American studios stopped releasing Hollywood movies in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, but many theaters have found a workaround.

As people in much of the world flocked to see Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster film “Barbie” this summer, viewers in Russia were left out. At least officially.

Along with other studios, Warner Bros., the producer of “Barbie,” stopped releasing movies in Russia shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But that has not stopped Russian viewers from watching Western films. Last year, Russian theaters were openly screening illegal copies of “The Batman” and “Turning Red.”

“Barbie” has been no different, with movie theaters employing a workaround to give audiences access to the Western films they want to watch. Russian cinemas in cities large and small are offering viewers tickets for short films or documentaries, but these come with screenings of the full effervescent, bubble-gum pink “Barbie” film that technically plays during the previews slot.

At least 14 theaters in Moscow...