A post shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, purports the Barbie movie is banned in Saudi Arabia.

#Barbie has officially been banned in Saudi Arabia, causing a stir among social media users who had shown considerable interest in its screening.

This ban extends to several other Gulf Arab countries, with Saudi Arabia being notably affected.

Some social media users suggest… pic.twitter.com/DyUr5irNBa

— Pop Faction (@PopFactions) July 31, 2023

Verdict: False

The claim is false. The movie is slated for release in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 31, according to Vox Cinemas’ website.

Fact Check:

“Barbie” has earned $780.7 million at the box office through July 30, according to Deadline. Alongside the new film, “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie” gave AMC Theatres its highest single-week admissions revenue record in its 103-year history, ABC News reported.

“#Barbie has officially been banned in Saudi Arabia, causing a stir among social media users who had shown considerable interest in its screening. This ban extends to several other Gulf Arab countries, with Saudi Arabia being notably affected,” the X post, viewed over 1,000 times, purports.

The claim is false, however. The movie is still slated for release in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 31, according to Vox Cinemas’ website.

In addition, Saudi Arabia’s General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) has neither issued a statement on its website nor on social media accounts announcing that the film had been banned. The GCAM is responsible for overseeing all broadcast and audiovisual media content, including handling complaints and ensuring the content is in accordance with the requirements of the law, the “Our main tasks” page on its website indicates.

Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports suggesting the Barbie movie has been banned in Saudi Arabia or “several other Gulf Arab countries,” as the X post purports. (RELATED: Was The Barbie Movie Banned In Serbia After It Included A Greater Albania Map?)

Check Your Fact has contacted the GCAM for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.