The Little Mermaid (2023)

What makes The Little Mermaid (2023) worth the dive is Halle Bailey, whose Ariel isn’t just a remake of a beloved icon but a full-blooded, star-making presence—curious, headstrong, and radiant enough to carry the film on sheer feeling. Rob Marshall leans into a big, romantic, storybook vibe with glossy spectacle and a family-friendly sense of wonder, letting the ocean shimmer and the surface world feel like a tempting, lived-in dream. Melissa McCarthy brings a playful bite to Ursula, and the whole thing moves with an easy charm that’s hard to resist if you’re in the mood for earnest fantasy and musical enchantment. It may not summon quite the same lightning-in-a-bottle magic as the animated classic for everyone, but as a warm, splendid reimagining, it’s an inviting night at the movies.

Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid (2023) is clearly aiming to reintroduce a beloved fairy tale with bigger emotions, glossy spectacle, and a more grounded live-action feel. The problem is that it often plays like a careful, committee-approved retread—longer, slower, and less buoyant than you want a mermaid adventure to be, with underwater visuals that can feel murky and pacing that drifts. If you’re hoping for the original’s snap, charm, and musical “spark,” this may come off as bland and oddly forgettable, like a theme-park version of something you already love. That said, Halle Bailey brings sincerity and warmth, and if you’re watching with kids or you simply want a familiar comfort-watch without surprises, it can still do the job.