Barbie: Princess Power – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Barbie: Princess Power

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2015

62%

WISE Score

Barbie gets superpowers from a magical butterfly and learns that teamwork beats rivalry—in the most predictable 73 minutes possible.

Barbie: Princess Power

movie

G, 2015

62%

WISE Score

Barbie gets superpowers from a magical butterfly and learns that teamwork beats rivalry—in the most predictable 73 minutes possible.

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Screenwise Verdict

Barbie: Princess Power is the kind of movie that exists to fill a slot in the Barbie direct-to-video lineup, not to be remembered. It's safe, it's got a positive message about teamwork, and it won't rot anyone's brain—but it also won't inspire much beyond 'that was fine, I guess.'

The ratings tell the story: 5.3 on IMDb and 2.5 on Letterboxd means even generous audiences found it middling. The superhero twist is mildly fun, but the execution is so formulaic that you'll spend most of the runtime on your phone while your kid half-watches.

If you've got a 5-year-old who demands Barbie content and you've exhausted the better options, sure, throw this on. But if you're curating a queue of actually good kids' movies, this one can stay on the shelf.

Age Fit

Squarely aimed at 4-7 year olds who are deep in their Barbie phase. Common Sense Media pegs it at 6+, which feels right. Older kids will find it boring, and even within the target demo, this is a 'put it on while I make dinner' pick rather than appointment viewing.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models friendship, teamwork, and overcoming jealousy. The arc from rivalry to cooperation between Kara and her cousin teaches conflict resolution. Tone is upbeat and age-appropriate for young kids, though the formula is predictable and lacks emotional depth.

Imaginative

Superhero-princess mashup offers some novelty for the Barbie franchise circa 2015, but the execution is generic. The 'butterfly gives superpowers' premise is whimsical but underdeveloped. Doesn't invite much creative thinking or exploration beyond passive viewing of a standard hero-vs-rival plot.

Safe

Squeaky clean content with no violence beyond sparkly superhero action, no scary elements, no mature themes. Common Sense Media rates it for age 6. The conflict is mild and resolved positively. Entirely predictable and safe for young viewers.

Enriching

The friendship-over-rivalry message is present but delivered with zero subtlety. No real skill-building, minimal cognitive engagement, and the 'power of working together' theme is hammered home without nuance. It's entertaining enough for the target demo but offers little lasting value.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Completely safe viewing for preschool and early elementary kids—no scares, no edge, just sparkles
Teaches the value of cooperation over competition through the rival-cousins-become-allies arc
Short runtime means even if your kid loses interest, you're not trapped for long
The superhero-princess hybrid might appeal to kids who like both genres

⚠

What to Watch For

This is bottom-tier Barbie—even fans of the franchise find it forgettable (5.3 IMDb, 2.5 Letterboxd)
Zero narrative surprises: you'll predict every plot beat within the first 10 minutes
The animation quality is direct-to-video budget, which shows
May bore kids over 7 or anyone looking for actual storytelling

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Kara's cousin was jealous at first? Have you ever felt that way about a friend or sibling?"
"If you got superpowers from a butterfly, what would you want them to be?"
"The cousins worked better as a team than as rivals—can you think of a time when working together helped you solve a problem?"

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