While popular with its intended audience, Barney drew severely negative reaction from the older set, who mocked the title character in popular culture through song parodies and comedy routines such as being beaten up by NBA star Charles Barkley on a Saturday Night Live episode.

[9] Barney has also received immense praise from parents for being a wholesome yet engaging franchise for children that delves into common, kid-friendly topics.

The series led to the launch of the children's television show, Barney & Friends, which aired on PBS Kids from April 6, 1992, to November 2, 2010.

[citation needed] Then one day, in 1991, Larry Rifkin, then head of Connecticut Public Television, rented a Barney video for his daughter Leora.

A two-part documentary miniseries titled I Love You, You Hate Me, which centers on the anti-Barney phenomenon, was released on Peacock on October 12, 2022.

[7] This was seen as part of a larger trend of Mattel successfully reviving franchises such as Monster High and Masters of the Universe, along with an overall development that included films based on its toys such as Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, and Major Matt Mason.

The film was written by Stephen White, directed by Steve Gomer, produced by Sheryl Leach and Lyrick Studios and released by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment on March 27, 1998, at Radio City Music Hall in New York, USA and worldwide on April 3, 1998, in the North America at the height of Barney's popularity.

[22] On July 2, 2023, it was announced that the Barney film from Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya would be aimed at adults and discuss the presumed disenchantment within the Millennial generation.

During the surprise, the purple balloon pop and confetti and streamers fall from above onto excited children, as well as Barney and Baby Bop.

It was one of the few places where Barney's original voice actor Bob West was heard and one of Universal Studios' attempts to appeal to the younger generation.

On March 16, 2020, due to the ongoing worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its spread to Florida, A Day in the Park with Barney had temporarily closed alongside the rest of the Universal Orlando Resort.

[28] On February 3, 2021, Universal Orlando announced that the show was permanently closed, effective that day with attendance declining over the years.

[29] The entire Barney courtyard was removed of its theming and the indoor theater and stage was repurposed to DreamWorks Destination, an indoor meet-and-greet with characters from DreamWorks Animation franchises, such as Po from Kung Fu Panda, Princess Poppy from Trolls, King Julien from Madagascar, among others from each franchise.