Mattel Films

Mattel Films was the theatrical feature division of Mattel, Inc., established on September 6, 2018, to develop live-action and animated movies based on the company's toy brands. It replaced Mattel Playground Productions and earlier units like Mattel Entertainment and Mattel Studios. The division operated out of Mattel's El Segundo headquarters until June 2025, when it was merged with Mattel Television into a revived Mattel Studios, consolidating all media operations under one banner.

Led by producer Robbie Brenner, who had earned an Academy Award nomination for Dallas Buyers Club, Mattel Films pursued an ambitious slate. Its only released feature was Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023), starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, which grossed over $1.4 billion globally and became the highest-grossing film of the year. Earlier efforts included the 2016 Max Steel, which earned only $6.3 million against a $10 million budget. Projects in development at the time of the merger included live-action adaptations of Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket, Barney, and Matchbox, as well as a horror take on Magic 8-Ball and an action-heist UNO film.

Mattel Films was part of CEO Ynon Kreiz's strategy to reposition Mattel as a play and family entertainment company, treating toy IP as franchise material akin to Marvel's approach to comics. The division's work continued under Mattel Studios, with Brenner remaining at the helm of the combined entity. [edit]