Barbie and Ken have entertained, inspired, and possibly unnerved children and adults since 1959 and 1961, respectively. In the doll world, as in the human world, these two are fashion-wise, image-conscious, and often looking for fun.

The 2024 Off the Wall rooftop film series, Party Central, is all about finding a good time. The 2023 blockbuster Barbie (PG-13, 114 min.) starts the series in its dance-scene glory.

For Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, each day in Barbieland is like the last: flawless hair, fluffy waffles, golden beach days, and mingling with friends, including Ryan Gosling’s Oscar-nominated Ken. Everything changes when a Mattel employee (America Ferrera) begins drawing ideas for new dolls – like “Irrepressible Thoughts of Death Barbie” – contaminating Barbie’s perfect world with complicated ideas and feelings.

This modern-day Pinocchio tale shows that whether you’re a Barbie or a Ken, simply being human is what everyone wants.

© Warner Bros.

Series Details

Co-presented by the Kansas City Public Library and Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library.

Attending Off the Wall

• Bring your own blankets or folding chairs for seating. Seating not provided.
• Bring your own food, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. No glass containers, please.
• Doors open at 8 p.m. The Central Library closes at 5 p.m. on Fridays, but the doors reopen at 8 p.m. for Off the Wall audiences.
• All movies begin at dusk, approximately 8:45 p.m.
• Parking: Enter the Library District parking garage via Baltimore Ave. Bring your parking ticket to the event for complimentary validation.
• Transit options: take KC Streetcar to the Library stop at 9^th / Main or Ride KC bus routes.
• In case of bad weather, the event may be moved indoors or canceled. Watch event pages or the Library’s social media feeds for updates.