the birthday I received an entire collection of Disney Princess Barbies that I still have to this day. Seriously this day is ingrained in my head it was so iconic.

I found that this movie is the perfect amount of predictable- it’s not too complex but it also has a decent plot twist. Spoiler warning, just in case you were planning on binge watching Barbie movies, but it turns out that Taylor and Carrie’s other fairy friend, Crystal, who is also friends with Graciella, gave Graciella the love potion because Crystal is in love with Graciella’s fiance, Zane. In Gloss Angeles, there is a rule that if a human marries a fairy, they have to stay in Gloss Angeles forever, which is why it was so urgent for Barbie to save Ken. At the end of the day, however, Graciella breaks free and marries Zane instead. I do like, though, that at the beginning we’re supposed to see Raquel as the villain but by the end we see that it’s actually Crystal and Raquel becomes a good guy.

While it seems like this movie is heavily focused on romance, it’s actually not and that’s what I like about it. In the climax of this movie, Barbie and Raquel are stuck in one of Graciella’s indestructible fury spheres and it looks like they will not be able to save Ken before he is married off. The two have a deep conversation about why they have disliked each other for so long, and it results in them becoming friends and hugging it out, with friendship being what breaks them free from the fury sphere and allows them to go from their temporary wings to permanent wings, which are absolutely beautiful. Plus, in the movie it is revealed that there was a rift between Graciella and Taylor and Carrie that got Taylor and Carrie banned from Gloss Angeles, but the three are able to reunite as friends. I love how this movie incorporates relationships, but it’s main focus is female friendships and overcoming differences, which I think is important to teach little girls.

There is actually a big plot twist at the end, however. It is a threat to fairies that Raquel, Barbie, and Ken, all humans, know about the fairy world, so they are essentially all hypnotized to wake up and think that it was all just a dream. They begin talking in a cafe about how they all had the exact same weird dream, and Taylor and Carrie wink in the camera before flying off, indicating that it is viewers turn to keep the fairy secret. I just thought this was a very creative way to end the movie.

Lastly, this movie is just really funny. Ken specifically is just a total goofball and has some very hilarious one-liners that my sister and I quote all the time. All the characters have great chemistry and it is the perfect balance between drama, friendship, and comedy, which is why Fairy Secret secured its top 3 spot on my list.