Today, a new movie hits theaters about an American icon that's been in homes around

the world for decades.

Barbie. The movie's release marks the doll's first live action appearance on the big screen

ever. And it leans in on everything Barbie. It's pink. It's fun. It's got an all-star cast.

And so far, it's popular. Early estimates suggest the movie's first weekend could bring in

more than a hundred million dollars. We talked about the early excitement with Robbie Brenner,

a producer of the movie and the head of Mattel Films. I mean, it's obviously it's the most

exciting thing on everybody's mind right now, but it's like it's everywhere you turn. I mean,

my phone levitates daily from photos, you know, around the world and bus stops and here in Times Square.

And this is everywhere we just turn 50 monuments, pink, you know, around the United States, you know,

the not around the world, actually. How does that feel to you being everywhere? I think it's

incredible. I think it's like it's absolutely amazing. I feel like people have Barbie Mania and

like they're excited and it's pink and it's happy and like we need happiness in the world right now.

But getting the movie made wasn't all sunshine and dream houses.

Robbie said she had to show Mattel that making movies wasn't the same as making toys.

Obviously, there was a huge education that needed to happen for the people internally at Mattel.

And so I was sort of like the person responsible for explaining, okay, well, you know,

I know these things feel scary. And by the way, you are going to white knuckle it the whole way through

because this is your brand. This is your baby. You know, you are the ambassadors of Barbie.

We talked to Robbie about the creative push and pull to make the Barbie movie, whether it can be

called a feminist movie and Mattel's plans to open up its toy chest for Hollywood.

Welcome to the journal, our show about money, business and power. I'm Kate Limbaugh.

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