Warner Bros. Pictures’ Barbie will make its streaming debut on Max on Friday, December 15 at 12am PT/3am ET. Barbie debuted in theaters on July 21 and broke records as the highest-grossing global release in the studio’s 100-year history.
The film earned more than $1.441 billion worldwide, with $636 million coming from North American theaters and $805 million from international markets.
Championing themes of inclusion from the film, Warner Bros. and Max have announced Barbie with ASL, the hit blockbuster film interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL), will be available to stream on Max on December 15 as well.
Grounded in research and feedback from the Deaf community, as well as counsel from community leaders, Barbie with ASL was produced for Max featuring ASL performer Leila Hanaumi (Deaf Austin Theatre’s “The Laramie Project,” ASL cover for Tove Lo in “True Romance” music video). Barbie with ASL will be displayed as a unique title in-app and can be identified by its key art with the sign language symbol.
To celebrate Barbie with ASL coming to the platform, Max will host a special community screening on December 14 in LA, where Barbie star and Oscar nominee, Margot Robbie (Bombshell, I, Tonya) will join Leila Hanaumi on stage for a post-screening conversation for hundreds of community members and Barbie fans.
The event will be in collaboration with the esteemed Tony Award-winning non-profit, Deaf West Theatre, a celebrated Deaf institution in Los Angeles for over 30 years, and RespectAbility, whose mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
“Max is the premiere destination for storytelling, so being able to share the biggest movie of the year in ASL, the first language for many, will make this story resonate in a more meaningful way,” said Casey Bloys Chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content.
“By offering sign language interpretation, we will build upon the film’s empowering message of inclusiveness and offer a unique viewing experience for the Deaf community to enjoy with family and friends.”
To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.
From Academy Award-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig (Little Women, Lady Bird), Barbie stars Oscar nominees Margot Robbie (Bombshell, I, Tonya, Promising Young Woman, and Saltburn) and Ryan Gosling (La La Land, Blade Runner 2049) as Barbie and Ken.
The are joined by America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.
The film also stars Ana Cruz Kayne, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, Jamie Demetriou, Connor Swindells, Sharon Rooney, Nicola Coughlan, Ritu Arya, GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Dua Lipa and Oscar winner Helen Mirren.
The Barbie film soundtrack has also been nominated for 11 GRAMMY awards across seven categories, with four of the five nominated titles for Best Song Written for Visual Media appearing on the official movie soundtrack.
The movie was directed by Greta Gerwig from a screenplay by Gerwig & Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, based on Barbie by Mattel. It was produced by Oscar nominee David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner. The executive producers are Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Ynon Kreiz, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.