So, you’re looking to find the little mermaid movie online and honestly, it’s a bit of a journey depending on whether you want to own it forever or just rent it for a movie night. We’ve all been there. You remember the 1989 cartoon, the catchy songs, and that specific shade of red hair. But the 2023 live-action version with Halle Bailey? That’s a whole different beast. It’s longer, it’s got new songs, and yeah, it’s finally settled into its permanent streaming home.
If you're trying to figure out where to click, the short answer is Disney+. Since it’s a Disney property, they aren't exactly sharing the wealth with Netflix or Max.
Where to find the little mermaid movie online without the headache
Back when it first dropped in theaters on May 26, 2023, you couldn't find it anywhere else. Then came the "digital window." Nowadays, basically any major digital retailer will sell it to you. If you go to Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Vudu, you can buy a digital 4K copy for about $19.99. Sometimes they run sales, but that’s the standard "I want to own this" price.
Is it on Netflix? No.
Will it be on Netflix? Probably not in our lifetime.
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Disney keeps their crown jewels behind the Disney+ paywall. If you already pay for that subscription, you’re good to go. It landed there on September 6, 2023. You just search for it, hit play, and hope your internet doesn't lag during "Under the Sea."
Streaming costs and those annoying bundles
Sometimes it feels like you need a degree in finance just to watch a movie. Here is the breakdown of what you'll actually pay to stream it on Disney+:
- Basic Plan: $7.99/month, but you have to sit through ads.
- Premium Plan: $13.99/month (this went up recently) for no ads and downloads.
- The Duo/Trio Bundles: If you already have Hulu or ESPN+, you can usually snag a deal for around $9.99 to $14.99 depending on the tier.
What’s actually different in this version?
It’s two hours and 15 minutes long. Seriously. The original was a tight 83 minutes. This one adds nearly an hour of content. Why? Well, they fleshed out Prince Eric’s backstory quite a bit. Jonah Hauer-King actually gets things to do other than look handsome on a boat. He even gets his own song, "Wild Uncharted Waters," which wasn't in the original.
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Halle Bailey is the heart of the whole thing. Director Rob Marshall mentioned in several interviews that he was in tears during her audition for "Part of Your World." It’s easy to see why. Her voice is incredible. But the production was a massive undertaking. Did you know they spent something like $150,000 just on her hair extensions? They wanted to keep her natural locs but needed that specific "Ariel" look, so Camille Friend (the hair department head) had to wrap 30-inch extensions around Halle's own hair. It took ages.
The cast you’ll see on screen
- Ariel: Halle Bailey
- Ursula: Melissa McCarthy (who basically channels a drag queen for the role)
- King Triton: Javier Bardem
- Prince Eric: Jonah Hauer-King
- Sebastian: Voice of Daveed Diggs
- Scuttle: Voice of Awkwafina (she's a Northern Gannet now, not a seagull)
Why people are still talking about the box office
The movie was expensive. Like, $240 million to $250 million expensive, not even counting the marketing budget. It ended up making about **$569.6 million worldwide**. In the world of Hollywood math, that’s considered a "soft" success. It did really well in the U.S. (nearly $300 million), but it struggled a bit more internationally compared to remakes like Aladdin or The Lion King, which both cleared a billion.
There was also a lot of noise online. You probably saw the discourse. But if you ignore the social media fights and just watch the movie, it's a solid remake. The CGI underwater effects are a bit hit-or-miss—sometimes it looks beautiful, other times it feels like they're floating in a dark room—but the performances carry it.
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Your next steps for watching
If you are ready to dive in, here is the quickest way to get started:
- Check your subscriptions: If you have Disney+, just open the app. It's included in the library.
- Verify your internet: Since the movie uses heavy CGI and HDR (High Dynamic Range), it looks significantly better if you stream it in 4K. Make sure your device supports it.
- Look for the Bonus Features: If you buy the movie on Apple TV or Vudu, or watch it on Disney+, look for the "Impossible Child" song. It’s a deleted scene featuring Javier Bardem that didn't make the final theatrical cut.
- Compare versions: If you’re a purist, the 1989 original is also on Disney+. It’s fun to watch them back-to-back just to see how the lyrics in "Kiss the Girl" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls" were tweaked for 2023.
Once you've picked your platform, you're set. No more hunting for sketchy links or wondering when it'll leave the theater. It's officially part of the digital permanent collection.