The Little Mermaid

Play trailer

1:58

The Little Mermaid

G

1989

1h 22m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

127 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In Disney's beguiling animated romp, rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel (Jodi Benson) is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface, which are forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton, she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.

Critics Consensus

The Little Mermaid ushered in a new golden era for Disney animation with warm and charming hand-drawn characters and catchy musical sequences.

Read Critics Reviews

Caroline Siede

Girl Culture (Substack)

Dec 1

Over the past three and a half decades Disney has continued to iterate on what its princesses long for and how they go about getting it. But Ariel laid the groundwork they’re all still following today.

Go to Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

12/13/2024

This wondrous feature-length cartoon has all the color and wit, the joyous fluidity and buoyant self-confidence of the Disney Golden Age of Animation. At times, it's so rhapsodically charming you find yourself laughing out loud in sheer delight.

Go to Full Review

Dolores Barclay

Associated Press

12/13/2024

Every once in a while a movie so special, so lovely, so exciting, funny, charming, entertaining and heartwarming spins out from Hollywood's celluloid web. It's a moment to cherish, a moment to embrace. The Little Mermaid is worth embracing.

Go to Full Review

Scott Hettrick

Kansas City Star

Sep 23

Filled with every charming element you could hope for in a family film.

Go to Full Review

Mat Brunet

AniMat's Review (YouTube)

04/04/2025

9/10

There is a lot to say about what makes this film great, but it speaks for itself how this is the movie that started the Disney Renaissance.

Go to Full Review

Hal Lipper

Tampa Bay Times

12/13/2024

4/5

Close your eyes and listen a moment. Something extraordinary is taking place... The Little Mermaid is a small step for animation, a giant leap for movie scoring.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Emerson H.

@movielover9 May 2

REWATCH: A perfect film, one of Disney’s best! 10/10

See more

Ben W

@Username618 Apr 25

Quite banal??? Cannot remember it truthfully. Under the sea, crrrringe.

See more

Rio P

@Ericraymond111 Apr 17

Saw this movie on vhs I was 7 In 1991 so many times huge fan of this movie and a huge Disney fan too

See more

K G

@KatyG-S Mar 27

Coming out before coming out. Here is a fact: the original story was about how the author himself, Hans Christian Andersen, wanting to come out of the closet as a dark metaphor. First, this take is a brighter one. It is about how somebody wants to follow their dreams, that being Ariel, who would rather be a human on land. She sings a song "Part of Your World" which is the best & beautiful song in it. Then, there is her father, King Triton, who does not want her to go out & assisting with an iconic character, Sebastian with his song "Under the Sea". "Under the Sea" had me mixed. It was an aim to put off Ariel's dreams yet it is glamourizing it. Similar to "Mulan"'s "I'll Make a Man Out of You". One More thing that it teaches: sacrifications for love. Ursula took Ariel's voice away so that she could get on land & be with Eric. So, this movie is about sacrifices, dreams & parents being accepting.

See more

Jeffrey G

@mrjeffrey Mar 12

this was a fantastic movie ursula the sea witch was a pretty good disney villain but If I were in this movie I would never swim to ursula's lair getting her my voice

See more

C T

@MoralesC Jan 18

Ehhh not my cup of tea.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Ron Clements

Director

John Musker

Director

Jodi Benson

Ariel

Pat Carroll

Ursula

Christopher Daniel Barnes

Eric

Rene Auberjonois

Louis

Beauty and the Beast

95%

94%

Beauty and the Beast

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Beauty and the Beast

All Dogs Go to Heaven

46%

63%

All Dogs Go to Heaven

Watchlist

A Troll in Central Park

14%

47%

A Troll in Central Park

Watchlist

Thumbelina

36%

67%

Thumbelina

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Thumbelina

An American Tail

76%

71%

An American Tail

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Know Your Critic: Carolyn Hinds, Freelance Film Critic, Journalist, and Podcaster

Know Your Critic: Inkoo Kang, TV Critic at The Washington Post

Know Your Critic: Carlos Aguilar, Freelance Film Writer

The Little Mermaid: Trailer 1

1:58

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In Disney's beguiling animated romp, rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel (Jodi Benson) is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface, which are forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton, she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Producer: Howard Ashman, John Musker
Screenwriter: Roger Allers, Ron Clements, John Musker
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 21, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $109.9M
Runtime: 1h 22m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: 35mm