This weekend’s film release, ‘Barbie’ has sparked more interest in the once-neglected Barbie Doll.
‘Barbie’ movie was released on 21st July, with everyone on the internet advertising their immediate ticket purchase to the movie.
In addition to these, memes were made with people having to choose between the demonstrations and the Barbie movie. Most young people made fun of the fact that they’d go for the demonstrations on Wednesday and Thursday, then go watch the movie on Friday.
In a shocking revelation, many men were inclined to watch the movie regardless of the stigma around it. The notion that only women can watch and enjoy a Barbie movie. This movie release registered as the most attended Barbie movie with men in the auditoriums.
Further than ending the stigma, the movie also escalated the sales of the Barbie dolls which had seen a halt in purchases since the development of technology. At thrift stores, vintage Barbie dolls have become a treasure. Prices in the collectibles market have soared, and antique appraisers have been flooded by calls from new collectors
Matthew Keith bought his first Barbie dolls in the 1970s using his allowance. He hid them from his parents for fear they would say the toys were not masculine at all.
Recently, over 22 feet of bookshelves in his Los Angeles home are filled with his Barbie collection, worth approximately $20,000 (Ksh.2.8 million). He is now a middle school teacher with an Instagram account, “DollsOnTheBrain,” which has more than 70,000 followers – about 15,000 of whom he picked up in the last few weeks, due to the Barbie movie release.
Keith, 55, welcomes the enthusiasm.
“I am both happy and hopeful that this will move the needle on Barbie acceptance for everyone,” he said in an interview.
The “Barbie” movie, which opened Friday, is expected to bring in $100 million in U.S. theaters on its opening weekend. Retailers around the world are also hoping to profit from its hype with Barbie-themed offerings from hotel suites to toothbrushes and apparel.
Collectors affected by new Barbie doll prices
However, not every collector of the iconic doll is as delighted as Keith. On a Reddit forum devoted to the past time, some complained they were being priced out by wealthy new buyers, due to a spike in interest that surged in the lead-up to the movie.
“I’ve largely stopped collecting dolls themselves and invest in clothing and accessories instead,” wrote one user. “What started out as an affordable hobby has grown too expensive to maintain.”
“I’ve never seen this kind of interest. It’s really bringing a lot of new adults into the Barbie-collecting world,” Davidson a veteran Barbie dill dealer said.
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Collector dolls are usually around $100, while non-collector dolls typically range from $10-$30. The “Holy Grail” Barbie, the first model produced in 1959, goes for thousands of dollars.
But the movie has generated a roughly 60% increase in demand for Barbie appraisals in the past month, beating out other brands of dolls that are usually more popular, according to Verderame.
“Barbie appraisals don’t normally come the way they’ve been coming,” she said. “I’ve seen some very rare and wonderful dolls for appraisals that we might not have seen if it wasn’t for the movie.”
After the movies’ release, thousands around the world flock to the theatres dressed in pink. Some with attires, others with accessories, a few with bags, and many with Barbie merchandise.
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