What started as a blockbuster hit at the cinema has now spilled into people’s personal lives. Women around the world are turning Greta Gerwig’s Barbie into an unlikely tool: a way to measure the strength — and potential — of their relationships.
The rise of the “Barbie Boyfriend Test”
On TikTok, thousands of women are sharing what’s become known as the Barbie Boyfriend Test. The idea is simple: invite your partner to watch Barbie with you and pay close attention to how he reacts — not just to the film, but to the conversations that follow.
One creator with millions of views broke it down like this: “How does he respond when you suggest seeing Barbie together? What does he think about the way Ken was portrayed? Does he notice Allan, and if so, what does he make of him? Most importantly, is he willing to have an intellectual conversation afterwards about gender, identity, or the bigger themes raised in the film?”
For many women, the answers to these questions have been nothing short of revealing.
Breakups sparked by Barbie
Scrolling through the comments, it’s clear the film has become a relationship litmus test. Some women confessed that Barbie exposed cracks they didn’t know were there. One said: “I went with him even though he dragged me to Oppenheimer. But he rolled his eyes during Barbie. It hurt so much to realise he didn’t care how I see the world.”
Others went further — admitting that their partner’s dismissive reaction to the movie was the breaking point. Stories of women ending long-term relationships after a Barbie screening are now common on the platform. As one user put it bluntly: “If he can’t respect a film about women, how can he respect me?”
When Barbie brings couples closer
It isn’t all heartbreak, though. For plenty of couples, the test had the opposite effect — reinforcing their bond. One woman shared that her fiancé “laughed when I laughed, held my hand when I cried, and wanted to talk about it all the way home.” Another proudly posted that her husband not only loved the film but encouraged his friends to see it too, calling it essential viewing.
These reactions highlight how shared empathy and willingness to engage in difficult conversations can deepen intimacy. As psychologists often stress, the way couples discuss culture, art, and even entertainment can reveal their values more clearly than any questionnaire.
More than just a meme
Of course, the Barbie Boyfriend Test isn’t scientific — it’s TikTok, after all. Some users poke fun at it, pointing out that a film preference shouldn’t determine the future of a relationship. And yet, it’s hard to ignore how this trend has given many women language for something they already sensed: whether their partner is open to empathy, equality, and dialogue.
At its heart, the movement isn’t about Barbie itself. It’s about paying attention to how your partner shows up when faced with a story that challenges stereotypes. Sometimes, a two-hour movie says more about compatibility than years of routine.
