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The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

1989
Musical
Family/Kids
1h 23m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 53.52% from 6614 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(6613)
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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 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 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 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 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 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 16 Feb 2014
98
99th
Classic. Gorgeous animation, amazing score, memorable songs. This movie kept Disney alive.
Rated 01 Jul 2008
94
95th
Another classic.
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 18 Jan 2016
100
94th
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 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 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 Jul 2010
86
74th
Wonderful Disney animated feature will enchant youngsters and the child in all of us.
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 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 14 Aug 2007
80
65th
Good stuff. Good vs. Evil, Love, friends. One of the biggest and most rememberable Disney enemies.
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 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 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 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 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 25 Jan 2009
100
95th
Exceptionally charming, contrary to all expectations
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
95th
My personal favorite of Disney's traditional animation movies.
Rated 02 Aug 2009
79
82nd
Set the modern standard for disney films
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 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 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 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 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 15 Jan 2009
90
92nd
Damn Disney! This actually made me sad, good music too.
Rated 22 Dec 2006
93
91st
Classic. Beautiful.
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 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 30 Aug 2007
85
92nd
New 80s animation style that resurrected Disney (the studios not the man of course)
Rated 23 Aug 2015
70
53rd
I think Finding Nemo beats this in the visuals for under the sea
Rated 25 Sep 2010
66
51st
Well animated familiar Disney premise.
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 09 Jun 2019
100
84th
This was when Disney regained their footing, and remembered that children actually have brains.
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 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 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 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 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 06 Aug 2015
84
74th
Very good Disney movie, anyone complaining about Ariel is missing the point.
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 05 Apr 2018
75
47th
A rather good exemple of a Disney production.
Rated 15 May 2012
33
20th
Should have been directed by John Waters.
Rated 26 Jul 2015
81
18th
~2
Rated 13 Feb 2011
90
86th
Love the singing and storyline, but why does Ariel have to have the smallest waist you have ever seen on a girl? Why can't any of the Disney princesses have normal body sizes...especially since they all have boobs!?! I hate when people look too far into things such as the structures and paintings in the castle, but that is the only point that DOES bug me.
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 27 Jul 2016
55
32nd
null
Rated 29 Apr 2008
95
73rd
Disney again! Love it when I was a child.
Rated 09 Apr 2017
4
55th
music + Ursula > everything else
Rated 20 Mar 2008
20
7th
I'm not going to give it a high rating just because its classic Disney.
Rated 15 Nov 2018
70
76th
At least Ariel's excuse was that she's 16 and naive. Why's the prince marrying randos? Great setting and memorable songs. Ursula's the best villain. Fav scene: Ariel's song about knick-knacks.
Rated 23 Apr 2017
58
22nd
As I have to watch these in French, I cannot really assess the "musical" part. As an animation from 1989 it has some really slick sequences. However, maybe I'm reading too much into it but spare me I don't get to watch many stuff these days, its glorification of being a bimbo (and Ariel is definitely a bimbo) did not sit well with me. At least it is not a message I wanna convey to my daughter. Ursula, Triton and Sebastian are all interesting side characters.
Rated 19 Nov 2012
90
79th
Instant classic for animation. Although the lack of feminism is troubling, it's gorgeously scored, beautifully animated and draws up instant nostalgia whenever on. As long as watched as a knowledgeable viewer there should be no wrongful information about romance relayed.
Rated 26 Jan 2020
55
36th
Good songs.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
30
11th
A serious step in down in quality from the average Disney feature.
Rated 17 Feb 2009
78
51st
This is a great movie, though a bit predictable at times.
Rated 26 Jun 2021
69
74th
I remembered the animation being cleaner and smoother than that, I guess a kid's memory does that. The plot is kind of short, to the point they had to stretch it with many musical numbers, and only 1-2 characters had charisma (Poseidon and Ursula). But I guess some kids could like it still.
Rated 14 May 2015
78
41st
But how did Ariel know how to walk perfectly the instant she got legs?
Rated 01 Jun 2008
95
78th
Good stuff.
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 21 Jun 2009
80
51st
This first step out of the water for the Disney Renaissance of the '90s is a little shaky but still fantastic.
Rated 19 Feb 2023
68
34th
audiovisual 68 overall feeling 68 avg 68
Rated 10 Sep 2015
95
63rd
There is a formula to the classic, "magical" Disney films. It can be boiled down to the story, the characters and the songs. Every classic Disney film, every Disney film that is a favourite from childhood and makes people's "top ten" lists, has these key elements. What I found when I watched The Little Mermaid though, was that some of these films actually have "classic" status but aren't as good as you remember.
Rated 12 Feb 2008
58
47th
Girly stuff.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
99
92nd
A childhood favourite.
Rated 26 Jul 2010
32
43rd
"So I waltzed my pretty mermaid arse into the surface and saw this guy ... he was hot and everything ... I'd really like to meet him ... get his phone number and dance horizontally as the frogs sing Shalalalala ... so this is how I sold my soul to the devil, ended up on earth in my birthday suit and said hello in the mute way!" Aaah, good old shallow Disney. How I miss it.
Rated 15 Sep 2022
88
70th
Not my favorite princess movie but still fantastic in it's own right
Rated 12 Mar 2015
68
28th
I ever recall watching this as a kid, and I'm glad I missed out, I didn't like it this time, and I doubt I would've liked it then too.
Rated 07 Apr 2009
50
34th
perverts movie, priest boner, ariel naked??
Rated 27 Apr 2007
40
14th
was my first cinema movie
Rated 17 Dec 2008
100
96th
My childhood film...
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 27 Dec 2010
40
24th
Makes you feel like a sixteen year old again. With all the angst and awkwardness included.
Rated 11 Mar 2007
74
34th
A classic disney film.
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 18 Mar 2007
73
47th
Good Disney movie that doesn't quite stack up to the classics.
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 20 Apr 2016
13
64th
W4E1P1S1V1M2A1R2.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
90
81st
My 5 year old is freaked out by Ursula, the sea witch.
Rated 31 Dec 2012
35
36th
Not my thing. Impressive stuff from disney, just not for me.
Rated 08 Nov 2013
72
57th
Mildly entertaining fluff from Disney, but hardly the classic it's known as---probably because I saw it for the first time last week.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
23rd
Fun, but typical Disney hooplah.
Rated 13 Nov 2007
80
50th
Disney Classic. A must-see for kids
Rated 23 Nov 2019
70
53rd
Sebastian: "Ariel, listen to me. The human world is a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there."
Rated 28 Feb 2019
80
32nd
Hmmm... It's a classic, but the story doesn't quite hold up very well today.
Rated 27 Dec 2014
60
34th
On the lower end of Disney animation films for me, and I've loved quite a few of them.
Rated 24 Mar 2010
7
65th
Its the little mermaid lads.
Rated 02 Nov 2009
98
79th
FLOUNDER!
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 17 Oct 2011
88
86th
One of my favorites as a kid.

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