The Little Mermaid (2023) is Disney’s live-action musical reimagining of its 1989 animated film, itself based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale. It stars Halle Bailey as Ariel and follows her bargain with Ursula for the chance to live on land. Disney lists a PG rating and a runtime of 2 hours 15 minutes.
What is The Little Mermaid (2023) about?
Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, longs to discover the human world beyond the sea. After meeting Prince Eric, she makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula: Ariel can live on land, but the bargain puts her life and her father’s crown at risk.
The film was directed by Rob Marshall, with a screenplay by David Magee. Disney describes it as a live-action reimagining of its animated musical classic.
Who plays Ariel, Eric and Ursula?
Halle Bailey plays Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King plays Prince Eric and Melissa McCarthy plays Ursula. The principal cast also includes Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Awkwafina as Scuttle and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, alongside Noma Dumezweni and Art Malik. Disney identifies Diggs, Awkwafina and Tremblay with the voice roles of the sea-creature characters.
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Rob Marshall also produced the film. Marc Platt, Lin-Manuel Miranda and John DeLuca are credited as producers. Alan Menken wrote music for the songs, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and new lyrics by Miranda.
How long is The Little Mermaid (2023), and what is its rating?
Disney’s US film page lists the movie as PG and 2 hours 15 minutes long. Disney lists its genres as fantasy, kids, live action, musical and romance. Its US theatrical release date was May 26, 2023. Disney’s film page has the official synopsis and listing.
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- A young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince.
Is the 2023 Little Mermaid based on the 1989 movie?
Yes. The 2023 film reimagines Disney’s 1989 animated musical, and, like that film, draws on Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale. The 2023 version is live action rather than animated; its cast and credits are listed above. The available official material establishes that adaptation relationship but does not provide a detailed scene-by-scene or song-by-song comparison.
Director Rob Marshall described the story’s continuing appeal in a D23 interview, saying that people can relate to “someone who doesn’t feel like they belong in the world they’re in.” That is Marshall’s interpretation of the tale, not a claim of critical consensus.
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- Disney Live Action
Where can I watch The Little Mermaid (2023)?
Disney announced the film’s Disney+ streaming premiere for September 6, 2023. The announcement included bonus material, including Javier Bardem performing “Impossible Child” as King Triton and song-focused extras. That release history does not establish that the film remains available in every country’s Disney+ catalog today; check the service in your territory for current availability. Disney’s announcement is at Disney+ Press.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Disney report about its box office and streaming audience?
Disney’s figures are dated company announcements, not a single independently verified final tally. The company reported more than $542 million in worldwide box office when it announced the August 7, 2023 Disney+ premiere. In a September 11, 2023 announcement, it reported nearly $300 million in domestic theatrical gross and $570 million worldwide. Those are snapshots from different dates and use rounded figures.
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In the same September announcement, Disney said the film had 16 million Disney+ views in its first five days of streaming. Disney defined a view as total stream time divided by the film’s runtime. It also reported a $118.6 million North American opening over Memorial Day weekend, a CinemaScore grade of A and a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score. These are figures reported by Disney; the available sources do not establish independent audience demographics or a current critical consensus. The Walt Disney Company’s announcement provides the company’s methodology and reporting.
Is The Little Mermaid (2023) soundtrack available on vinyl?
Disney UK announced a vinyl and CD pre-order for the soundtrack in April 2023 and said the album was released May 19, 2023. Halle Bailey’s recording of “Part of Your World” was highlighted in the announcement. This confirms that vinyl was announced as a physical format, but not that a particular pressing is in stock now or available from a specific retailer. Check the seller’s listing for edition, price and current stock. See Disney UK’s soundtrack announcement.
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