Disney’s Live Action Little Mermaid Breaks Disney+ Streaming Record
The Seaweed is certainly greener for Disney this weekend as the Little Mermaid Live Action reimagining made a big splash with its arrive on the company’s streaming service.
The live-action reinterpretation of Disney’s Academy Award®-winning animated musical, featuring Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, achieved record-breaking success as the most-watched Disney movie premiere on Disney+ since Hocus Pocus 2. It garnered an impressive 16 million views within its initial five days of streaming.
This triumph on Disney+ follows an already impressive theatrical run during the summer. Directed by Rob Marshall, the movie opened during Memorial Day weekend, raking in $118.6 million in North America alone. It secured its place as one of the top five highest-grossing films of the summer domestically, amassing nearly $300 million.
The Little Mermaid, also starring Javier Bardem, Daveed Diggs, and Awkwafina, has earned a spot among the top ten films globally in 2023, with a worldwide box office revenue of $570 million. Audiences showered the film with praise, reflected in an “A” CinemaScore and an impressive 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Related: The Little Mermaid Returning to Theaters for Singalong Version
In 2023, The Little Mermaid continues the legacy of the beloved 1989 classic, captivating fans worldwide through a plethora of merchandise, attractions at parks and resorts, video games, books, and theater productions. The release of the live-action adaptation has also rejuvenated interest in Disney’s animated version, leading to tremendous engagement with The Little Mermaid animated films on Disney+.
Disney’s History with The Little Mermaid:
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is based on the Danish fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. The original story revolves around a young mermaid who dreams of becoming human and falls in love with a prince. However, she must make a great sacrifice to achieve her dream. Walt Disney himself expressed interest in adapting Andersen’s story into an animated film as early as the 1930s. However, technical limitations and budget constraints at the time made it a challenging project to undertake.
The project faced several delays and shelving throughout the decades due to various reasons, including the difficulty of adapting the underwater world convincingly and a shift in focus to other Disney classics like “Snow White” and “Cinderella.” The project gained momentum in the mid-1980s when Ron Clements and John Musker, two experienced Disney animators and directors, were tasked with bringing “The Little Mermaid” to life. They aimed to modernize and streamline the story.
Production of “The Little Mermaid” began in earnest in 1986. The team faced technical challenges in animating underwater scenes but eventually overcame them. They also assembled a talented team of animators, composers, and voice actors. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” was released in theaters on November 17, 1989. The film marked a significant turning point for Disney animation, often referred to as the “Disney Renaissance” era. It was the first Disney animated feature since “The Rescuers” (1977) and set the stage for a string of successful animated films in the 1990s.
Related: Live-Action Little Mermaid Coming to Disney+ in September!
“The Little Mermaid” was met with critical acclaim and became a massive commercial success. It won two Academy Awards for Best Original Song (“Under the Sea”) and Best Original Score and helped Disney regain its prominence in the animation industry. The success of “The Little Mermaid” revitalized Disney’s animation department, leading to a string of iconic animated films like “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” The film also had a significant cultural impact, with its characters, music, and themes remaining popular and enduring to this day.
The Little Mermaid” spawned several direct-to-video sequels and a successful animated television series, expanding the story of Ariel and her underwater world. The film’s popularity led to the inclusion of “The Little Mermaid” attractions at Disney theme parks and a wide range of merchandise, cementing its place in Disney’s enduring legacy. And now the film has been given to a new generation with this live action adaptation and return to a beloved classic.
“The Little Mermaid” remains a cherished classic and continues to captivate audiences of all ages with its timeless story and memorable characters. What did you think of the Live Action Little Mermaid? Let us know your thoughts on this film in a comment.
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