All 13 Disney live-action remakes ranked worst to best
By Cody Schultz
2. The Little Mermaid
From the moment Disney first announced it would be adapting The Little Mermaid into a live-action film, fans were eager to see how Disney would bring to life a new iteration of the timeless classic for a new generation. On May 26, fans finally got to witness the breathtaking new film when The Little Mermaid opened in theaters where it quickly made waves with an amazing opening weekend box office turnout!
Disney’s latest live-action adaptation brings together an incredible cast led by Halle Bailey in the title role of Ariel with Jonah Hauer-King (Eric), Daveed Diggs (Sebastian), Awkwafina (Scuttle), Jacob Tremblay (Flounder), Noma Dumezweni (The Queen), Art Malik (Sir Grimsby), Javier Bardem (King Triton), and Melissa McCarthy (Ursula) rounding out the star-studded cast.
Like the many live-action adaptations before it, The Little Mermaid stayed true to the original story by telling the enchanting tale of Ariel, a spirited and captivating young mermaid who yearns for excitement and exploration. As the rebellious youngest daughter of King Triton, Ariel’s curiosity drives her to uncover the mysteries of the world above the ocean.
During one of her ventures to the surface, the charming Prince Eric and their love story begins. Ariel follows her heart’s desires, leading her to strike a bargain with the wicked sea sorceress, Ursula that grants her a chance to experience life on land but puts both her own life and her father’s kingdom at risk.
Not only does the film do an amazing job of recapturing the magic of the first film, but it does so by infusing the film with a diversity that the original lacked. The film represents the world that we live in and it does it in a really seamless way, allowing this new generation to see themselves reflected in not just the film’s title character but its entire cast.