Sanctions-Hit Russia Using Pirated Copies of Barbie with ‘Pop-Up Gambling Ads’ in Theaters

The Moscow Times reported on Wednesday that illegal copies of the international blockbuster hit film Barbie have begun appearing in Russian movie theaters despite American sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Times cited a report on the Russian network RTVI that found Barbie screenings in Siberia, using copies a film critic described as “shitty” as the audience had to endure “pop-up gambling ads” interrupting the movie and poor dubbing into Russian. The ads indicated the movie was downloaded from an illegal pirating website and aired on a projector in the film’s theaters, rather than being obtained in a legitimate way.

According to the report, the organizers of the outdoor screenings of the movie in Siberia claimed they were engaging in “perfectly” normal attempts to meet demand, but vowed to find better quality versions of future movies with fewer pop-ups blocking the screen.

“We just want to show movies and provide access to some entertainment in these harsh realities we’re in,” one organizer said.



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