Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid arrived in theaters this weekend. While it looks to make a splash at the box office, mixed reviews of the film might not convince you to make the trek to theaters to check out this reimagining of the beloved animated classic.
You might just prefer to sit at home and watch it on Disney+. So how long will you have to wait to watch The Little Mermaid remake on Disney's streaming service?
When is The Little Mermaid (2023) coming to Disney+?
Disney hasn't yet announced when The Little Mermaid remake will arrive on the Disney+ streaming service and probably won't until they see how it performs at the box office. We've seen movies come to the streaming platform anywhere from 30 days to 90 days.
In 2021, the company announced that theatrical releases would have a minimum 45-day run in theaters before coming to Disney+. This was after Encanto came to the platform after just 30 days. Other CG-animated movies like Strange World and Lightyear came to Disney+ at around the 45-day mark, but it's also worth noting that they both underperformed at the box office, which The Litte Mermaid is unlikely to do.
At 45 days, it would mean The Little Mermaid would come to Disney+ this summer on July 10, 2023. That would probably be the worst-case scenario for Disney.
A more likely timeframe would be something like the wait for Marvel films. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which both performed respectively at the box office, took considerably longer to come to streaming. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania came to Disney+ 89 days after its theatrical release, while Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrived after 82 days. 90 days from May 26, would put the arrival of The Little Mermaid on Disney+ on August 24, 2023.
So while nothing is yet confirmed by Disney, we can probably assume that you'll be able to stream The Little Mermaid on Disney+ sometime around mid to late August.
“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
The Little Mermaid largely follows the plot of the 1989 animated musical although certain elements and tropes have been updated to adjust to 2023's standards. The film is directed by Oscar nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). Halle Bailey ("grown-ish") stars as Ariel and is joined by Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Prince Eric; Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as Queen Selina; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.