Movie
The Little Mermaid
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
- Release Date
- May 18, 2023
- Runtime
- 135 min
- Score Summary
- This 2023 live-action Disney remake of the 1989 animated film centers on the classic Andersen-derived plot of Ariel's deal with Ursula for human legs and true love, with only minor deviations such as making Scuttle female and adding a new adoptive mother character for Eric. Confirmed casting changes (Halle Bailey as Ariel) and creator statements framing the project around Black representation and updated female independence themes created a clearly noticeable emphasis, amplified by marketing and public debate. The core story remains family fantasy romance without explicit activist dialogue or institutional critique, but legacy canon alterations and backlash made representation the dominant audience-visible element.
- IMDb Rating
- 7.2 / 10
- RT Critics
- 67%
- RT Audience
- 93%
Main Cast
- Halle Baileyas Ariel
- Jonah Hauer-Kingas Eric
- Melissa McCarthyas Ursula
- Javier Bardemas King Triton
- Noma Dumezwenias The Queen
- Art Malikas Sir Grimsby
- Daveed Diggsas Sebastian (voice)
- Jacob Tremblayas Flounder (voice)
Director & Crew
- John SorapureDIRECTOR
- Ron ClementsWRITER
- Hans Christian AndersenWRITER
- John Musker
Trailer
Score Factors
Representation / casting choices
Confirmed race swap of iconic white/redhead Ariel to Black actress plus gender swap for Scuttle and added Black supporting character; heavily emphasized in marketing and Bailey's statements on visibility for Black girls.
Political / ideological dialogue
No explicit activist lines; mild updates per Bailey on female independence/freedom, but incidental to romance plot.
Identity-driven story themes
Ariel's arc reframed slightly around personal purpose and independence ("as women we are amazing... Disney is updating some of those themes" – Bailey), yet remains classic fantasy romance.
Legacy character or canon changes
Race and gender reinterpretations of established 1989 characters publicly tied to diversity goals and sparked ideological debate.
Public controversy / woke complaints
Extensive, sustained backlash labeled "woke" for casting and inclusion; review-bombing and international coverage confirm high visibility.
Creator track record context