The Little Mermaid Makes a Splash with Third Highest-Grossing Preview for Disney’s Live-Action Remakes
The highly anticipated live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid has had a successful start at the box office. The film, starring Halle Bailey in the role of Ariel, has grossed a total of $38 million during its preview screenings, making it the third-highest-grossing preview for Disney.
According to Deadline, The Little Mermaid is set to become the third-highest opening film on the Memorial Day weekend and holiday. The adaptation was predicted to open with $110 million in the United States, but the success of its preview screenings and opening day has led to an estimation of $104 million until Sunday, with a possible $120-130 million in the four-day long weekend.
The Little Mermaid has surpassed the preview earnings of other recent Disney live-action remakes, including Aladdin and Cinderella. The film has also managed to place itself below The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, which earned $23 million and $16.3 million during their previews, respectively.
The new version of the Disney animated film is directed by Rob Marshall, and the cast includes Javier Bardem as King Triton, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric.
The Little Mermaid had an estimated budget of around $250 million, and Disney has invested heavily in its promotion, making it one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year.
Despite criticisms from some who view the film as a cash grab from Disney’s animated classics, The Little Mermaid’s success at the box office thus far indicates that it may become a significant addition to Disney’s live-action remake roster.