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The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

1989
Musical, Family/Kids
1h 23m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 53.5% from 6612 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(6611)
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Rated 07 Mar 2016
92
84th
The magic touch of Menken & Ashman elevates what could have been a run-of-the-mill fairy tale into something really special. Wonderful music, great characters, and sharper writing than Disney animation had had in years. A classic by any worthwhile measure.
Rated 03 Aug 2019
90
64th
It took me awhile to get around to it. I did like it quite a bit. The voice acting is all very fitting and the music is obviously infamous and original. It's beautifully clean animation and short length make it an absolute win for Disney, and the ending is quite touching in my opinion. Likable characters and humor help out too. All in all, this deserves the praise it received. Recommend if you somehow missed it like I did.
Rated 10 Jun 2021
75
80th
This seemingly innocent film warped my child's mind into thinking they could comb their hair with a fork. Outrageous.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
83
69th
Though, the Little Mermaid is a very light and bubbly Disney movie, like many other of the Disney princess films, there is a subtle darkness to it that adds seriousness to the story. It is undeniably a classic, but it fails to pack as big a punch as some of the Disney epics that came out only a few years later like Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Really good!
Rated 13 Jul 2012
64
47th
The last glimpse of oddball Disney dreaminess before everything went ultra pop and market-driven. The tragic, unfulfilled longing of the lonely mermaid in the original story here is watered down to sacrificing everything for a chance with a cute boy and some cute stuff. Oh well, at least we got URSULA. Ursula... God how my four year old self loved you. Throaty voice, heavy tits, roaming phallic tentacles. A true goddess who planted the seeds of John Waters in every future weirdo as a child.
Rated 09 Feb 2015
95
97th
I honestly don't understand where the hate for this movie comes from. Between Alan Menken's best musical work this side of Hunchback, Disney's best-ever hand-drawn animation, and the best voice cast ever assembled, what aspect of this film is not completely classic? Part of my unabashed love for this is, I'm sure, nostalgia-driven, but it's in serious contention for my favorite Disney movie (right along with Hunchback).
Rated 16 Feb 2014
98
99th
Classic. Gorgeous animation, amazing score, memorable songs. This movie kept Disney alive.
Rated 18 Jul 2010
86
74th
Wonderful Disney animated feature will enchant youngsters and the child in all of us.
Rated 03 Aug 2015
96
95th
It is better down where it's wetter, take it from me! I love this movie. It is just a lot of fun. The music by Alan Menken is what makes it truly shine. All the songs are so catchy and I can't help but feel my heart flutter on the "Kiss the Girl" song. Ariel is probably one of the cutest Disney Princesses with her giant blue eyes and shockingly red hair. Prince Eric is probably one of the cooler Princes as he defeats Ursula (a pretty cool bad lady) in a unique fashion...
Rated 09 Oct 2012
89
79th
An incredibly likable film. Very nice animation and characters, as well as some of the best songs Disney has ever brought. Disney might've faded from the minds of many people for many years. But then, The Little Mermaid came along. They were back.
Rated 29 Mar 2016
75
65th
Hmm, Ursula where have I seen you bef-"Eat shit! Filth is my politics! Filth is my life!"
Rated 18 Jan 2016
100
95th
The earliest of what I consider to be the trilogy of Disney greats (Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin round out that trilogy). The Little Mermaid mixes story telling, themes of growing up and parenting, and music that flows so well with the movie and is great even on its own. Truly Disney at its finest.
Rated 01 Jul 2008
94
95th
Another classic.
Rated 20 Jan 2011
88
77th
The movie that kick started the Disney Renaissance. It's a timeless story, and when combined with the vibrant animation and award winning music it's hard to go wrong.
Rated 10 Dec 2013
9
92nd
Hits all the right spots of a great Disney film: emotional characters, top-notch animation, fabulous musical numbers and one of the damn-near best villains Disney's ever created. Even Sebastian's wacky hijinks are bearably funny and cute, compared to many later Disney 'comic reliefs' who just proved annoying or disconcerting.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
65th
Good stuff. Good vs. Evil, Love, friends. One of the biggest and most rememberable Disney enemies.
Rated 22 Dec 2006
93
91st
Classic. Beautiful.
Rated 02 Aug 2009
79
82nd
Set the modern standard for disney films
Rated 22 Jun 2007
95
98th
This was the beginning of the Disney Renaissance. The musical score takes leaps forward from previous Disney films, thanks to Ashman and Menken. Jodi Benson's voice is beautiful. The story is good and the film doesn't feel that silly. Excellent.
Rated 17 Apr 2008
88
75th
The animation is some of the best and most expressive Disney has concocted--it definitely feels like you're under the sea. Sebastian rocks. Although I enjoyed it, it was a little girly when I was a kid. I appreciated it better as I grew up.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
95th
My personal favorite of Disney's traditional animation movies.
Rated 15 Jan 2009
90
92nd
Damn Disney! This actually made me sad, good music too.
Rated 14 Jan 2007
90
92nd
When I was a kid I thought this was the greatest movie ever. It's still great, but now that I'm adult I just realized what a smartass of a lyricist Howard Ashman was - check out the lyrics for "Poor Unfortunate Souls"!
Rated 21 Feb 2008
72
45th
Its cute, and I find myself singing under the sea sometimes when I bathe, but I don't have the guts to give it a higher score then this.
Rated 25 Jan 2009
100
95th
Exceptionally charming, contrary to all expectations
Rated 01 Feb 2007
87
93rd
A well written children's movie with an excellent score. A young girl who feels she's oppressed by her father escapes to a foreign land for a prince. Hijinks ensue when her father sends a cynical crab to get her back.
Rated 19 Oct 2007
75
89th
Saw it 9 times in the movie theatre. There had never been anything like it at the time, and it single-handedly showed movie goers that a movie-musical could be done if the story and characters and music were well-done and engaging.
Rated 22 Dec 2013
92
80th
The Little Mermaid ushered in a new golden era for Disney animation with warm and charming hand-drawn characters and catchy musical sequences.
Rated 07 Feb 2008
86
80th
One of Disney's best animated films, if not the best. Good songs, good story, good characters...what more can you ask for?
Rated 29 Feb 2008
95
92nd
There's a lot I could say about this film, but this pretty much sums it up for me: It never gets old.
Rated 09 May 2015
10
99th
(2014-15 Disneython #22:) Child bride creepiness of its ending aside, I've largely come to consider this one, from the awesome, majestic reveal of Atlantis at the beginning to the terrifying final battle against Ursula at the end, to be peak Disney. "Under the Sea" and "Part of Your World" are probably the two best Disney songs ever. This movie achieves heights of fantasy, music, and emotion rarely seen in animated film. It's completely wonderful; almost every moment classic.
Rated 21 Nov 2007
92
79th
One of the better Disney movies of the 80's and 90's in my opinion. Great music and characters.
Rated 20 Oct 2021
70
52nd
It's unfortunate Divine was probably never considered to voice Ursula. Someone should really splice in his voice to this film. That's a viral video waiting to happen. You're welcome. Disney tried to sanitize the original Anderson story, but still couldn't remove all the weirdness.
Rated 20 Mar 2017
89
93rd
This exotic tale "Under the Sea" was the return to glory for Disney animation. Heralded as the start of the Disney Renaissance the animators didn't just go back into the well of Disney Princess fairy tales, but they went deep into the ocean for one. The classic "true love's kiss" story featuring great songs, but with a new wonderful world of sea creatures to tell the literal fish-out-of-water tale. Maybe not the smartest Princess, but Ariel and the film have plenty of that patented Disney magic
Rated 25 Jun 2011
60
46th
I'm reluctant to like this more because of the shallowness of nearly every character. It's a typical Disney trope - love at first sight and at all costs - but in this case it's particularly grating because at no point does Ariel show herself to be more than an empty-headed contrarian who sells her body for a shot at the dreamy, Patrick Dempsey-lookalike prince.
Rated 20 Nov 2016
90
78th
Beautifully animated and featuring an exceptionally talented voice cast, The Little Mermaid features a well-told story and unforgettable characters to boot.
Rated 11 Nov 2009
61
27th
It's bland and surprisingly incompetent in many of the visual aspects. Story-wise, it just sort of goes through the motions. Ursula carries the whole movie.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
66
51st
Well animated familiar Disney premise.
Rated 30 Aug 2007
85
92nd
New 80s animation style that resurrected Disney (the studios not the man of course)
Rated 19 May 2012
70
65th
I was in love with the little mermaid back when I was a kid. That may sound weird to you, but hey! In the end ALL GIRLS SMELL LIKE FISH!! AMIRITE?! HUH!? HAHA! (oh God, kill me...)
Rated 15 May 2012
33
20th
Should have been directed by John Waters.
Rated 09 Jan 2016
65
52nd
I'm usually head over heels for a good Disney animated film, but this one is just not up there with the rest. It has the more old-fashioned style and catchy songs that started the Disney Renaissance in the 1990s, but on the whole the story of The Little Mermaid leaves a lot to be desired. Ariel's motives seem less like actual issues and more like first-world problems, making me less sympathetic towards her cause than many other Disney princesses. It's not bad by any means: it's just not great.
Rated 04 Jun 2012
55
23rd
According to this mermaids are cunts, who are only bearable when doing award-bait songs or silent movie routines. Seriously, think about how much of a stupid little daddy's girl Ariel is. And do we ever know for certain that she didn't eat any one the seafood in that castle? Freaking green-tailed cannibal.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
50
35th
Average Animation.
Rated 23 Aug 2015
70
53rd
I think Finding Nemo beats this in the visuals for under the sea
Rated 18 Oct 2016
66
36th
Don't remember this all that well. Would only rewatch at a singalong screening with a packed audience of parents and kids.
Rated 19 Nov 2014
65
67th
Some regressive gender politics aside, this is a solidly crafted piece of work. The tightness of the film's construction, the way the songs, not only being good as songs, remain solidly rooted in the dramatic context of the story, expressing the emotions of the characters and moving the plot along as opposed to other musicals where the songs are just sort of there and make the plot grind to a halt. The animation is charming.
Rated 18 Feb 2007
3
38th
Not one of the best Disneys but probably the best of the newer ones, other than Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King and Aladdin and...oh fuck it, it's a decent movie. I dunno.
Rated 06 Aug 2015
84
74th
Very good Disney movie, anyone complaining about Ariel is missing the point.
Rated 05 Apr 2018
75
47th
A rather good exemple of a Disney production.
Rated 06 Apr 2018
88
83rd
A gorgeous animated classic with timeless music. RIP Howard Ashman.
Rated 08 May 2019
10
91st
It'd been maybe six years since I saw this last? I forgot how much I love it. I may actually love it more now than I ever have. It's such a beautiful little old school love story that does a much better job building its romance than people tend to give it credit these days, and Ariel and Eric are an adorable couple. The film captured the magic of the classic Disney fairy tales and seamlessly brought it into the modern (at the time) era, ultimately launching the Disney Renaissance.
Rated 09 Jun 2019
100
84th
This was when Disney regained their footing, and remembered that children actually have brains.
Rated 30 Oct 2007
60
46th
It is a kind of animation, more toward girls.
Rated 11 Mar 2007
74
34th
A classic disney film.
Rated 23 Jun 2009
72
60th
Classic Disney love story that brougt us the wonderful song "under the sea." What is not to like about this singing underwater family adventure.
Rated 21 Aug 2012
75
52nd
Decent kids film.
Rated 14 May 2015
78
41st
But how did Ariel know how to walk perfectly the instant she got legs?
Rated 18 Sep 2007
70
26th
There's nothing really bad about it, but there's nothing all that great either, except for the song "Under the sea."
Rated 25 Mar 2007
72
57th
Wasn't a huge fan of this one. I know that it's supposed to be one of the golden era Disney films, but mermaids don't do much for me, and I didn't like the rest of the cutesy characters, and even the "prince" or whatever seemed just bland to me.
Rated 27 Apr 2007
40
14th
was my first cinema movie
Rated 29 Mar 2012
70
61st
A tough one to rate. On the one hand, it began the Disney Renaissance, aka the cultural cornerstone of my generation. And it's soundtrack is one of, if not the, best that Disney has ever done. But the story is really bland, even though it had a great original source story and premise to work from.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
95
96th
i grew up on this film, and it's my favourite disney film by far. maybe that's the only reason i love it, i don't know. all i know is i could watch this every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.
Rated 15 Oct 2015
65
11th
This movie has corrupted girls behaviour and life approach for an entire generation and beyond. It's a tale where a girl fall in love with a complete stranger man and disown his past, family, life, bodyshape and voice to have the opportunity to meet him again. For a fake love. It is terrible. Nothing else to say. This is too much for me. 65 because, as all Disney movies, the animation is impressive, it's funny, songs are catchy and characters are unforgettables.
Rated 13 Jan 2017
89
41st
An achievement to be sure but the ultimate message of this film shaves off a few points for me.
Rated 05 Oct 2008
90
95th
Maybe because this was when I was young, but this is one of my favourites!
Rated 06 Jul 2007
45
31st
We welcomed it with open arms when it first opened, but it hasn't aged all that well, in part due to the flood of lousy direct-to-video sequels that have had the effect of killing off any affection we once had for the thing.
Rated 27 Feb 2008
86
46th
Disney classic. Gotta love Sebastian.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
23rd
Fun, but typical Disney hooplah.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
30
11th
A serious step in down in quality from the average Disney feature.
Rated 05 Aug 2011
60
13th
I have a weird reaction to animated kid's movies; I appreciate their fun musical numbers, but mostly I feel really dumb when I watch them. Some are more palatable than others; TLM is not one of those, at least not for me. I think it has a couple of good songs, but mostly I just keep thinking what a waste of really great creepy old fairy tale.
Rated 05 Mar 2007
48
14th
As modern Disney goes, it is not entirely dreck.
Rated 19 Jan 2014
0
0th
how are you supposed to fuck her is she's a fish?
Rated 14 Aug 2007
69
74th
Disney's forays into musicals are seldom bad, but nothing incredible here.
Rated 17 Oct 2011
88
86th
One of my favorites as a kid.
Rated 06 Mar 2008
98
87th
Another Disney classic!:D
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
89th
i dont know anyone who hates this film
Rated 25 Nov 2007
71
36th
An utterly average musical Disney princess film which ushered in a new era of musical Disney princess films. It's like a terrible cycle that won't end.
Rated 03 Jan 2018
77
54th
It doesn't lend itself to much of a wider audience beyond the Disney Princess crowd. However the film is very well animated and the songs are probably among the catchiest the studio has ever had. The villain is fun to watch and the romantic story is not nearly as contrived as past Disney projects. Aside from the villain however, it doesn't lend itself to much repeat viewing due to a lack of consistent comedy.
Rated 09 Feb 2009
25
28th
If you're 16 you are damn well old enough to completly disobey your parents and put your life at risk for teenage infatuation, ahem I mean true love... great message Disney.
Rated 13 Nov 2007
80
50th
Disney Classic. A must-see for kids
Rated 12 Aug 2012
80
81st
90's gold.
Rated 08 Jul 2014
65
30th
This isn't a movie I can hate. Its good guys are pretty likeable, and the animation is decent. Of the big Disney movies this is one I don't care for very much, but mostly because its story is just not something I'm super interested in. Not bad by any means, and with some good points, its just not a Disney movie for me.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
64
46th
I'd rate this higher if I were a girl, but it's definitely a girlish Disney cartoon. It retains some credence simply because it's Disney, and contains a wicked impaling scene.
Rated 25 Feb 2008
75
71st
some of my favorite disney songs
Rated 18 Mar 2007
73
47th
Good Disney movie that doesn't quite stack up to the classics.
Rated 25 Feb 2009
100
92nd
great movie for kids and adults
Rated 24 Jul 2007
55
52nd
Because I have red hair, I've been asked to dress up as Ariel for Disney-themed children's birthday parties. It's true. And I feel like, for that reason, I can never forgive this movie.
Rated 14 Jan 2008
0
13th
Fish-slut betrays family for closet case.
Rated 10 Nov 2011
64
37th
Isn't it kind of fucked up how Ariel and the prince fall in love despite her being unable to speak? "We're both attractive people, it must be true love! But Ursula is a bitter, fat, ugly person, let's fuckin murder her. Best wedding gift ever, m i rite"
Rated 18 Oct 2016
60
39th
The animation looks really old 25 years on; that's a good thing, compared to some of the computer animation Disney would indulge in later, the comedy beats here look like a classic Disney short. Good songs, too. The story... eh, other things have changed in 25 years too.
Rated 23 Dec 2010
48
35th
Quite charming, but far from my favourite Disney.
Rated 20 May 2012
30
43rd
It isn't as vividly animated as, say, kindred ocean-dwelling animated feature Finding Nemo or Disney's own Aladdin. It isn't as timeless a story as Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King. And it's climactic battle, in which the villain grows gigantic and is killed in a major deus ex machina, is both unoriginal and anticlimactic. But setting aside my quibbles, The Little Mermaid is a lot of fun, especially for kids.
Rated 20 Jan 2009
79
76th
Not my favorite Disney movie, but gotta love the songs!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
61st
I kind of have a thing for the music, what can I say?
Rated 25 Jan 2009
25
20th
I loved this movie when I was like 4.
Rated 17 Nov 2007
65
72nd
one my favorite disney movies, but it's kind of uneven.
Rated 16 Jun 2012
95
88th
Awesome
Rated 17 Jan 2014
80
57th
This is the perfect movie for little girls. And in 1990, I was one. And watched The Little Mermaid. Over. And. Over. Again. My score is totally based on those childhood memories.
Rated 28 May 2020
65
76th
☆ One of the better disney princess movies. I am always so in awe of the animation on any production like this! It's so impressive. ☆

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