Now that it's a cultural—and financial—smash, conservatives trying to jump on the 'Barbie' train

Right-wing media and commentators have gone through quite the emotional journey when it comes to “Barbie.” There was the heady optimism that they were going to give the movie “the Bud Light treatment,” and then the rage as it became clear that that wasn’t going to happen, accompanied by rage that it dared take aim at toxic masculinity. Then there was the pivot to “Hey, maybe if you look at it just right, this is a conservative movie.”

As it became clear that “Barbie” was not just a hit but a hit with great word-of-mouth and staying power—maintaining popularity from its first to second and third weekends and racking up $1 billion globally in just over three weeks—Fox News moved from attacking its wokeness to highlighting progressive critiques of the movie, or what could pass for progressive critiques if you squinted at them just right. Then it went further, digging up a set of right-wing arguments that the “Barbie” movie is taking a bold stand against feminism.