The Polarizing Movie That Paved the Way for 'Barbie'-mania

Nearly a year before the buzzy movie debuted, paparazzi photos of the costumed stars began leaking from the location shoot. When the premiere rolled around, it was just the first in a months-long series of red-carpet events, for which the cast—and fans—wore clothes inspired by the film. The movie went on to become a global hit and an Oscar favorite whose popularity changed the course of contemporary fashion.

No, I’m not talking about Barbie, whose hyperfeminine, hot-pink aesthetic was so ubiquitous last year that it sparked a new Dictionary.com entry. Back in 1967, the crime drama Bonnie and Clyde redefined movie marketing and screen-to-street dressing—and became a pop-culture phenomenon. Based on the real-life exploits of the titular outlaws, the film entranced the younger generation with its polarizing story, which some critics saw as glorifying violence. But the movie also inspired relentless hype via a grassroots marketing campaign as clever and audacious as the film itself. Today, we’d call it #Bonniecore.

Read: The surprising key to understanding the Barbie film

Barbie may have raised contractually obligated promotional appearances to the level of perform...
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