Barbie fever has hit the capital as hundreds of fans began queuing at 3am to be in with a chance to see the film’s stars ahead of Wednesday’s UK premiere.
Margot Robbie, 33, and Ryan Gosling, 42, are just two of the big Hollywood names set to walk the pink carpet outside London’s Cineworld in Leicester Square.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated cinematic event, hordes of film lovers dressed as the Mattel doll have been pictured in queues snaking around the cinema in a bid to nab a coveted wristband that will allow them access to one of the fan pens.
However, fans face a long wait to access the carpet, which doesn’t open until 5pm, while the cast, including America Ferrera, 39, Issa Rae, 38, and Simu Liu, 34, will not begin arriving until 5.45pm.
The excitement has captured the attention of many online, with one fan wishing those attempting to get a wristband “good luck” while another admitted they had never seen a premiere queue so long.
They tweeted: “If you’re planning on heading to Leicester Square for a Barbie premiere wristband, good luck as I’ve never seen a queue this big this early on a premiere day.”
“I’ve worked at an office near Leicester Square for over a decade and the queue for tonight’s Barbie red carpet is the probably the longest premiere line I’ve ever seen,” another commented.
The hysteria comes as the first reactions to the highly-anticipated movie came out earlier this week, with critics branding it “perfection”.
8:54am. I’ve worked at an office near Leicester Square for over a decade and the queue for tonight’s #Barbie red carpet is the probably the longest premiere line I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/3eqH9wqwvg
— Sam Clements (@sam_clements) July 12, 2023
While official reviews are likely embargoed until the week of its release, movie critics and reporters have been praising Greta Gerwig’s cinematic take on the Mattel doll.
Variety’s Katcy Stephan wrote on Twitter: “Barbie is perfection. Greta Gerwig delivers a nuanced commentary on what it means to be a woman.
“[Barbie] is a whimsical, wonderful, and laugh-out-loud funny romp. The entire cast shines, especially Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.”
Meanwhile, ScreenRant’s Joseph Deckelmeier, said of the hotly-anticipated release: “Barbie caught me off-guard and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s funny, bombastic, and very smart.
Just passed Leicester Square. Asked what people were waiting for - the premiere tonight.
— It's a lawyer's life (@itsalawyerslife) July 12, 2023
Come on #Barbie, let’s go parteee!
Judging by this and the excited messages I’m getting from friends and colleagues, this movie is gonna be HUGE!
Go #MargotRobbie pic.twitter.com/G1rCOL19td
“Greta Gerwig aims for the fences and hits a home run. Margot Robbie’s performance is great and Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu are pure entertainment!”
Elsewhere, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff remarked on social media: “I have seen Barbie. The craftsmanship is incredible. In particular the costumes.
“It’s a well-made, bold film with a very strong voice and vision – one that often made me think, how does this movie exist?”
Although, Nemiroff did have some reservations, writing that some supporting characters were underserved.
The first reactions comes after the cast came out in force to celebrate the film’s world premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday alongside those who appear on the soundtrack.
Speaking ahead of the premiere, director Greta Gerwig said she aimed to create something “anarchic and wild and completely bananas” while writing the script of the highly anticipated Barbie movie.
The blockbuster, which will be released later this month, stars Robbie as the pink-loving title character alongside a cast including Gosling, Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa and Dua Lipa.
The main trailer for the film sees Barbie living a perfect life until things start to go wrong, including losing the ability to glide down from her roof and finding her signature arched feet have fallen flat.
With Gosling’s Ken the couple enters the “real world” where they get arrested and are hunted down by Will Ferrell, who plays the fictional chief executive of doll manufacturer Mattel.
Barbie is produced by Robbie’s company LuckyChap and will be released in cinemas on July 21.
