Algeria Bans Barbie Film After Cinema Debut

Algeria has become the latest country to ban the “Barbie” film, joining a number of Middle Eastern countries that have stopped the film from being shown in cinemas.

For nearly an entire month, Barbie has been showing at cinemas across the country. However, on the 14th August, Algerian officials banned the film, the BBC reports.

Read: Will Barbie film get banned across all MENA countries?

The Culture Ministry has called on cinemas to immediately withdraw the blockbuster from its screens, claiming that the film “promotes homosexuality and is not compliant with Algeria’s cultural and religious beliefs”, an official source told Reuters.

The official source said the film “promotes homosexuality and other Western deviances” and that it “does not comply with Algeria’s religious and cultural beliefs.”

Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, the movie sends Mattel Inc’s (MAT.O), opens new tab doll on an adventure into the real world. The film has topped $1 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide since its July 21 debut.

Algeria’s Culture Ministry supervises the contents of films projected in cinemas and can stop them being shown.

Kuwait, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have also already banned the movie.

Since its release, the film has grossed over $1bn worldwide at the box office.

Source: Reuters/BBC

Follow me