Its official, Disney’s live-action remake, of the little mermaid has hit global theaters. The 1989 animated classic is a favorite of many Disney fans, but Disney’s decision to cast black American actress Halle Bailey starring as Ariel, mixed reactions have since followed the remake.
The good news here is the little mermaid is out and fans and critics alike can now actually respond to the final product. Since special screenings began since the beginning of the month, The film received praise from critics for the performances (particularly Bailey and McCarthy), musical sequences, and sense of nostalgia, but was criticised for the visual effects, creature designs, and changes made to the story.
According to box office predictions, ‘The Little Mermaid’ is expected to gross $120–125 million from 4,300 theaters over its four-day Memorial Day opening weekend, as well as a total of $200–205 million worldwide.
The film ahead of its release gets much traction amongst younger girls who were excited to see the Disney Princess character, Ariel portrayed by a black female. In fact, the official teaser trailer had garnered over 104 million global views during the first weekend of its release surpassing recent Disney live-action releases like Beauty and the Beast with 94 million, Aladdin with 74 million and Cruella with 68 million.
The Little Mermaid follows the classic tale of mermaid princess fascinated by the human world and then making a bad deal trading her voice for human legs in order to impress the Prince. The film holds a diverse cast, from Halle Bailey in the titular role, alongside Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Art Malik, Melissa McCarthyamongst others.