Two months into its theatrical run, The Little Mermaid is set to hit digital platforms in the coming week, while simultaneously teetering on the brink of attaining two substantial milestones in the domestic and worldwide box office. Its launch back in May did not initially make waves, and the international response was somewhat surprising. Nevertheless, The Little Mermaid has persevered, becoming a valuable success for Disney during a period when numerous big-budget films have floundered.
The past weekend saw The Little Mermaid earn just over $2 million in domestic box office revenues, pushing its total to $293 million domestically, with an additional $253 million from international markets, amounting to an impressive global tally of $547 million. As the digital release is on the horizon, it is uncertain whether the film has enough momentum to cross the $300 million threshold domestically and reach $550 million globally.
This live-action reimagining of the iconic 1989 animation premiered with $117 million in the domestic box office at May’s end. This figure was strikingly similar to Aladdin’s opening four years prior. Aladdin, based on a more renowned intellectual property, maintained its cinema run throughout the summer, eventually accumulating over $300 million domestically and over $1 billion globally. This achievement put Aladdin alongside past Disney live-action successes like Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, and The Lion King.
Image courtesy of The Walt Disney Company
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A combination of factors could explain why The Little Mermaid has not managed to mirror these figures. Firstly, the original IP lacks the same level of international recognition. Secondly, the critical response has been varied. Finally, competition from other family-friendly alternatives, such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie (which has garnered over $1.3 billion worldwide), has had an impact. Contrasting with The Little Mermaid’s reported $250 million production costs (and further millions in promotional expenditures), Super Mario is believed to have cost a mere $100 million to create.
Cost Inflation due to the Pandemic
Escalating budgets have frequently been blamed for many films being labelled as “under-performers” this year, despite their substantial box office earnings. Costs skyrocketed during the pandemic, leaving films like Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, The Flash, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and the current release, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, struggling to break even from the outset. These films were made on budgets ranging between $200 million and over $300 million. While The Flash and Dial of Destiny are already considered commercial failures, it’s too soon to forecast Dead Reckoning Part One’s long-term performance.
Moving forward, Disney will need to better manage its expenditures, especially in the light of ongoing ridicule regarding its treatment of artists advocating for fair compensation. The Little Mermaid, helmed by director Rob Marshall — known for directing the most expensive film at its time of release, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides — stars up-and-comers Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King as Ariel and Prince Eric, respectively. For our interview with the young leads, click here, and stay connected with FilmSweep for more updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Little Mermaid box office performance
What major milestones is ‘The Little Mermaid’ approaching in terms of box office performance?
‘The Little Mermaid’ is nearing two significant milestones: earning $300 million domestically and $550 million globally.
How has ‘The Little Mermaid’ performed compared to other Disney live-action remakes?
While ‘The Little Mermaid’ has had a solid performance, it has not quite reached the box office numbers of other Disney live-action remakes like ‘Aladdin’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, and ‘The Lion King’, which earned over $300 million domestically and over $1 billion globally.
What factors have potentially contributed to ‘The Little Mermaid’s’ box office performance?
Several factors could have contributed to ‘The Little Mermaid’s’ performance, including lesser popularity of the original IP in overseas markets, mixed reviews, and strong competition from other family-friendly movies such as ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’.
How much did it cost to produce ‘The Little Mermaid’?
‘The Little Mermaid’ reportedly cost $250 million to produce, not including additional marketing costs.
How has the pandemic affected movie budgets and box office performance?
The pandemic has led to inflated production budgets, which has put pressure on movies to perform exceptionally well at the box office. Several movies, despite earning a substantial amount at the box office, have been categorized as “under-performers” due to their high production costs.
More about The Little Mermaid box office performance
- Box Office Performance of The Little Mermaid
- The Impact of the Pandemic on Movie Budgets
- Disney Live-Action Remakes Performance
- Review of The Little Mermaid
- Performance of The Super Mario Bros. Movie
5 comments
Not surprised it’s doing well. Disney always pulls it off, even if the start was rocky! cant wait to see it on digital platforms!
Well I guess Mario beats mermaids in overseas markets lol! Seriously though, good for them both. always room for more great movies.
Seriously, what’s with these bloated budgets nowadays? The pandemic’s clearly not helping. glad to see mermaid’s not totally tanked tho.
wow didn’t realize the lil mermaid was doing so well. Always loved the original, this one’s not bad either…all things considered.
Interesting comparison with Aladdin, didn’t realize they opened about the same…Aladdin had a bigger legacy, that probably helped. just my 2 cents.