Barbie: Epic Road Trip is the 41st Barbie movie. It is the first interactive Barbie movie and it was released on Netflix US on October 25, 2022.
Description[]
"In this interactive adventure, Barbie goes on a cross-country trek with friends and makes big decisions about the future. Which dream will she choose?"
"You're in the driver's seat! Help Barbie learn how to make big decisions as she sets off on a journey from Malibu across the country with friends."
Story[]
After the events of Barbie: It Takes Two season 2, Malibu and Brooklyn spend the summer in California with Malibu's friends and family. Malibu, Brooklyn and Ken go to the beach together and Malibu expresses how she isn't sure of what she wants to do in the future.
Skipper develops Match Mutts, an app meant to help people adopt rescue dogs. Malibu, Brooklyn, Skipper and Ken are going on a cross-country road trip in the DreamCamper to unite the dogs with their new owners. Before they leave, Rafa calls and says Malibu and Brooklyn have an audition to be backup singers for Jacinda, a famous pop star. The audition is in three days.
Express Route[]
Brooklyn wants to take an express route to New York so she and Malibu will definitely make the audition. The group can camp at Roswell or keep driving. If they camp, Malibu can either have a bonfire with everyone, or a picnic alone with Ken. During the picnic, Malibu and Ken get scared by a sound. They can run to safety or investigate the sound (the latter causes Malibu and Ken to get abducted by aliens and the viewer goes back to the beach at the beginning.)
If the group keeps driving, they go to New Orleans. Ken wants to see a magic show, while Brooklyn and Skipper want to go dancing. If the girls go dancing while Ken stays with the dogs, they see Jacinda in a club. They can either try to impress Jacinda or play it cool.
The following day, the group can either go to a dog sanctuary or go to Chicago. In Chicago, the group watches a sports game. After going to the sanctuary or sports game, the group goes to the Pennsylvania State Fair. Ken buys tickets for a ferris wheel. Malibu and Brooklyn get a chance to perform. If they perform a long song, it leads to an ending where The Barbies get a record deal and move to London. If they perform a short song, Malibu and Ken get on the ferris wheel after.
On the ferris wheel, Malibu decides whether or not she will be more than friends with Ken. The next day, the group gets stuck in traffic on the way to the audition. Malibu and Brooklyn can run for it or take the subway. If they try to take the subway, they end up getting taken to the audition by aliens instead.
Whichever way the girls get to the audition, the ending changes depending on Malibu's relationship with Ken. If Malibu remain just friends with Ken, then The Barbies get to be in Jacinda's music video as backup singers, and Malibu moves to New York. Malibu and Brooklyn adopt Bella and Ella, and The Barbies wait for their big break. Match Mutts is "on fire" and Ken visits New York a lot. If Malibu and Ken are boyfriend and girlfriend, The Barbies get to be in Jacinda's music video as trees. Malibu moves back to California and adopts Bella and Ella.
Scenic Route[]
Ken wants to take the scenic route so Skipper can have more time to use Match Mutts, and also so he can spend more time with Malibu. Malibu agrees and tells Rafa that she and Brooklyn aren't going to the audition. For the start of the trip, the group can go straight to Roswell or stop at Dino Park for Ken. At Dino Park, Malibu can choose a toy from a machine, or get her fortune taken. If they camp, Malibu can either have a bonfire with everyone, or a picnic alone with Ken.
During the picnic, Malibu and Ken get scared by a sound. They can run to safety or investigate the sound (the latter causes Malibu and Ken to get abducted by aliens and the viewer goes back to the beach at the beginning.)
The following day, the group goes to the Grand Canyon. They use Match Mutts to find a potential owner for one of the sister dogs (Bella and Ella). They accidentally give the wrong dog away. To get the right dog to the new owner, the group can ride burros or hang glide. The new owner changes his mind because he doesn't want to separate the sister dogs. Ken later wants to be alone with Malibu, but she doesn't take the hint. She can either go find Ken and spend time with him, or think about her relationship with him more.
Match Mutts finds potential owners for the sister dogs, and another dog named Truffles. If the group goes to find the owner for the sister dogs, there is an ending where The Barbies get to be in Jacinda's music video as trees. Malibu stays in New York and The Barbies wait for a big record deal offer. Skipper goes back to California to work on her app. If the group goes to find the owner for Truffles, they go to the state fair after.
At the state fair, Ken buys tickets for a ferris wheel. Malibu and Brooklyn get a chance to perform. If they perform a long song, it leads to an ending where The Barbies get a record deal and move to London. If they perform a short song, Malibu and Ken get on the ferris wheel after. Malibu decides whether or not she will be more than friends with Ken. After, Rafa calls and says he knows of an entrepreneur named Rebecca Lee. Rebecca is interested in investing in Match Mutts, so the next day, the group goes to New York to see her.
Just before the meeting with Rebecca, the Match Mutts app crashes. Skipper can restart the app, which leads to an ending where she gets the investment from Rebecca. Malibu moves back to California to help Skipper run her Match Mutts business. Malibu adopts Bella and Ella and Brooklyn's solo career is "on fire."
If Malibu thinks of a plan B for the meeting, she improvises and uses a Jacinda song. The ending changes depending on her relationship with Ken. If Malibu remains friends with Ken, the Jacinda music video shoot goes badly and Malibu moves back to California. She adopts Bella and Ella. If Malibu is in a relationship with Ken during plan B for the Match Mutts meeting, then The Barbies get to be in Jacinda's music video as backup singers. They also join Jacinda on her world tour. Malibu and Ken move to New York, and The Barbies' music career is "on fire".
Ending Requirements[]
This may not be a complete list.
| Main Choices Required | Ending |
|---|---|
| Scenic Route, Short Song, More Than Friends, Plan B | Malibu and Ken are in a relationship. Skipper gets a Match Mutts investment from Rebecca Lee. Malibu and Brooklyn get to be in Jacinda's music video as backup singers and join Jacinda on her world tour. Malibu and Brooklyn's music career is "on fire". Malibu and Ken move to New York. |
| Scenic Route, Sister Dogs | The Barbies audition for Jacinda and get to be in her music video as trees. Malibu stays in New York and The Barbies wait for a big record deal offer. Skipper goes back to California to work on Match Mutts. Malibu and Ken remain friends. |
| Scenic Route, Truffles, Long Song OR Express Route, Long Song | A talent scout gives Malibu and Brooklyn a record deal. Malibu and Brooklyn move to London, and Ken says he will visit every time he gets the chance to. Malibu and Ken remain friends. |
| Scenic Route, Short Song, More Than Friends, Restart the App | Malibu and Ken are in a relationship. Skipper gets a Match Mutts investment from Rebecca Lee. Malibu adopts Bella and Ella and moves back to California to help Skipper run Match Mutts. Brooklyn's solo career is "on fire." |
| Scenic Route, Short Song, Take It Slow, Restart the App | Malibu and Ken remain friends. Skipper gets a Match Mutts investment from Rebecca Lee. Malibu adopts Bella and Ella and moves back to California to help Skipper run Match Mutts. Brooklyn's solo career is "on fire." |
| Scenic Route, Short Song, Take It Slow, Plan B | Malibu and Ken remain friends. Malibu and Brooklyn have a bad experience shooting Jacinda's music video. Brooklyn stays in New York and Malibu moves back to California. Malibu adopts Bella and Ella. |
| Express Route, Short Song, Take It Slow, Run For It/Take The Subway | Malibu and Ken remain friends. Malibu and Brooklyn audition for Jacinda and get to be in Jacinda's music video as backup singers. Malibu and Brooklyn live in New York and adopt Bella and Ella. Malibu and Brooklyn wait for their big break. Skipper's Match Mutts app is "on fire". Ken visits Malibu a lot. |
| Express Route, Short Song, More Than Friends, Run For It/Take The Subway | Malibu and Ken are in a relationship. Malibu and Brooklyn audition for Jacinda and get to be in Jacinda's music video as trees. Malibu adopts Bella and Ella and moves back to California. |
| Express Route, Keep Driving, Go Dancing, Go Big, Short Song, More Than Friends, Run For It | Malibu and Ken are in a relationship. Jacinda adopts Bella and Ella. The Barbies get to be in Jacinda's music video and join Jacinda on her world tour. The Barbies' music career is "on fire." Malibu and Ken move to New York. Skipper wonders what other matches Match Mutts would've found if they'd gone a different way. |
Cast[]
- Magnifico, Old Man, Dino Fortune Teller - Dino Andrade
- George, Subway Passenger, Burro Guy - Greg Chun
- Waitress, Stage Manager, Ticket Taker, Jacinda's Assistant - Channon Dade
- Skipper - Kirsten Day
- McHenry, PA, Clown - Dave Fennoy
- Margaret, Subway Conductor, Pug Owner - Lisa Fuson
- Rebecca Lee, Jacinda's Assistant - Judy Alice Lee
- Director, Farmer Jill, Receptionist - Melanie Minichino
- Stacie, Headless Ghost, Match Mutts - Cassandra Lee Morris
- Chelsea - Cassidy Naber
- Jacinda - Alba Ponce de Leon
- Ken - Ritesh Rajan
- Rafa, Peanut Guy, Goat Herder, Dino Guy - Nicolas Roye
- Barbie (Brooklyn) - Tatiana Varria
- Barbie (Malibu) - America Young
Other characters include Taffy, Trey Reardon, Ned and Ted Johnson, Blue, Chuckles, Bella and Ella, and Truffles.
Music[]
- Score by The Math Club featuring Ryan Franks and Scott Nickoley
- Songs by The Math Club
- "Short Song" - Written by Brayden Deskins, Colton Fisher, Khristiana Parchman
- "Flip the Script" - Written by Brayden Deskins, Brandon Stewart, Nicky Egan, Khristiana Parchman, Colton Fisher
- "Just the Beginning" - Written by Colton Fisher, Brayden Deskins, Brandon Stewart, Khristiana Parchman, Isaac Lucas, Jason Rabinowitz
Trivia[]
- A poster for Barbie: Epic Road Trip was first seen during the Mattel, Inc. 2022 Virtual Analyst Presentation on February 18, 2022.
- Trey, Ned and Ted make a cameo in the first scene. They are seen in the background, getting surrounded by seagulls when they try to eat pizza at the beach.
- If the viewer toasts To Destiny, the map has a photo of Malibu and Brooklyn performing (wearing the dresses Rafa designed for them in Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams). The photo is surrounded by stars. If the viewer toasts To Dreams, the map has a photo of Malibu and Ken holding one of the sister dogs. The photo is surrounded by hearts.
- When Stacie starts singing "Flip the Script", her outfit is different from what she was wearing earlier in the scene. This is a goof.
- If the viewer chooses the scenic route, they can visit a theme park named Dino Days. It was previously seen in the Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures episode "Road Trip".