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The Little Mermaid

  • 1989
  • G
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
303K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,710
259
Jodi Benson in The Little Mermaid (1989)
A mermaid princess makes a faustian bargain with an unscrupulous seahag in order to meet a human prince on land.
Play trailer1:32
23 Videos
99+ Photos
Fairy TaleFeel-Good RomanceHand-Drawn AnimationSea AdventureSwashbucklerTeen DramaAdventureAnimationFamilyFantasy

A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.

  • Directors
    • Ron Clements
    • John Musker
  • Writers
    • John Musker
    • Ron Clements
    • Hans Christian Andersen
  • Stars
    • Jodi Benson
    • Samuel E. Wright
    • Rene Auberjonois
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    303K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,710
    259
    • Directors
      • Ron Clements
      • John Musker
    • Writers
      • John Musker
      • Ron Clements
      • Hans Christian Andersen
    • Stars
      • Jodi Benson
      • Samuel E. Wright
      • Rene Auberjonois
    • 392User reviews
    • 127Critic reviews
    • 88Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 16 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos23

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 1:32
    U.S. Version
    Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Director Marc Webb Take the Ultimate Disney Quiz
    Clip 9:57
    Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Director Marc Webb Take the Ultimate Disney Quiz
    Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Director Marc Webb Take the Ultimate Disney Quiz
    Clip 9:57
    Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Director Marc Webb Take the Ultimate Disney Quiz
    5 Most Unhinged Disney Animated Villains to Watch
    Clip 1:04
    5 Most Unhinged Disney Animated Villains to Watch
    What We Know About 'The Little Mermaid' ... So Far
    Clip 3:44
    What We Know About 'The Little Mermaid' ... So Far
    The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition
    Clip 2:27
    The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition
    The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition
    Clip 1:29
    The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition

    Photos269

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    + 263
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    Top cast63

    Edit
    Jodi Benson
    Jodi Benson
    • Ariel
    • (voice)
    Samuel E. Wright
    Samuel E. Wright
    • Sebastian
    • (voice)
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Louis
    • (voice)
    • (as René Auberjonois)
    Christopher Daniel Barnes
    Christopher Daniel Barnes
    • Eric
    • (voice)
    Pat Carroll
    Pat Carroll
    • Ursula
    • (voice)
    Paddi Edwards
    Paddi Edwards
    • Flotsam
    • (voice)
    • …
    Buddy Hackett
    Buddy Hackett
    • Scuttle
    • (voice)
    Jason Marin
    • Flounder
    • (voice)
    Kenneth Mars
    Kenneth Mars
    • Triton
    • (voice)
    Edie McClurg
    Edie McClurg
    • Carlotta
    • (voice)
    Will Ryan
    Will Ryan
    • Seahorse
    • (voice)
    Ben Wright
    Ben Wright
    • Grimsby
    • (voice)
    Hamilton Camp
    Hamilton Camp
    • Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Debbie Shapiro Gravitte
    • Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    • (as Debbie Shapiro)
    Robert Weil
    Robert Weil
    • Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Ed Gilbert
    Ed Gilbert
    • Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Charlie Adler
    Charlie Adler
    • Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Jack Angel
    Jack Angel
    • Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    • Directors
      • Ron Clements
      • John Musker
    • Writers
      • John Musker
      • Ron Clements
      • Hans Christian Andersen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews392

    7.6302.5K
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    Featured reviews

    Llamas Rule

    Great movie for little kids

    I saw this movie when I was very young and I loved it. It had a perfect fairy-tale ending and totally followed the formula for Disney movies in a great way. It really got it's message across with catchy tunes and fun characters.

    On the down side, while it had a great message, it didn't stay true to what Hans Christian Andersen wrote. I hadn't read Andersen's version until very recently, but I loved it. I thought it had a much better and far more realistic message than the Disney movie. Andersen said that if you're a good person, while you may not get your reward in life, being good is it's own reward. Disney, on the other hand, said that if you risk everything for the one you love, things will work out in the end. While that's a nice message for little kids that is very unrealistic. Good people are hurt all the time.

    I've heard people say that if girls grow up watching this, they will learn that big breasts, a small waist, and having a man by your side are what's important in life. This movie was made the year I was born, so naturally, I grew up on it. I don't hold myself to unrealistic standards or feel like I must have a man to go on. So, while I don't know about all the other little girls out there, but Disney didn't corrupt me.
    JKearse

    "The Little Mermaid" Surprised Me

    It has been ten years since "The Little Mermaid" was released. Back when Disney originally released the film, I was both excited and apprehensive. Excited, because it is one of the best children's stories and one of my favorites. Apprehensive, because I knew Disney would change the ending and give it a happy ending, which is understandable but still unfortunate. When I first saw it, I liked it much more than I thought I would, and after each repeated viewing, I have liked it more and more. I am now convinced this is the second best American Animated film, after "Beauty and the Beast". The music, story, writing, and animation are superb as others have stated, but the villainess, Ursula, is also a major factor in the success of the film. She is the best written and performed of all Disney villains. She is purely evil but totally believable. Pat Carroll, who I have often noticed but never really considered, did a fabulous job with Ursula's characterization. The music and songs are consistantly very good. There is no deep thought to this one, but "The Little Mermaid" is artfully near-perfect entainment.
    tfrizzell

    May Have Saved Disney's Movie Franchise.

    Disney animated films had become somewhat second-rate by 1989 and it appeared that one of the great genres in the cinema was on life-support. But that all changed with "The Little Mermaid". The film is a cinematic classic that tells the story of a young mermaid princess who just wants to be human so she makes a deal with an evil sea witch to get her wish, but she loses her beautiful voice in the process and she must be kissed by her true love to get it back. A really great motion picture that has some really memorable songs in it. 5 stars out of 5.
    Monika-5

    Gorgeous

    Ariel is a fiery, independent teenage mermaid who falls in love with a prince. She literally makes a deal with the devil to get her man. I love how sweet Ariel is with Eric, especially when she can't talk! Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder are all very funny, the animation, voice-overs and music are incredible! Who can resist the urge to sing and dance to "Under The Sea"? A fun, enjoyable movie that the whole family will love and treasure.
    Jack the Ripper1888

    One of the greatest things ever to come from Disney!

    No other Disney movie is a good as THE LITTLE MERMAID. It is one of my favorite Disney films of all time. It is truly a classic film that will forever live in film history. While I didn't really enjoy the songs, I still love the remainder of the movie. I like the ending most of all. It is one of the darkest endings ever seen in a Disney film. I really don't have much to say on this film at the moment, but if anything is going to be said about this movie, let me say this: If you haven't yet seen this wonderful movie, see it now! Having not seen it is a crime! This one gets 5/5.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally, Sebastian was to have an English accent. It was lyricist/producer Howard Ashman who suggested he speak with a Caribbean accent. This opened the door to calypso-style numbers like "Under the Sea," which won the Academy Award.
    • Goofs
      During "Kiss the Girl", the fish swim up from a depth, but later, when Ariel and Eric fall out of the boat, they are shown in Ursula's ball standing in shallow water.
    • Quotes

      Ariel: [after rescuing the Prince] Is he dead?

      Scuttle: It's hard to say.

      [places his ear to Eric's foot]

      Scuttle: I... I can't make out a heartbeat.

      Ariel: No, look! He's breathing. He's so beautiful.

      Ariel: [singing] What would i give to live where you are?/ What would I pay to stay here beside you?/ what would I do to see you smiling at me?/ Where would we walk/ where would we run/ If we could stay all day in the sun/ Just you and me/ and I could be/ part of your world

      Grimsby: [Calling Out] Eric? Eric!

      [the approaching Grimsby and Max's barking send a startled Ariel back into the ocean]

      Grimsby: [helping Eric to his feet] You really delight in these sadistic strains on my blood pressure, don't you?

      Prince Eric: A girl rescued me. She... she was singing. She had the most beaufiful voice.

      Grimsby: Eric, I think you've swallowed a bit too much seawater. Off we go. Come along, Max.

      Sebastian: [after watching the unfolding events] We just gonna forget this whole thing ever happened. The sea king will never know. You won't tell him.

      Flounder: [nods in agreement]

      Sebastian: I won't tell him. I will stay in one piece.

      [Ariel has possitioned herself on top of a rock watching Eric longingly]

      Ariel: [sung] I don't know when/ I don't know how/ But I know something's starting right now/ Watch and you'll see/ Someday I'll be/ Part of your world

    • Alternate versions
      The 1997 re-release, 1998 Laserdisc, 1999 Limited Issue DVD release and 2007 Platinum Edition Disney Movie Club Exclusive VHS release shortened "Under the Sea" and replaced the main title with "Part of Your World" as the second credits song. The 1998 VHS release has credits side by side with the full-length "Part of Your World" music video, making most of the credits impossible to read and giving the general impression of a TV showing of the film. The original 1989 theatrical, 1990 and post-2006 releases contain the slightly longer version of "Under the Sea" song and main titles music so the audio for the end credits is faithful to the original.
    • Connections
      Edited from The Old Mill (1937)
    • Soundtracks
      Fathoms Below
      (1989) (uncredited)

      Music by Alan Menken

      Lyrics by Howard Ashman

      Performed by Disney Chorus (Ship's Chorus)

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    FAQ24

    • How long is The Little Mermaid?Powered by Alexa
    • What is the reason behind King Triton's hatred towards the humans?
    • What is 'The Little Mermaid' about?
    • Is 'The Little Mermaid' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 17, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • La sirenita
    • Filming locations
      • Walt Disney Feature Animation - 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Walt Disney Pictures
      • Silver Screen Partners IV
      • Walt Disney Animation Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $111,543,479
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,031,914
      • Nov 19, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $211,343,479
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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