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In this commentary, the speaker argues that the 2023 Barbie film is not intended for children but for adults, describing it as a strategic marketing move by Mattel. He explains that Barbie created an internal movie production unit specifically to produce the film as a way to boost doll sales within the emerging "kidult" market—a demographic of adults who purchase nostalgic toys. The speaker likens this to McDonald’s recent "adult Happy Meal" promotion, which featured a larger box, full‑size fries, and an adult‑targeted toy, and went viral as a brand‑driven stunt. Overall, the piece frames both examples as brands capitalizing on adult consumers through seemingly child‑oriented products.
