Ever since the release ofSnow White and the Seven Dwarfsin 1937,Disneyhas been well-known for its iconic animated films. Over the years, the studio has taken many of these beloved movies, and remade them in live action, with one of its earliest adaptions being101 Dalmatiansin 1996, which starred Glenn Close as the iconic Cruella de Vil. However, starting in the 2010s, Disney started remaking its animated films into live-action more frequently, includingCinderellain 2015,Beauty and the Beastin 2017, andAladdinin 2019.
This year, Disney is releasing two live-action films that are based on animated ones, the first one beingSnow White, which will star Rachel Zegler as Disney’s original princess, and will be released on March 21. It will be followed bya remake ofLilo & Stitch, which will be released on May 23. In 2026, there will be a remake ofMoana, which even features Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui from the animated films.
The Little Mermaid Is A Hit On Disney+
The Live-Action Remake Stars Halle Bailey As Ariel
As of this writing, the 2023 live-action version ofThe Little Mermaidis in the top 5 most viewed programs on Disney+. The remake’s cast includesHalle Bailey as Arieland Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula. In addition to recreating the songs from the 1989 classic, this version also includes new songs written byHamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has worked on songs for other Disney movies. The film has a 67% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and went on to make $569 million at the box office.
Currently, the most viewed program on Disney+ is the animated seriesYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. The series is the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite being set in a different universe. Taking second place is an ABC News special,Kendrick vs. Drake: The Feud, followed by the Hulu seriesParadise. Right aboveThe Little Mermaidin fourth place is the hit ABC sitcomShifting Gears, which marks Tim Allen and Kat Dennings' sitcom return and has been setting multiple viewership records since its premiere.
Our Take On The Little Mermaid’s Success On Streaming
Disney Fans Want To Go Back Under The Sea
Even thoughThe Little Mermaidwasn’t as successful at the box office as some of the other live action Disney films, it still has a lot of factors working in its favor. The original animated film is a beloved animated classic, and it is also an important one, sinceit kicked off the Disney Renaissanceof 1989-1999. Fans of McCarthy and Miranda also have a reason to check it out, and see their take on the classic story.
All 8 The Little Mermaid Live-Action Remake Songs Ranked
The 2023 The Little Mermaid contains eight total musical numbers, and though each song helped to tell Ariel’s story, they weren’t all created equal.
Also, since many of Disney’s live-action remakes have had mixed reactions, being able to watch it at home on a streaming service that viewers are already paying for, instead of having to go to a theater and purchasing a ticket, can also feel like less of a risk. While the live-action version ofThe Little Mermaidwon’t be considered a classiclike the animated film, it still serves as a tribute to one of Disney’s most popular movies.
The Little Mermaid
Cast
The Little Mermaid is a live-action remake in the same vein as many of Disney’s others, like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel, a young mermaid who desperately wants to see the world above the ocean.
