Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Animated Barbie adventure has peril, positive lessons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday
What's the Story?
Barbie (voiced by America Young) and her family are embarking on an eco-friendly cruise at the start of BARBIE & CHELSEA: THE LOST BIRTHDAY. Barbie's mom (Lisa Fuson) is there to work, and her dad (Greg Chun) is looking forward to some rest, so they put Barbie in charge of her three younger sisters: Skipper (Kirsten Day), Stacie (Cassandra Morris), and the youngest, Chelsea (Cassidy Naber). The girls set out to find the best place on the boat to celebrate Chelsea's 7th birthday the very next day, but they're frustrated at every turn by an angry and uncooperative activities director. The next morning, when Chelsea wakes up, she realizes the ship has crossed the International Date Line and she has missed her entire birthday. Upset, she goes to hide out, and that's when she sets out on a magical adventure on a jungle island, where she makes some new animal friends on a treasure hunt for a gem that can grant them all their wishes. Her wish, of course, is to go back and celebrate her birthday.
Is It Any Good?
This lighthearted film has positive messages about courage and friendship, but scary moments and stereotypes might give you pause. The cruise ship and jungle island setting of Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday, complete with Tiki statues, pirate references, and talking parrots, broadly telegraph Pacific Islander culture without the specificity (viewers never learn where the cruise is going). Characters lack body diversity, and girls in the movie are clad in pink.
But Chelsea's solo adventure should appeal to kids' imaginations in the same way Dora the Explorer's do, where the stakes appear high but can actually be managed by a 7-year-old. Soft-edged, stuffed animal-looking characters make sense for this age group (though some of the stiff movements of the human bodies in the show could be a little off-putting). A musical number and references to DJs and smartphone apps also seem like portrayals of teens or tweens intended to excite kids younger than that. Chelsea's animal friends all have individual wishes for personality traits they'd like to have or hobbies they'd like to explore, and the film sweetly shows how they all ultimately discover they've had these traits and skills in them all along.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Chelsea's adventure on the magic island in Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday. Did it really happen, or was it all a dream? Why do you think so?
Chelsea misses her birthday because the cruise ship crosses the International Date Line. Do you know what that is? Where could you go for more information?
Barbie has a vlog and Skipper sleeps with her smartphone in her hand. Caregivers: Talk to your kids about smart uses of technology.
A Tiki statue is cast as a villain, and characters mock the hula, but Tiki and hula are both Indigenous Polynesian art forms. Caregivers: Talk to your kids about respecting cultural practices and discuss how Tiki and hula are portrayed in the movie.
What are some ways that Chelsea showed courage, perseverance, and teamwork on her trip to the island? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 16, 2021
- Cast : America Young , Cassidy Nabur , Kirsten Day
- Director : Cassi Simonds
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 60 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 14, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate