The Little Mermaid

November 1989

(2,268)

Synopsis

Awash with breathtaking animation, unforgettably colorful characters and two Academy Awards®* for score and song, "Under The Sea," The Little Mermaid is one of Disney's most cherished films. Ariel, the fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, is enchanted with all things human. Disregarding her father's order to stay away from the world above the sea, she swims to the surface and, in a raging storm, rescues the prince of her dreams. Determined to be human, she strikes a bargain with the devious seawitch, Ursula, and trades her fins and beautiful voice for legs. With her best friend, the adorable and chatty Flounder, and her reluctant chaperone Sebastian, the hilarious, reggae-singing Caribbean crab, at her side, Ariel must win the prince's love and save her father's kingdom — all in a heart-pounding race against time!

Reviews

4.6

2,268 total

5 1,735

4 301

3 104

2 56

1 72

Michael Wilmington

The Little Mermaid -- impudent, grandiose, a multilevel crowd-pleaser -- almost returns the Disney animated features to their glory traditions of the '30s and '40s.

Dave Kehr

It may not be a transcendent masterpiece of the Disney canon, but The Little Mermaid is still very heartening: It suggests the Disney magic isn`t lost after all.

Desmond Ryan

The latest Disney offering looks back to the studio's unrivaled heritage. It has the look of classic animation. More important, it has the skill required to make it work.

Jay Boyar

In adapting this animated film from Hans Christian Andersen's sad and beautiful fairy tale, writers/directors John Musker and Ron Clements came up with a bright and perky movie.

Richard Corliss

You could wish upon a star and not conjure up a more joyous animated movie than this graceful retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen tale.

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Within the apparently necessary aesthetic and ideological limitations (such as making the hero and heroine Americans surrounded by foreign servants a la Pinocchio), the animation manages to be fairly energetic.

Critic reviews

Michael Wilmington

The Little Mermaid -- impudent, grandiose, a multilevel crowd-pleaser -- almost returns the Disney animated features to their glory traditions of the '30s and '40s.

Full Review

Dave Kehr

It may not be a transcendent masterpiece of the Disney canon, but The Little Mermaid is still very heartening: It suggests the Disney magic isn`t lost after all.

Full Review

Desmond Ryan

The latest Disney offering looks back to the studio's unrivaled heritage. It has the look of classic animation. More important, it has the skill required to make it work.

Full Review

Jay Boyar

In adapting this animated film from Hans Christian Andersen's sad and beautiful fairy tale, writers/directors John Musker and Ron Clements came up with a bright and perky movie.

Full Review

Richard Corliss

You could wish upon a star and not conjure up a more joyous animated movie than this graceful retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen tale.

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Full Review

James Berardinelli

A fantastic success.

Full Review

User reviews

Brittany Myers March 2, 2014

Disappointed Yeah. Really wouldn't mind watching this movie. The movie itself is a fantastic cinematic piece of art. But I'm most certainly not paying that much money for a digital copy when I could get it cheaper on disc ;)

A Google User January 6, 2014

Id give the actual movie a 5 But not on here. The price is ridiculous. I can buy the first and second for 20 in dvd and 30 in blueray. I can only buy one on here for that price and the quality is not even that great. The movie itself is a classic and probably my favorite disney movie. The characters are likeable and you can relate to them. The story and plot of the movie is creative and fun. All together it is perfect for any age.

Jim Verarde March 26, 2014

my first crush I grew up with this movie and Ariel was one of my first crushes... I went to Disneyland w/ my family as a kid and I remember buying a doll of her at there... and I took her everywhere with me for almost 3 years... until finally I got sick and threw up on her then my ant through her away... on top of my first crush I really could identify with Ariel especially now feeling like there's something more out there that, you can choose your own destiny... it's a very powerful message for boys and girls to hear..:)

Sherie Garcia January 8, 2014

I love this movie The Little Mermaid reminds me of when I was a little girl in the 80's and the early 90's...... This is one of my favorites next to The Beauty and The Beast... 5 Stars

Natasha Strong March 2, 2014

I love aerial pashion to see the world and humans above sea The little mermaid is still my favorite movie when I was 2 years old now I'm 12 so I love her and who doesn't love this movie they are dead inside.

Lexi Emery September 24, 2014

One time ago there's my beautiful woman underwater is Little Mermaid Ariel beautiful fish in the oven will do it evil inshallah evil witch Slayer super never lickable my heart cuz she took Ariel's voice he started at winning the prince will get married with a Dixie old witch has G you member OD my life the police stlouis save the girl in love with her the Prince Eric was always you love with her with it area she much though he was b he was with the first she's at over me a hag is love you 4shared bye bye see what a gir bigger and I really need help no way would I get by with a bit evil earth LA Eric Prince Eric in the boat poke hurt in the evil witches hag much skill arts Allah and now I have firm die Princess Ariel one of the mermaid but she wanted me to order a human with Prince Eric that would kiss him happily ever after dn

Linda Orona May 29, 2014

Little Mermaid I love this movie that bring the child out of me I have always loved Walt Disney movies for children and I saved them for me and my family and friends and grandchildren and I never get tired of the little mermaid just call me a child at heart linda

Andrew Waldner December 3, 2013

Beautiful & Wonderful Movie Love this movie. It's just a classic. BUT, I would never have purchased it were it not for the digital copy that came with my BluRay purchase. It's just a bit ridiculous to be asking $20 for a movie you can't even get a pure download of. Just streaming from the Website/App. It's not a kind of "ownership" I want. BUT AGAIN, becase I get as many buts as I want, this movie is perfect. I can't give it less than 5 stars in good conscience.

Piotr Morawiec December 20, 2013

I grew up on this This movie is really great it has just great scenes the writing is gray and it's really just amazing everyone remembers that its world known it like you can't go anywhere without people not knowing about it its just great that's why it deserves everything that it got. Plus it holds up good its from like 1987 or something like that

James Fish January 16, 2014

Feels like something I usally watch with my 4 year old cousin My real names Natalie and I'm 11 and am more interested in Harry Potter and The Hunger Games than little mermaids falling in love with some human prince well I actually would prefer that ariel never messed around with ursula at all then ursula would live and continue doing her evil cause she's not the best bad guy ever

MJones Mjones December 12, 2013

Wonderful and Cute I think The little Mermaid is a great movie. I think it's cute how Ariel, the little mermaid dreams of life on the land and gets the guy of his dreams.

Katelynn Graham October 16, 2013

Love this movie! I remember when this movie came out, was my favorite back then. Still one of my favorites now, great way to make myself feel like a kid again

Austin Ireland February 12, 2014

BS I would be able to give a review if the movie would actually play! I haven't been able to get it to play since I bought it, the video just keeps showing a play symbol but won't play!

Andrew Negron September 15, 2014

Crazy price. The VHS WAS CHEAPER WHEN THE MOVIE WAS A NEW RELEASE. I think I paid $2 more for frozen when it first came out. Id rather rent it from redox and record it in low resolution on my phone than pay this outlandish rate for a 20+ yr old movie. Ya gone to far mon.

Jamie Black February 1, 2014

I love this movie but I wont be paying that much for it... I can download it to my computer ((for FREE)) and transfer it to my phone... Lower the price!!

Raina Kenny October 2, 2013

My Favorite Disney Movie The Little Mermaid was and still is my favorite movie from my childhood and brings me back old memories every time I watch it. I will always love this movie.

Veronica Castro January 21, 2014

LOVE THIS MOVIE I used to watch this wonderful movie when I was a little girl and watching it again just brings back happy memories but this time its with my kids!!!!!

Davey Lush February 25, 2014

I was a little kid i allways watch the little mermaid And i the water and now my little sis love the move we got all 3

Catherine Mabe December 12, 2013

My Fav Disney Childhood Movie !! This was my favorite Disney movie growing up!! Watching it brings back so many good childhood memories!!

Garret Jordan May 13, 2014

A "Little" Bit Before "Frozen"... ...there was a "Little Mermaid" named Ariel. Full of beautiful songs and funny, loveable characters, "The Little Mermaid" paved the way for Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas and, of course, Elsa and Anna. So take a journey "Under the Sea" with Ariel & co., and see why "The Little Mermaid" will become a "Part of Your World".

Cast and credits

Actors	Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Pat Carroll, Kenneth Mars, Buddy Hackett, Christopher Daniel Barnes
Director	Ron Clements, John Musker
Writers	Ron Clements, John Musker

Additional information

Rotten tomatoes® score

92%

Audio language

English (Stereo)

Subtitles

English

Run time

82 minutes

Rating

Similar

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Animation

Awaken your senses to the majesty of SLEEPING BEAUTY, Walt Disney's classic fairy tale. See more than you've ever seen before through the magic of state-of-the-art technology, and experience this groundbreaking film restored beyond its original brilliance, in the way Walt envisioned it -- pristine, beautiful, utterly breathtaking. SLEEPING BEAUTY will transform your home into a fantastic world your family will want to experience again and again.

Disney's Leroy and Stitch

Animation

As a reward for rounding up all 625 experiments, Lilo, Stitch, Jumba, and Pleakley have been placed around the galaxy in a spot where each of them thinks they truly belong. Their lives are all shook up when the dastardly Dr. Hamsterviel breaks out of prison and forces Jumba to create a new experiment -- Leroy, the evil twin of Stitch. To make matters worse, Hamsterviel soon clones the nasty little creature to form his own mischievous army. Now it's up to Lilo to gather Stitch and the rest of the gang from the far corners of outer space to battle the legion of Leroys. When the going gets rough, our friends discover that one place they all truly belong is together.

Chicken Little

Animation

When the sky really is falling and sanity has flown the coop, who will rise to save the day? Together with his hysterical band of misfit friends, Chicken Little must hatch a plan to save the planet from alien invasion and prove that the world's biggest hero is a little chicken.

The Princess and The Frog

Animation

Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, an animated comedy set in the great city of New Orleans. This is a modern twist on a classic tale featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG marks the return to hand-drawn animation from the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements, with music by Oscar®-winning composer Randy Newman.

Alice in Wonderland

Animation

Join Alice as she falls into the madcap world of Wonderland and meets extraordinary characters such as Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the frantically late White Rabbit.

Monsters, Inc.

Animation

Lovable Sulley (John Goodman) and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at MONSTERS, INC., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it's the monsters who are scared silly, and it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.

Up

Animation

Winner of two Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature. Carl Fredrickson, a retired balloon salesman, is part rascal, part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year old Wildnerness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time -- Carl's front porch! The world's most unlikely duo reach new heights and meets fantastic friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, the rare 13-foot tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle, Carl realizes that sometimes life's biggest adventures aren't the ones you set out for.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Animation

Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Pumpkin King Jack Skellington longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere!

Tangled

Animation

When the kingdom's most wanted—and most charming—bandit, Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi), hides out in a mysterious tower, he's taken hostage by Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn's curious captor, who's looking for her ticket out of the tower where she's been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief, and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse (Maximus), an over-protective chameleon (Pascal), and a gruff gang of pub thugs.

Wreck-It Ralph

Animation

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping journey in Disney's Wreck-It Ralph. For decades, Ralph has played the bad guy in his popular video game. In a bold move, he embarks on an action-packed adventure and sets out to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a big heart. As he explores exciting new worlds, he teams up with some unlikely new friends including feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz. Then, when an evil enemy threatens their world, Ralph realizes he holds the fate of the entire arcade in his massive hands.

Bolt

Animation

Bolt is the star of the biggest show in Hollywood. The only problem is, he thinks the whole thing is real. When the super dog is accidently shipped to New York City and separated from Penny, his beloved co-star and owner, Bolt springs into action to find his way home. Together with his hilarious new sidekick Rhino, Bolt's #1 fan, and a street-smart cat named Mittens, Bolt sets off an amazing journey where he discovers he doesn't need super powers to be a hero.

Winnie The Pooh

Animation

Walt Disney Animation Studios proudly presents Winnie the Pooh, a wonderful new adventure from the creators of the hit film Bolt. Return to the Hundred Acre Wood for a heartwarming original movie, and reunite with the beloved bear and his silly but steadfast friends for a magical family experience. When sad old Eeyore loses his tail, Owl sends the whole gang - Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga and Roo - on a wild journey to help Eeyore and save Christopher Robin from the mysterious Backson. In the end, it turns out to be a very busy day for a bear who simply set out to find some hunny. Inspired by five stories from A.A. Milne's books and created in Disney's legendary, hand-drawn style, this all-new classic introduces one of the world's most cherished characters to a whole new generation.

Tarzan

Animation

Disney's magnificent animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs's story of the ape man begins deep within the jungle when baby Tarzan is adopted by a family of gorillas. Even though he is shunned as a "hairless wonder" by their leader, Tarzan is accepted by the gorillas and raised as one of their own. Together with his wisecracking ape buddy Terk and neurotic elephant pal Tantor, Tarzan learns how to "surf" and swing through the trees and survive in the animal kingdom. His "Two Worlds" collide with the arrival of humans, forcing Tarzan to choose between a "civilized" life with the beautiful Jane and the life he knows and loves with his gorilla family.

Frankenweenie (2012)

Animation

From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland, The Nightmare Before Christmas) comes the hilarious and offbeat Frankenweenie, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life — with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor's fellow students, teachers and the entire town learn that getting a new "leash on life" can be monstrous. Frankenweenie is alive with enchanting fun for the whole family.

Lilo & Stitch

Animation

Get ready for the wildly original story about an independent little girl named Lilo and her adopted alien "puppy," the mischievous Stitch, a runaway genetic experiment from a faraway planet. After crash-landing on Earth, Stitch wreaks havoc on the Hawaiian Islands, but he also learns about loyalty, friendship and 'ohana, the Hawaiian tradition of family. There's excitement and entertainment for every member of your 'ohana!

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue

Animation

Before she was ever introduced to Wendy and the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell met Lizzy, a girl with a steadfast belief in fairies. TINKER BELL AND THE GREAT FAIRY RESCUE begins in summertime in the beautiful English countryside. An enchanting encounter unfolds when Tinker Bell is discovered by Lizzy, and as their different worlds unite, Tink develops a special bond with the curious girl in need of a friend. As her fellow fairies launch a daring rescue, Tinker Bell takes a huge risk, putting her own safety and the future of the fairies in jeopardy. This action-packed adventure takes the fairies of Pixie Hollow on a daring flight to London to save Tinker Bell and all of fairy kind..