The much hyped-up Barbie movie has been reportedly banned in Algerian cinemas just three weeks after its release.
The news of the movie being banned in Algeria was disclosed on Monday.
Barbie is a 2023 American fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig from a screenplay she wrote alongside Noah Baumbach.
It is based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel.
The film follows Barbie portrayed by Margot Robbie and Ken on a journey of self-discovery following an existential crisis.
According to reports, Algeria banned the movie in mainly north African Muslim cities, after culture minister asked cinemas to stop showing it with immediate effect.
According to a source who spoke to Reuters, the minister believes the movie promotes homosexuality and does not comply with Algeria’s religious and cultural beliefs.
Cinemas in the cities of Algiers, Oran, and Constantine have all been packed, according to the 24H Algérie news website.
The Barbie movie has been banned for “damaging morals”, and since its release viewings had sold out every day.
There has also been criticism in the Arab world about the movie’s social values.
Lebanon and Kuwait also banned Barbie last week to protect “public ethics”. The ban in Kuwait was enforced before August 9.
When the movie was released, Gerwig told news outlets in the US that the movie was meant to be “funny”.
She said her hope for the movie was for society to “let go of the things that are not necessarily serving us as either women or men”.
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