A great success! As expected, “The Little Mermaid” hit big box office numbers during the opening week and now fans online are continuing the celebration of the historic film!
The live-action remake of the 1989 Disney animated classic starring Halle Bailey premiered on Friday and brought in $117.5 million at the US box office — the fifth-best opening for Memorial Day weekend in history, according to @CNN citing Box Office Mojo. International ticket sales for, “The Little Mermaid” brought in a total of $185.8 million over the weekend.
The film was given a 95% thumbs by audiences on Rotten Tomatoes and parents are still raving about how impactful the film has been for their little ones by including a Black actress as the lead. Many young girls have showed up to theaters excited with mermaid costumes. One sweet kid in Las Vegas told @KSNV, “I’m happy because she’s my skin color.”
Disney has recast characters originally portrayed as White with actors of different races before. In 1997 the remake of “Cinderella” included the beautiful Black actress, Brandy. Disney introduced its very first Black princess back in 2009, with Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog.”
Disney’s live-action remake of “Aladdin” also debuted on Memorial Day weekend back in 2019. That came in just a little lower than “The Little Mermaid” with an opening weekend of $116.8 million.
Earlier this month, Bailey said she was “honored” to play Ariel in the live action remake, adding she hoped to inspire children of color with the new iteration of the beloved Disney film.
“My hopes for this film are just for people to take away such love and joy and happiness when they leave and especially for all of the Black and brown little… boys and girls to be able to see themselves being represented on such a big scale,” Bailey told Reuters. “I’m just honored to be in this position.”
Here’s How More Fans Have Been Reacting To The New Film
i’m never shutting up about how perfect Halle Bailey was for little mermaid pic.twitter.com/7OlXyEuWjO
— آوا (@gxivenchyy) May 27, 2023
there are so many little black girls on tiktok crying during the little mermaid movie because they feel seen. THIS is why representation is truly important. #TheLittleMermaid pic.twitter.com/vJo8WnmAGy
— kenny jones (@relientkenny) May 29, 2023
The global phenomenon is now the #1 movie in the world!#TheLittleMermaid is now playing in theaters everywhere. pic.twitter.com/ZUs1Dv0kpI
— The Little Mermaid (@LittleMermaid) May 27, 2023
Throughout the entire little mermaid movie I kept getting distracted by how pretty Halle is😭😭😭 like her face card is CRAZY
— larry 🧜🏽♀️🫀 (@itslarr7) May 25, 2023
Seeing all the little white girls dressed up as little mermaid for the little mermaid movie does something to me. These kids do not gaf just y’all racist ass parents 😭😭😭
— H♡♡chie™ (@ballsnthezdraws) May 29, 2023
I went to see The Little Mermaid movie and walked out a new person. Had the soundtrack playing on my way home and everything. Halle Bailey was the perfect choice for this role and I stand by Disney’s decision. Her awards sweep is imminent I fear… pic.twitter.com/Zo5raLy2uq
— Shania • 🧜🏼♀️TLM ERA🦀 (@GlossedTaes) May 28, 2023
just finished watching the little mermaid and it was so wonderful, definitely my favorite disney live action movie ever pic.twitter.com/oR7YLMxCz7
— pure thique honey 🧜🏾♀️🍯 (@purethiquekj) May 25, 2023
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