The Little Mermaid (Live-Action)

[Disney's Divinity]

That's nice, Duster. I still think it's hideous and that's not going to change--from the weird stuff lined down the back of it, to the overdone folds of the fin, to the red part on the scales. I prefer the pictures that occlude it with the lighting and deliberate framing to hide most of that, personally. But I thought almost all the costumes in this film were terrible.

Another milestone for the movie--it officially crossed Cinderella 2015's total, I believe?

[Disney Duster]

You talk about not wanting anyone to stop you from sharing your opinion yet you suggest I can't share mine.

The TLM remake still didn't do as well as the others, I believe?

[Disney's Divinity]

I suppose I should be grateful it ended up in that perfect middle ground--doing better than the films that are even more removed from the films they're remaking, but less than the films that deserved it more because they were more faithful. Almost like a storybook ending.

[Disney Duster]

Well, if you are happy about that, that's a good thing. I was hoping the second best of the Fab Four (to me) would make so much more money, but I bet the racism is really what hurt it.

[carolinakid]

Come on, Duster! Do you REALLY believe domestic AND international racism caused the live action Little Mermaid to underperform???
Just trying to understand...
(Maybe it was just a lousy movie, maybe people have life action remake fatigue, maybe people have had enough of Disney “fixing” things they find “problematic” about their classics, maybe it’s the price of taking a family out to the movies in these inflationary times, maybe it’s the fact that people can wait for it to be on Disney+? ..... but you think it was due to RACISM???? Whatever....)

[UmbrellaFish]

carolinakid, do you really think all those things you listed are valid reasons for TLM’s underperformance but racism isn’t one of those factors?

I think the movie’s box office troubles can be attributed to a combination of changes in this post-Covid, post-Disney+ era (the billion dollar remake successes, BATB, TLK, Aladdin, etc were all before Disney+ after all) we’re living in, including some of the things you mentioned, but I agree with Duster that racist backlash to this movie hurt it at the box office, too.

[Disney's Divinity]

Like PP&W and Pinocchio, I'm sure racism did play a role, but not to the degree some would like to believe--TLM underperformed almost everywhere except in Latin America, not just in China. It's more the film changed so much about design, locales, songs, etc. that was easy to see from advertisements (since I think the general audience's reaction is what ruined it, not people who follow all the details like we do) that did this in.

I admit it definitely does satisfy me in some ways to see Disney as well as the online circus get what what they deserved, and I didn't have to do anything about it. God did that. When you come at things with an ill intent, it really never does pay in the end and all the teeth-gnashing and baiting in the world can't change that.

[carolinakid]

Umbrella, I really can’t say but it would be nice if someone researched the reasons why this film was rejected.

It doesn’t even seem as if the black community supported it (went to see it) in great numbers as was anticipated.

Do I think that there are people who said “I’m skipping this one because Ariel’s black in this film”?

Sure, no doubt. But to attribute the main reason the film failed to meet expectations to racism to me is a stretch.

Maybe I’m naive. I don’t care for raceswapping characters unless it’s something unique and original like The Wiz. If that makes me a racist, so be it.

I simply don’t see ANY live action remakes of Disney classics (haven’t seen ANY so far) # 1 and # 2.... I refuse to tolerate the virtue signaling and wokeism that insisted there was something “wrong” with the original lyrics to Kiss The Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls. That would be enough to keep me away even if I did attend live action Disney remakes.

Of course, this is only my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

[Disney's Divinity]

You forget, too, carolinakid--Super Mario Bros made a billion dollars just a couple of months before TLM's release. No, TLM underperforming is because the film didn't look like TLM all the way around--and not just Ariel. People generally want things to be the same when they go to a "remake," that much is undeniable with those films so close together as well as Disney's own history of billion sellers being ultra faithful versions.

[UmbrellaFish]

I admit it definitely does satisfy me in some ways to see Disney as well as the online circus get what what they deserved, and I didn't have to do anything about it. God did that. When you come at things with an ill intent, it really never does pay in the end and all the teeth-gnashing and baiting in the world can't change that.

If there is a God, I hope he has better things to do than met out divine punishment via the box office lol.

carolinakid, I don’t think racism was the main reason, but a contributing factor. I’m not sure there is a “main” reason even, but a constellation of factors that disadvantaged TLM 23. However, you can go to just about every other internet space that discusses movies and see racist messages written about TLM 23. And it sounded like you were entirely discounting racist backlash as a contributor in your reply to Duster.

[Vlad]

I do agree that the race-swapping aspect had a lot to do with the film underperforming. And I can totally understand it. When people think of Ariel, they will always picture the original one from 1989. None of my friends went to see it in the theater, they will wait for it to be released on Disney+.

I'm among those who did enjoy Halle's performance, but I don't disagree with the ones who are opposed to the race-swapping. Nothing good ever comes of it (see Pinocchio, Peter Pan & Wendy, and now, The Little Mermaid). People are not happy to see a character they know and love completely changed in the name of diversity and inclusion. And I don't think that it's racist to think like this.

I'm sure that Snow White will have a similar box office performance next year, and maybe Disney will finally learn their lesson, and stop changing everything to appeal to the woke audience. Go woke, go broke..

[carolinakid]

Vlad, you summed up my feelings exactly only certainly more eloquently than I ever could. Bravo, amigo!

And thanks to you, Divinity and Umbrella, for sharing your thoughts!

[Disney's Divinity]

If there is a God, I hope he has better things to do than met out divine punishment via the box office lol.

Oh, no, you don't need to worry about that, UmbrellaFish. God remembers both the big and the small. Acting a way digitally isn't any less than acting a way in real life, if that's what you think. But remorse can cover all things, only He knows a person's heart, not me. Still, I am happy to know He protects me either way.

[UmbrellaFish]

Whatever floats your boat, Divinity.

[Disney's Divinity]

Thank you. And to you, too, carolinakid.

[Sotiris]

I was under the impression the remake's merch was selling well. Did Disney overestimate the demand and overproduced? Remake tie-in merch has never been strong or evergreen. If anything, the remakes help sell merch of the originals.

Little Mermaid Live Action Toys Already Canceled?! Industry Insider Claims Snow White Is Next!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8T_LXklFjo

[Disney's Divinity]

I think Disney only did as much as they did because of the usual backlash game as far as not wanting to be accused of not "supporting the film enough," or whatever.

Hopefully the one good thing is this means the beginning of the end for the remakes maybe? I mean, outside of Disney+, there probably won't be too many more of them in theaters, especially if SW does the same or worse than TLM. Then again, I think Moana could actually be moderately successful for them, since they won't feel the need to "bend" anything about that film and so it can be faithful, which means fans of the original might actually show up. It may end up extending Disney's remake craze just as it might've been about to end.

[Disney Duster]

To answer your question, carolinakid, I absolutely think the race-bending is what kept this film from reaching the numbers of the other Fab Four. Maybe there were other factors, but with Mario making a billion, I bet it was mainly having a different looking Ariel.

Thanks for the backup, Brelly, Vlad, Divinity.

[carolinakid]

Fair enough.... my point is that disliking race swapping or bending in regards to a classic work of art or entertainment in itself is not necessarily racism. But this issue at least to me, is not worth arguing about among friends. Perhaps we’ll never really know all the reasons why the live action Little Mermaid was a box office disappointment for Disney.

[Marce82]

Personally, I half-disagree with DisneyDuster. I think the race-bending may have bothered some of the potential audience, but I know a lot of people who were just not interested in yet-another remake.
Most of my friends (not all Disney fans) have not loved (or at times even liked) the remakes, so eventually, they stopped even trying/caring.
I specifically remember one friend that liked the Aladdin remake, and then tried to rewatch it on Disney+... they couldn't finish it... cause they were bored.

I still say that a movie that has remained VERY culturally present and relevant doesn't need a remake. And lucky for Disney, a lot of their animated cannon HAS remained evergreen.