Barbie: The Princess & the Popstar

Princess Tori, a sunny blonde who longs for life beyond royal duties, dreams of singing on a big stage. Keira, a confident brunette who rules the charts, secretly wishes to wear a crown and call herself a princess. A magical mix-up swaps their identities, throwing both into unfamiliar routines. As the two live each other's lives, they navigate palace etiquette, royal events, and late night studio sessions. The swap exposes the pressures of fame and the responsibilities that come with it, while also highlighting the value of staying true to who you are. By seeing the other side up close, they discover their real strengths lie with their own paths. The swap also brings a humorous clash of etiquette and pop star antics that kids will recognize.

Released in 2012 as a direct-to-video Barbie feature, the film is directed by Ezekiel Norton with story credits to Steve Granat, Ruth Handler, and Cydne Clark, tying into the long running Barbie franchise and its music focused tales.

There's no theatrical release and no global box office, as the movie rolled out on home video. The voices include Kelly Sheridan as Princess Tori and Ashleigh Ball as Keira, with Ellie King voicing Duchess Amelia.

Critics treated it as light family entertainment that leans on familiar Barbie values. The central theme centers on self acceptance and the appeal of choosing your own path, even when fame and royal duties pull you in different directions. The film emphasizes friendship and collaboration through catchy songs and bright animation that keeps younger viewers engaged.

Within the Barbie lineup this film adds to a range of stories that mix fantasy with everyday choices. It may not have sparked wide pop culture waves, but it reinforces a message of identity and friendship and underscores how music can bring characters together, a motif that recurs in the series.