The Little Mermaid
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: May 26, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 54 Critic Reviews
Positive:
26
Mixed:
24
Negative:
4
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Arizona RepublicKaely MonahanMay 22, 2023
The Little Mermaid delivers on every front and will likely be one of the summer’s biggest box-office winners. Read full review
91
Entertainment WeeklyMaureen Lee LenkerMay 22, 2023
The human world, it's a mess, but with Halle Bailey, life under the sea is better than anything Disney live-action has done in nearly a decade. Read full review
88
The Seattle TimesMoira MacdonaldMay 22, 2023
Bailey gives a glowing performance of effortless starshine; her singing voice has both sweetness and power, and her smile is the sort on which dreams dance. Read full review
80
We Got This CoveredFrancisca TinocoMay 26, 2023
The Little Mermaid is not just another useless, soulless remake from the Mouse House. Not only does it give the gift of Halle Bailey as Ariel, but it also fortifies its predecessor's story by adding much needed narrative context and emotional pull. Read full review
80
Total FilmMolly EdwardsMay 22, 2023
A sparkling, enchanting new spin that out-swims the original, with a pitch-perfect performance from Halle Bailey. Read full review
80
The TelegraphAlex DigginsMay 22, 2023
It serves as a handsome homage while persuasively making the case as its own discrete entity. Read full review
80
VarietyPeter DebrugeMay 22, 2023
Between Bailey’s wide-eyed urchin and McCarthy’s over-the-top octo-hussy, the movie comes alive — not in some zombified form, like re-animated Disney debacles “Dumbo” and “Pinocchio,” but in a way that gives young audiences something magical to identify with, and fresh mermaid dreams to aspire to. Read full review
77
PolygonPetrana RadulovicMay 25, 2023
Just because Ariel falls in love doesn’t mean she’s not a strong and beloved protagonist, and just because Eric is a handsome and dashing prince doesn’t mean he lacks the substance behind that charming smile. By updating their romance, the 2023 Little Mermaid makes the love story more satisfying — and resonant for a new generation. Read full review
76
TheWrapLex BriscusoMay 22, 2023
The live-action “Little Mermaid” is a fresh take on a beloved classic that isn’t afraid to take a fairy tale and make it as real as it can, inviting its audience to dive into uncharted waters alongside its engaging and charming central characters. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsMay 25, 2023
The changes really help. The fleshed-out central romance, the performances of Halle Bailey (Ariel, the mermaid, with songs belted like nobody’s business) and, as her Above World love Prince Eric, Jonah Hauer-King — it all basically works. Read full review
75
Washington PostAnn HornadayMay 24, 2023
Bailey nails the iconic moments (that head toss) and the high notes, but also her character’s combination of spunk and innocence. She delivers a lovely performance that’s all the more accomplished for being delivered amid crashing waves, sweeping vistas and the crushing expectations of generations of fans. As a new generation’s Ariel, she makes The Little Mermaid her own — with confidence, charisma and oceans of charm. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliMay 23, 2023
For a story like this, there’s something about a purely animated approach that can’t be replicated in a live-action repetition. Nevertheless, as an alternate telling with a more mature point-of-view and a greater focus on narrative over music, Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid leaves its mark and Halle Bailey’s Ariel can stand alongside Jodi Benson’s. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireMay 22, 2023
In terms of underwater worlds, once you’ve been to Pandora, you can never go anywhere else. But the fictional Caribbean island where The Little Mermaid takes place is certainly a pleasant escape. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeOdie HendersonMay 22, 2023
As for The Little Mermaid, it’s one of Disney’s better remakes. But don’t throw away your DVD of the original. Read full review
75
ObserverEmily ZemlerMay 22, 2023
It has enough nostalgia for the older crowd, but it’s also magical enough for a younger generation, who will see this as the definitive version of the story. Being part of Ariel’s world is fun, satisfying and generally delightful. Just cover your ears when Scuttle starts to rap. Read full review
75
ColliderRoss BonaimeMay 22, 2023
The Little Mermaid might not match the greatness of the original, but it’s the rare remake that feels worthy of being part of our world. Read full review
75
The PlaylistKathia WoodsMay 22, 2023
Magic is something that children of all ages desire to experience, and The Little Mermaid has magic to share because Halle typifies that enchantment. Read full review
75
CNNBrian LowryMay 22, 2023
The Little Mermaid is both slick and satisfying, meeting the primary challenge of allowing parents and kids to create memories around seeing it together. Setting aside its other assets, Bailey’s out-of-this-world contribution alone serves up the kind of splashy entertainment that justifies getting out of the summer sun, and in terms of being enjoyed far beyond that, might even have legs. Read full review
75
SlashfilmVanessa ArmstrongMay 22, 2023
The Little Mermaid is a live-action remake done well. The casting (with one notable exception) is phenomenal, led by Halle Bailey's breathtaking performance as Ariel; the original songs are portrayed in vivid displays that will make children's eyes sparkle; and the story has been adjusted to correct the first film's less-than-modern relationships. Read full review
71
Paste MagazineTara Bennett May 23, 2023
In the end, does a live-action The Little Mermaid feel vital? No. It gives fans of the animated original pretty much the same movie, beat for beat, with some slight adjustments that score on the positive side. Read full review
70
ABC NewsPeter TraversMay 26, 2023
While it can’t match the effortless charm of the 1989 animated classic, this faint but overstuffed live-action echo fills the title role with shining new star Halle Bailey who gives this musical fable just the oomph it needs—a heart that sings and a spirit that soars. Read full review
70
The New YorkerRichard BrodyMay 25, 2023
If the original “Little Mermaid,” in its effervescent way, talked down to its audience, the new one, bluntly but amiably, talks ever so slightly up to its young viewers. It adds hints of a complicated world beyond the narrow realms of fantasy; it delivers earnest cheer. Read full review
70
Screen RantRachel LaBonteMay 22, 2023
Marshall has captured enough of the magic from the original to entertain longtime fans. Bailey's Ariel is one for the ages, and McCarthy is fantastic as Ursula. With these two ladies on board, The Little Mermaid is a genuine delight. Read full review
67
The Film VerdictAlonso DuraldeJun 20, 2023
While it’s still an exercise in re-branding and revenue, the results at least provide some dazzle, some romance, and a handful of pretty good new songs with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Read full review
67
ConsequenceLiz Shannon MillerMay 22, 2023
Bailey is genuinely great in the role. But the changes added to the original story feel superficial, only giving the narrative an illusion of depth. Read full review
63
USA TodayBrian TruittMay 22, 2023
And while not everything goes swimmingly, Halle Bailey splendidly buoys this "Mermaid" as the naive underwater youngster with dreams of exploring the surface. Read full review
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