The European Premiere of ‘Barbie’ Looked Way More Fun Than the First Premiere

Rarely (if ever) would we pay attention to the second red carpet of a movie premiere but Barbie has us making all sorts of exceptions. The movie had its European premiere in London on Wednesday night and damn, it looked way better than the World Premiere that was held in Los Angeles on Sunday—which is possibly what the very well-funded and very outrageous Barbie marketing team wanted.

The pink carpet looks were brighter, sparklier, and hotter; everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves more; there was a stage, and a photocall where the stars got to push a giant button and streamers fell from the middle of the sky. Whereas the L.A. premiere looked like everyone was about 15 seconds from being melted by the sun, the London premiere just looked like a jolly old-fashioned, needless, over-the-top good fucking time. See for yourself.

Issa for sure looked great at the World Premiere, but this is the kind of hot pink mini dress that makes me wanna say, “C’mon Barbie let’s go party.”

He looks like a dad—which is he! But after he was absent from the first premiere, it’s nice to see him here. And he sure does look like he’s having fun!

Mattel, give us a Barbie Careers: Assassin.

Have you seen Emily?! The movie, starring Emma Mackey, loosely based on Emily Brontë’s life? It is SO good! So, so good—and this is exactly what I’d imagine Emily would wear to a pink carpet if she were alive in 2023 and hadn’t died in 1848 at age 30 from tuberculosis.

I imagine this dress is insanely heavy but I also imagine it’d make you feel extremely safe.

Would place this shimmering, pastel, dew-dropped, princess angel atop my Christmas tree.

Hate the skirt! Love the top! Worried that her shoes are slipping off!

OK, obviously everything looks really good on Gosling but this color is a really fucking good color for Gosling.

Lipa’s naked, mesh dress was hot, but I’m a bigger fan of this whimsical, colorful ensemble. In fact, it is so whimsical and colorful, I’m convinced that the butterflies on her shoes are actual butterflies that were like, “Hey, here’s a magical, whimsical place to chill.”

This is fucking amazing—especially since her World Premiere outfit was fucking awful. I am Stunned. 1,000 out of 10.

I do prefer the hot pink on her, but this sparkly caped gown is definitely a more appropriate fit for a once-in-a-generation director. (Someone needed to move her to a different spot, though, she is blending into the sequined Barbie-fied U.K. flag.)

Robbie’s stylist, Andrew Mukamal, deserves his own Oscar for this press tour; the Barbie references are truly insane. This Vivienne Westwood gown replicates the “Enchanted Evening” Barbie and is the only light pink thing I’ve ever loved.

I was tickled to see the Chicken Shop Date host, who did interviews on the pink carpet, go full Barbie cosplay, even if it does stray a bit into Regina George territory.

Patterns! Feathers! ’60's go-go vibes! Bring some of this back to the U.S., please?!

The European Premiere also had a “VIP photocall?” I’m not clear of the point, but the vibes were hot as hell and very “Barbie after dark.”

As far as I could tell, there were definitely no streamers at the World Premiere on Sunday. Look at America! She is in awe (and in a banging dress).

This looks like the cast photo of the opening night of a high school play—if all the students were millionaires and the play was the blockbuster of the summer. Still: huge drama department vibes.

Dua’s so silly!

This is the most amount of joy any human has ever experienced. I guess it’s probably impossible to smile this big in the U.S. these days, though.