The Barbie film based on the iconic children’s toy finally arrived in UK cinemas last weekend and has achieved record breaking box office success.

The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, has been one of the most highly anticipated films of the year with children across the globe donning their pink Barbie merch outfits for cinema screenings.

However, there’s a growing debate about whether the Barbie film, which is classified as a 12A, is actually suitable for kids.

The film includes “moderate innuendo”, “brief sexual harassment”, “violence”, and “dangerous behaviour” but it isn’t any of these warnings that bothered our readers with children.

The Lancashire Telegraph posed the question on social media of whether you would or have you taken your child to see the film. Most people didn’t see any issue, other than one commenter claiming they’d “rather stick pins in my eyes” (slightly dramatic).

The main concern was that young children would simply be bored by the messaging. While the film is dressed up in a candyfloss pink set and costume design, giving the illusion of a pretty childlike story, the themes are more “aimed at Gen Z and X” as one reader said.

Helen Anne wrote: “Wasn’t unsuitable but I don’t think it would hold kids' attentions. It’s more aimed at Gen Z and X. Sell out performance when we went and not one child there.”

Becca Spencer said: “Took my 11-year-old. I’d say fine for nine or 10-year-olds and up but any younger will probably be bored.”

Grandparent Lynnette took her granddaughter to watch Margot Robbie in the live action film. She said: “Didn’t think anything was unsuitable but she got bored”.

“A few innuendos and a bleeped out swear word. Nothing wrong with it for children in my opinion, my eight-year-old liked it. It’s never been advertised as a film for kids really,” said Steph Hoole.

Despite the moral panic over the film, Lancashire Telegraph readers seem to be unphased by the 12A Barbie film.

Instead, readers agreed that the 1978 animated adventure film Watership Down, which was originally rated U until it was raised to a PG, is a much more inappropriate kids film.

Jess George said: “I saw it as a child and it still haunts me.”

“My dad took me to see that when I was very young and he never took me to the pictures ever again. I cried for hours,” said another reader.

Our readers added that Bambi and Disney films in general are “worse” for children so as long as you don’t mind dealing with a bored child for almost two hours, Barbie is seemingly fine for the whole family.

What do you think about the new Barbie film?