Where and When to Watch ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live-Action Remake (2024)

Quick Links

  • Is 'The Little Mermaid' Available on Disney+?

  • Is 'The Little Mermaid' Available on VOD?

  • When Did 'The Little Mermaid' Release in Theaters?

  • When Will 'The Little Mermaid' be on DVD and Blu-ray?

  • Watch the Trailer for 'The Little Mermaid'

  • More Live-Action Disney Remakes Like 'The Little Mermaid'

The latest of Disney's hugely successful line of live-action remakes, Ariel (Halle Bailey) has returned to the screen with The Little Mermaid (2023). The Walt Disney Company once again invites audiences to travel under the sea to see Princess Ariel's story unfold like never before. Featuring direction from veteran musical filmmaker Rob Marshall and other roles inhabited by major Hollywood stars like Melissa McCarthy as Ursula the Sea Witch and Javier Bardem as King Triton, the film has brought joy to fans around the world. To find showtimes and streaming information on Disney's latest big-budget reimagining of an animated classic, here is where you can watch The Little Mermaid.

Editor's Note: This article was updated on September 6, 2023.

Where and When to Watch ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live-Action Remake (1)
The Little Mermaid (2023)

PG

Animation

Fantasy

Musical

The youngest of King Triton's daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.

Release Date
May 26, 2023

Director
Rob Marshall
Cast
Halle Bailey , Jonah Hauer-King , Melissa McCarthy , Javier Bardem

Runtime
135 minutes
Main Genre
Animation

Writers
Hans Christian Andersen , Richard Curtis

Is 'The Little Mermaid' Available on Disney+?

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Yes, as of today, September 6, The Little Mermaid is now available to stream on Disney+. You can click the link below to go directly to the film's landing page on the streaming service.

Watch on Disney+

Disney+ currently has two solo subscription options for those who don't yet have access to the prolific streaming platform. The first solo option is the Basic plan, which offers the entire Disney+ library with limited ads for $7.99 USD per month. The second solo option is the Premium plan, which removes ads from the service entirely and allows for select titles to be downloaded for offline viewing, all for $10.99 USD per month.

There are also three Disney Bundle options that package Hulu and/or ESPN+ for an all-in-one collection. The first is Duo Basic, which includes the Base options for both Disney+ and Hulu with ads for $9.99 USD per month. Then there is Trio Basic, which is the same as Duo Basic but with ESPN+ included, costing $12.99 USD per month. Finally, the best bang for your buck is Trio Premium, which removes ads from Disney+ and Hulu (but not ESPN+) and allows the downloading of select titles for offline usage for $19.99 USD per month.

If any of these options sound enticing to you, click here to sign up for Disney+.

Is 'The Little Mermaid' Available on VOD?

Where and When to Watch ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live-Action Remake (3)

Yes, The Little Mermaid is now available to purchase on-demand. You can use the links below to find the film on the streaming platform of your choice.

When Did 'The Little Mermaid' Release in Theaters?

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Just like the original film in 1989, The Little Mermaid was released exclusively in theaters on May 26. This was good news for Disney fans, as not every live-action remake has gotten a theatrical release. Disney recently released another live-action remake with , but this return to Neverland didn't get to fly into theaters and arrived via straight-to-streaming on Disney+.

A sing-along edition of the film was released in theaters on August 25, as part of World Cinema Day.

The film is no longer playing in theaters.

Related: Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’: The Biggest Differences Between the Movie and the Original Story

When Will 'The Little Mermaid' be on DVD and Blu-ray?

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The Little Mermaid will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on September 19. The physical release will come with plenty of bonus features as well, which are listed below:

Sing Along Version – Sing along with your favorite songs while watching the movie with on-screen lyrics.

Hotter Under The Water – Discover how director Rob Marshall and his team brought the story of The Little Mermaid to life with this documentary in five chapters:

  • A Tale Of The Bottomless Blue - Join Rob Marshall on the set of one of the most ambitious and challenging films he's ever directed.
  • I Know Something’s Starting Right Now - Join cast members Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King and more and learn how they were cast in the film and what it was like to bring director Rob Marshall's vision to life.
  • Down Where It’s Wetter - Dip your toes into the virtual ocean and learn about how the breathtaking underwater world was created with visual effects, imagination and a lot of talented artists.
  • Explore That Shore Up Above - From Prince Eric’s castle to the beach, explore the above-the-sea locations and the elaborate production design behind them.
  • Do What The Music Say - Discover how legendary composer Alan Menken teamed up with Lin- Manuel Miranda to write new songs to accompany the original classics.

Song Breakdowns:

  • Wild Unchartered Waters - Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, gets his own song, written by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Go behind the song, from the writing to the recording, to the filming on a practical ship.
  • Under the Sea - Get a first-hand look at how professional dancers helped bring director Rob Marshall's vision to life as they stood in for the various animated sea creatures that sing and dance in this showstopping number.
  • Kiss The Girl - Float along and get a frog's-eye view of the beautiful set built to film the live-action version of this classic song.
  • Poor Unfortunate Souls - Join Melissa McCarthy (Ursula) as she takes us on the journey of making her character's signature song.

Featurettes:

  • The Scuttlebutt On Sidekicks – Dive in and meet Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle, who not only have their own song, "The Scuttlebutt," but also fresh looks as they work hard to make sure Ariel and Eric kiss before Ursula's deadline..
  • Passing The Dinglehopper – Ariel met Ariel when Halle Bailey worked with Jodi Benson — the voice of Ariel in the original animated movie — who appears in a clever cameo in the live-action film.
  • Bloopers - Laugh along with the cast as they have the time of their lives making The Little Mermaid.

Related:‘The Little Mermaid’ Review: A Rare Disney Live-Action Remake That Captures the Magic of the Original

Watch the Trailer for 'The Little Mermaid'

The main trailer for The Little Mermaid comes jam-packed with all the iconic visuals you'd expect to see from an adaptation of the beloved story. Ariel saves Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), lamenting about being part of the human world, and making a reluctant deal with Ursula the Sea Witch. All of these are front and center to get eager fans prepped and ready to experience this magical story all over again.

More Live-Action Disney Remakes Like 'The Little Mermaid'

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The Little Mermaid is not the first live-action Disney remake and will certainly not be the last. To watch more modern interpretations of these classic films, here are some options that are ready to watch on Disney+:

Peter Pan & Wendy (2023) - Just months before The Little Mermaid swims into theaters, we got another story that features mermaids with Peter Pan & Wendy. David Lowery delivers a gorgeous take on the classic Neverland tale, fleshing out many of these characters with engaging backstories and personality that helps differentiate it from the classic it's based on.

Watch on Disney+

The Lion King (2019) - Though there's heated debate on the internet about whether this is a live-action remake or a CG-animated remake, The Lion King is still remembered for bringing Pride Rock to life like never before. Jon Favreau showcases the Shakespearian story of a young lion cub destined to be a king, despite a heartbreaking tragedy initially stopping the young hero from wanting to inherit that responsibility.

Watch on Disney+

The Jungle Book (2016) - Speaking of Jon Favreau, The Lion King likely would not have happened if it weren't for the filmmakers stellar reworking of The Jungle Book. Complete with incredible special effects and bold yet wise changes to the original source material, The Jungle Book reigns supreme as one of the best Disney remakes ever made.

Watch on Disney+

Where and When to Watch ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live-Action Remake (2024)

FAQs

Where can I watch The Little Mermaid remake? ›

Enjoy The Little Mermaid right at home. Disney's live-action remake is now streaming on Disney+.

Why did they make Ariel black? ›

Representation of an African American woman as a love interest and a beautiful being should become natural. This version of The Little Mermaid is great for young people because it allows them to better appreciate diversity and gain a better sense of the world.

Why is the new Little Mermaid getting so much hate? ›

Negative reactions against the movie due to the casting of Halle Bailey, a Black actress for the titular role, a mermaid and princess of the ocean named Ariel, showed concerning signs of racism and sexism that stem from a preference for white skin and an emphasis on the importance of looks in women.

How to watch The Little Mermaid at home? ›

The Little Mermaid, a children movie starring Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, and Daveed Diggs is available to stream now. Watch it on Disney Plus, ROW8, Fandango at Home or Prime Video on your Roku device.

Will The Little Mermaid remake be on Disney Plus? ›

Disney's live-action reimagining of the studio's Oscar®-winning animated musical classic “The Little Mermaid,” which opened in theaters in May and went on to gross more than $542 million at the global box office, will premiere on Disney+ September 6, 2023.

Why did Disney ban Little Mermaid cover? ›

The original VHS cover of Disney's The Little Mermaid was banned due to suggestive artwork featuring phallic imagery. The controversial cover caused a lot of controversy and Disney recalled and replaced the VHS covers.

What was Disney's latest flop? ›

21 Disney movies that epically flopped at the box office
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Feb 21, 2024

How much did Halle Bailey get paid for The Little Mermaid? ›

According to Showbiz Galore, she was reportedly paid $1.5 million to don the tail and seashells, though some news outlets reported slightly more modest earnings of $500,000. Despite the online backlash about casting a Black Ariel, this project made Halle Bailey a household name, especially among young Disney fans.

What race is Ariel supposed to be? ›

The movie is loosely based on the fairy tale, so Disney has the freedom to give Ariel any skin color they want. In the 1989 movie, Ariel was born in the fictional underwater kingdom of Atlantica, which technically makes her Atlantican, not Danish.

Was Ariel's mother a human? ›

Why is Prince Eric's mother black? ›

While the importance of casting the Little Mermaid as a Black woman has been commented on in numerous articles, the casting of the other roles is also worth a mention. The casting is beautifully “colour blind”, with the prince being white and his mother being Black (he is adopted).

What is the mental illness in The Little Mermaid? ›

In the movie The Little Mermaid (Clements & Musker, 1989), Ariel displays symptoms of disposophobia, which is defined as the fear of getting rid of things.

How old was Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid? ›

Filming “The Little Mermaid” was a metamorphic experience for Bailey, who was 18 when she auditioned and 21 when she finished production. “When I moved away to London I learned so much about myself,” she says.

What is controversial about The Little Mermaid? ›

For instance, some viewers ponder the choice to give Bailey a more “natural” looking wig, and others take issue with the choice to feature black characters in the film without discussing slavery. To the critics saying that Ariel's hair should have been more red, we agree.

Is The Little Mermaid available on Netflix? ›

Is The Little Mermaid on Netflix? At the time of publication, The Little Mermaid is not currently streaming on Netflix. For now, your best bet is to watch it on Disney+ or purchasing it on Blu-ray.

Is The Little Mermaid movie on Hulu? ›

Where can you stream 'The Little Mermaid'? You can stream the live-action "The Little Mermaid" as well as the animated original on Disney+—you can sign up for Disney+ starting at $7.99 per month with ads, or bundle with Hulu for just $9.99 per month.

Where can I watch The Old Little Mermaid? ›

Watch The Little Mermaid with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

When did The Little Mermaid remake come out? ›

It was released theatrically on May 26, 2023, in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. A sing-along edition of the film was released in theaters on August 25, 2023.

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