Barbie: The Movie is a comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig released in 2023. The movie starred Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, along with a large ensemble of stars. It smashed box office records and surpassed expectations. It was part of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon where competing movies both brought in enthusiastic audiences, giving both a big boost.
A good portion of the movie features scenes taking place in Barbieland, which were filmed on soundstages. However when Barbie and Ken travel to “The Real World”, they end up in modern day Los Angeles.
Venice Beach Boardwalk and Skate Park
When Ken and Barbie first appear in The Real World, they turn up in Venice Beach. They are seen rollerblading along the boardwalk. You can see some of the storefronts in the shots. There are also numerous shots of the Venice Skate Park, one of the most popular and recognizable skate parks in the world.
Mattel Headquarters
In real life, the Mattel Headquarters are located in El Segundo, California. However for the Barbie movie, the production used the Bank of America Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. We see the building, along with the entrance and surrounding plaza. These pictures are courtesy of my friend Brian over at Reel To Real Filming Locations.
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden
While the location shooting was done in Los Angeles, all of the sets and interior shots were filmed in England. The production used the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, about an hour north of London.
This location doesn’t offer a traditional studio tour like the Los Angeles location, however there is a chance to visit the location. The popular Warner Bros. Studio Tour Leavesden – The Making of Harry Potter attraction allows fans to visit an exclusive exhibit dedicated to Harry Potter. This studio is where all eight films were made, and the exhibition includes original sets, costumes, and props from the franchise.
