Ever since the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, Disney has been well-known for its iconic animated films. Over the years, the studio has taken many of these beloved movies, and remade them in live action, with one of its earliest adaptions being 101 Dalmatians in 1996, which starred Glenn Close as the iconic Cruella de Vil. However, starting in the 2010s, Disney started remaking its animated films into live-action more frequently, including Cinderella in 2015, Beauty and the Beast in 2017, and Aladdin in 2019.

This year, Disney is releasing two live-action films that are based on animated ones, the first one being Snow White, which will star Rachel Zegler as Disney’s original princess, and will be released on March 21. It will be followed by a remake of Lilo & Sтιтch, which will be released on May 23. In 2026, there will be a remake of Moana, which even features Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui from the animated films.

The Little Mermaid Is A Hit On Disney+

The Live-Action Remake Stars Halle Bailey As Ariel

As of this writing, the 2023 live-action version of The Little Mermaid is in the top 5 most viewed programs on Disney+. The remake’s cast includes Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula. In addition to recreating the songs from the 1989 classic, this version also includes new songs written by Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has worked on songs for other Disney movies. The film has a 67% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and went on to make $569 million at the box office.

Currently, the most viewed program on Disney+ is the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. The series is the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite being set in a different universe. Taking second place is an ABC News special, Kendrick vs. Drake: The Feud, followed by the Hulu series Paradise. Right above The Little Mermaid in fourth place is the hit ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, which marks Tim Allen and Kat Dennings’ sitcom return and has been setting multiple viewership records since its premiere.

Our Take On The Little Mermaid’s Success On Streaming

Disney Fans Want To Go Back Under The Sea

Even though The Little Mermaid wasn’t as successful at the box office as some of the other live action Disney films, it still has a lot of factors working in its favor. The original animated film is a beloved animated classic, and it is also an important one, since it kicked off the Disney Renaissance of 1989-1999. Fans of McCarthy and Miranda also have a reason to check it out, and see their take on the classic story.

Also, since many of Disney’s live-action remakes have had mixed reactions, being able to watch it at home on a streaming service that viewers are already paying for, instead of having to go to a theater and purchasing a ticket, can also feel like less of a risk. While the live-action version of The Little Mermaid won’t be considered a classic like the animated film, it still serves as a tribute to one of Disney’s most popular movies.

Source: Disney+