Barbie is set to open across the Middle East on Thursday, August 10, but moves by Kuwait and Lebanon to ban the film for allegedly threatening conservative values have raised questions over how widely it will be released.
The film centered upon the anatomically improbable American dolls contains no overt sexuality or references to LGBTQ+ rights. But it seems to have drawn fire because of its sheer flamboyance and broad message of inclusion and gender equality in a region where homosexuality is widely seen as taboo.
Kuwait announced its ban late Wednesday, saying the film promotes "ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and public order," without elaborating, according to a statement published by the state-run KUNA news agency.
In Lebanon, Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada said the film was found to "contradict values of faith and morality" and to "promote homosexuality and sexual transformation." His request to ban the film was forwarded to Lebanon's General Security Agency, which falls under the Interior Ministry and traditionally handles censorship decisions.
The move sparked an uproar in Lebanon, which long was an island of relative tolerance for gay men and lesbians. The LGBTQ+ community there has come under growing pressure in recent years as powerful Islamist and far-right Christian groups have gained influence amid a severe economic crisis.
The all-star cast of Barbie includes Kate McKinnon, who is gay, and transgender actor Hari Nef. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have embraced the film, even as some have criticized it as pushing a heteronormative narrative. The Warner Bros. movie has grossed over $1 billion in less than a month since opening in other markets. The film – led and produced by Margot Robbie, directed and co-written by Greta Gerwig – crossed $400 million domestic and $500 million internationally faster than any other movie at the studio, including the Harry Potter films.
The film's release in the Middle East was initially planned for August 31 but was recently brought forward, indicating that any censorship issues had been resolved. Films are often delayed for release in the region to allow time for production companies to censor them or for committees to review them. Vietnam banned distribution of Barbie last month because it includes a view of a map showing disputed Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Another summer blockbuster, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, was abruptly pulled from cinema listings across the Middle East in June, apparently over a scene in which a transgender poster briefly appears in the background. That film was not screened in Lebanon, but there was no official comment regarding a ban and the decision was widely attributed to regional distributors not sourcing it. Warner Bros. did not respond to requests for comments about whether or not the movie was censored for release in the region.