Despite a decline in overall box office performance due to a few underachievers, a particular film has silently achieved another victory on the global stage. Disney’s remake of “The Little Mermaid” has now crossed the $500 million mark worldwide, just one month after its release. Initially, the movie faced skepticism when its international performance fell short, but consistent success in domestic markets has ensured a respectable total by the end of its theatrical run.
As a remake of the beloved 1989 animated film, “The Little Mermaid” has garnered $270 million domestically and an additional $229 million from overseas territories, accumulating a global haul of $499.3 million. Today, the movie will surpass the $500 million milestone and is projected to conclude with approximately $525 million in global earnings. However, whether this will be enough to cover the reported production cost of $250 million (excluding marketing expenses) remains a subject of debate. Generally, a movie of this magnitude needs to earn double its budget at the box office to break even.
But does a break-even outcome suffice for Disney at this juncture? The studio may have overestimated the film’s potential on the global stage, especially considering the exceptional performance of their previous major live-action remake, “Aladdin,” which grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Unlike “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid” brand lacked the same level of popularity and did not benefit from the presence of a prominent movie star like Will Smith, whose image was prominent in all marketing efforts. During its domestic run, “Aladdin” generated $350 million, beginning with a $117 million debut. Similarly, “The Little Mermaid” achieved identical results during its opening weekend a month ago.
Image via Disney
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“Aladdin” particularly resonated with Asian markets, including Japan ($112 million), South Korea ($91 million), and China ($53 million). In contrast, “The Little Mermaid” failed to make an impact in these territories, earning a mere $10 million in Japan and performing dismally in South Korea ($5 million) and China ($3.7 million). Nonetheless, “The Little Mermaid” stands as the fifth highest-grossing Hollywood release of the year worldwide and the fourth highest domestically, trailing behind “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Furthermore, it recently surpassed Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” ($490 million worldwide) at the box office. However, it is unlikely that “The Little Mermaid” will surpass the global earnings of other Disney live-action remakes or sequels, such as “Cinderella” ($543 million), “Maleficent” ($758 million), and “The Jungle Book” ($966 million), not to mention the four billion-dollar blockbusters — “Aladdin,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Lion King.”
“The Little Mermaid” features newcomer Halle Bailey in the lead role, receiving critical acclaim for her performance despite the criticism surrounding director Rob Marshall’s alterations to the original animated film’s storyline. The movie also stars Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula and Jonah Hauer-King as Eric. For an interview with the two young leads, you can watch it here, and stay tuned to FilmSweep for more updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about box office success
What is the current box office performance of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” remake?
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” remake has surpassed the $500 million mark at the global box office, despite initially underperforming in international markets. It has grossed $270 million domestically and $229 million from overseas territories, with a projected global total of approximately $525 million by the end of its theatrical run.
Will “The Little Mermaid” remake be profitable for Disney?
Whether the film will be profitable for Disney is up for debate. With a reported production cost of $250 million (excluding marketing expenses), the movie needs to make twice its budget at the box office to break even. While it has achieved significant earnings, it remains uncertain if it will generate enough profit to cover its production costs.
How does “The Little Mermaid” remake compare to other Disney live-action remakes?
“The Little Mermaid” remake, although not as popular as some other Disney live-action remakes like “Aladdin,” has still performed well at the box office. It ranks as the fifth highest-grossing Hollywood release of the year worldwide and the fourth highest domestically. However, it is unlikely to surpass the global earnings of other Disney remakes such as “Cinderella,” “Maleficent,” and “The Jungle Book.”
Who are the main cast members of “The Little Mermaid” remake?
The lead role in “The Little Mermaid” remake is portrayed by newcomer Halle Bailey, who has received acclaim for her performance. The film also stars Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula and Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, the male lead.
How has “The Little Mermaid” performed in international markets?
“The Little Mermaid” remake has faced challenges in certain international markets. It performed poorly in territories such as South Korea and China, earning only $5 million and $3.7 million, respectively. However, it still stands as a significant box office success globally, despite its underperformance in some regions.
More about box office success
- Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” Official Website
- Box Office Mojo: “The Little Mermaid” Remake (Note: Replace “tt1234567” with the actual IMDb ID for the film)
- Variety: “The Little Mermaid” Box Office Performance
- IMDb: “The Little Mermaid” Remake (Note: Replace “tt1234567” with the actual IMDb ID for the film)
- FilmSweep: “The Little Mermaid” Updates
