In one of the best results for a Memorial Day weekend release, Disney’s live action Little Mermaid grossed $10.3 million in previews Thursday. This is substantially ahead of Disney’s recent $7 million remake, Aladdingross revenue in 2019. Little Mermaid also grossed about $850,000 from its Wednesday special screenings, but this figure is included in Thursday’s $10.3 million haul. It is the seventh largest preview gross for a P or PG rated film.
With this, Little Mermaid is pacing to deliver its $120 million haul over an extended four-day weekend, putting it ahead of Aladdin, which opened with $116.8 million. The film, directed by Guy Richieshowcased phenomenal legs over the summer, eventually grossing over $350 million domestically and over $1 billion worldwide. Little Mermaid also pacing in front Aladdin in terms of pre-sales, but behind other Disney-like live-action remakes The beauty and the Beast And Lion King.
Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Memories of a Geisha, Mary Poppins Returns), Little Mermaid has received mostly positive reviews from critics, with a star Halle BaileyHer performance was singled out, while deviations from the original were criticized. It currently sits at a “fresh” score of 67% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. courtesy of Collider Ross Bonaime called it “one of the rare live-action remakes that manages to capture that Disney magic” in its review.
Original animation Little Mermaiddirected by John Musker And Ron Clementwas released in 1989. The film grossed $211 million worldwide, which was significantly lower than the animated film’s incredible $346 million. Aladdin earned in its original run in 1992, and $763 million from the animation Lion King was made in its original run in 1994. Both films have been added to their respective totals through subsequent re-releases. That has been said, Little Mermaid has grown in popularity over the last 30 years, and is now considered a Disney classic.
Disney’s Live-Action Remakes Have Been A Mixed Bag
Disney’s string of live-action remakes have had their ups and downs. For each Forest Book And cinderellaThere is a Alice in Wonderland And Pinocchio. And then, there are the (fun) oddities, two of which — Dragon Pete and recently Peterpan & Wendy – was redirected by David Lowers. Four live-action Disney remakes — Lion King, The beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland — has grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Forest Book sits right on edge, with a global gross of $966 million. It remains to be seen whether Little Mermaid will be able to match these titles, but expectations are high, considering the original was Disney’s top tier.
A live-action remake is also starring Melissa McCarthy as the evil Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni And Malik’s Art. You can watch our interview with Bailey here, and stay tuned to Collider for more box office coverage over the weekend.