The Little Mermaid (1989)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $111,543,479 | Details |
| International Box Office | $110,724,134 | Details |
| Worldwide Box Office | $222,267,613 | |
| Domestic Physical Disc Sales | ||
| DVD Sales (estimated) | $200,269,097 | |
| Blu-ray Sales (estimated) | $94,423,183 | |
| Total | $294,692,280 | |
| OpusData ID: 3530100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $6,031,914 (5.4% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 11.37 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 50.2% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 994 opening theaters/2,057 max. theaters, 13.1 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $300,159,098 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 15th, 1989 (Wide) by Walt Disney November 14th, 1997 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| International Releases: | December 21st, 1991 (Wide) (South Korea)
June 19th, 1998 (Wide) (Australia) August 12th, 2017 (Wide) (New Zealand) March 14th, 2024 (Limited), released as The Little Mermaid (인어공주-마법물약의 비밀) (South Korea) August 29th, 2024 (Limited) (New Zealand) ... Show all releases |
| Video Release: | May 18th, 1990 by Walt Disney Home Entertainment |
| MPA Rating: | G |
| Running Time: | 82 minutes |
| Franchise: | The Little Mermaid |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Animal Lead, Posthumous Release |
| Plot point: | Faustian, Love at First Sight, Romance, Talking Animals, Underwater |
| Release detail: | 3D Re-release |
| Subgenre: | Family Musical |
| Target audience: | Family Movie |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Production Method: | Hand Animation |
| Creative Type: | Kids Fiction |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 3 | $6,031,914 | 994 | $6,068 | $6,065,716 | 1 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 3 | $8,384,862 | +39% | 999 | $8,393 | $16,832,844 | 2 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 5 | $4,030,274 | -52% | 999 | $4,034 | $22,109,571 | 3 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 7 | $2,764,119 | -31% | 999 | $2,767 | $25,748,251 | 4 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 4 | $2,522,362 | -9% | 1,249 | $2,020 | $28,941,871 | 5 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 6 | $3,319,664 | +32% | 1,513 | $2,194 | $34,089,416 | 6 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 3 | $9,235,512 | +178% | 1,521 | $6,072 | $49,401,857 | 7 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 5 | $4,585,047 | -50% | 1,521 | $3,014 | $56,126,383 | 8 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 6 | $3,851,208 | -16% | 1,521 | $2,532 | $60,855,174 | 9 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 8 | $2,823,840 | -27% | 1,533 | $1,842 | $65,247,711 | 10 |
| Jan 26, 1990 | 9 | $2,174,414 | -23% | 1,530 | $1,421 | $68,066,110 | 11 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 9 | $1,774,352 | 1,325 | $1,339 | $74,262,415 | 14 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | 11 | $1,048,730 | -41% | 1,157 | $906 | $75,689,932 | 15 |
| Mar 23, 1990 | 19 | $580,701 | 833 | $697 | $79,181,238 | 19 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 3 | $9,814,520 | 2,054 | $4,778 | $9,814,520 | 418 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | 5 | $5,687,421 | -42% | 2,057 | $2,765 | $17,950,386 | 419 |
| Nov 28, 1997 | 8 | $3,990,314 | -30% | 1,929 | $2,069 | $23,947,879 | 420 |
| Dec 19, 1997 | 23 | $183,077 | 945 | $194 | $108,486,819 | 423 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | 27 | $226,707 | +24% | 649 | $349 | $108,859,916 | 424 |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 26 | $286,474 | +26% | 631 | $454 | $25,048,763 | 425 |
| Jan 9, 1998 | 29 | $144,202 | -50% | 394 | $366 | $109,602,596 | 426 |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 37 | $112,609 | -22% | 258 | $436 | $25,390,494 | 427 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 47 | $53,934 | -52% | 181 | $298 | $109,816,938 | 428 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 58 | $32,566 | -40% | 107 | $304 | $109,859,444 | 429 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | %YD | %LW | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 1997 | 4 | $2,305,000 | 2,054 | $1,122 | $2,305,000 | 2,922 | ||
| Nov 15, 1997 | 3 | $4,215,000 | +83% | 2,054 | $2,052 | $6,520,000 | 2,923 | |
| Nov 16, 1997 | 2 | $3,268,000 | -22% | 2,054 | $1,591 | $9,814,520 | 2,924 | |
| Nov 17, 1997 | 3 | $589,891 | -82% | 2,054 | $287 | $10,404,411 | 2,925 | |
| Nov 18, 1997 | 3 | $656,926 | +11% | 2,054 | $320 | $11,061,337 | 2,926 | |
| Nov 19, 1997 | 2 | $591,552 | -10% | 2,054 | $288 | $11,652,889 | 2,927 | |
| Nov 20, 1997 | 2 | $610,076 | +3% | 2,054 | $297 | $12,262,965 | 2,928 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | 7 | $1,280,000 | +110% | -44% | 2,057 | $622 | $13,543,000 | 2,929 |
| Nov 22, 1997 | 5 | $2,560,000 | +100% | -39% | 2,057 | $1,245 | $16,103,000 | 2,930 |
| Nov 23, 1997 | 5 | $1,874,000 | -27% | -43% | 2,054 | $912 | $17,950,000 | 2,931 |
| Nov 24, 1997 | 6 | $402,974 | -78% | -32% | 2,054 | $196 | $18,353,360 | 2,932 |
| Nov 25, 1997 | 5 | $516,971 | +28% | -21% | 2,054 | $252 | $18,870,331 | 2,933 |
| Nov 28, 1997 | 8 | $1,340,000 | +5% | 1,929 | $695 | $21,280,000 | 2,936 | |
| Nov 29, 1997 | 8 | $1,415,000 | +6% | -45% | 1,929 | $734 | $22,695,000 | 2,937 |
| Nov 30, 1997 | 7 | $1,246,000 | -12% | -34% | 1,929 | $646 | $23,947,879 | 2,938 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 4 | $8,414,180 | 994 | $8,465 | $8,447,982 | 2 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 3 | $9,631,315 | +14% | 999 | $9,641 | $18,079,297 | 3 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 5 | $4,904,835 | -49% | 999 | $4,910 | $22,984,132 | 4 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 6 | $3,435,377 | -30% | 999 | $3,439 | $26,419,509 | 5 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 4 | $4,350,243 | +27% | 1,249 | $3,483 | $30,769,752 | 6 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 4 | $9,396,593 | +116% | 1,513 | $6,211 | $40,166,345 | 7 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 3 | $11,374,991 | +21% | 1,521 | $7,479 | $51,541,336 | 8 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 6 | $5,462,630 | -52% | 1,521 | $3,591 | $57,003,966 | 9 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 6 | $5,419,905 | -1% | 1,521 | $3,563 | $62,423,871 | 10 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 9 | $3,467,825 | -36% | 1,533 | $2,262 | $65,891,696 | 11 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 9 | $2,153,139 | 1,325 | $1,625 | $74,641,202 | 15 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 3 | $12,262,965 | 2,054 | $5,970 | $12,262,965 | 419 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | 6 | $7,694,600 | -37% | 2,057 | $3,741 | $19,957,565 | 420 |
| Dec 19, 1997 | 29 | $329,467 | 945 | $349 | $108,633,209 | 424 | |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 1 | $84,696,105 | 631 | $134,225 | $109,458,394 | 426 | |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 1 | $84,485,119 | 258 | $327,462 | $109,763,004 | 428 | |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 50 | $63,874 | -100% | 181 | $353 | $109,826,878 | 429 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 6/19/1998 | $0 | 0 | 132 | 214 | $13,488 | 4/6/2026 | |||
| New Zealand | 8/12/2017 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | $63 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| South Korea | 12/21/1991 | $0 | 0 | 1,364 | 2,673 | $77,676 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| Rest of World | $110,632,907 | |||||||||
| International Total | $110,724,134 | 4/6/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Jodi Benson | Ariel | |
| Christopher Daniel Barnes | Prince Eric |
Supporting
| Jason Marin | Flounder | |
| Kenneth Mars | Triton | |
| Pat Carroll | Ursula | |
| René Auberjonois | Louis | |
| Frank Welker | Additional Voices / Max | |
| Edie McClurg | Carlotta |
Cameo
| Mark Hamill | Additional voices |
Supporting
| Jim Cummings | Additional Voices | |
| Tim Curry | Additional Voices | |
| Nancy Cartwright | Additional Voices | |
| Jack Angel | Additional Voices | |
| Mickie McGowan | Additional Voice | |
| Paddi Edwards | Flotsam and Jetsam |
Production and Technical Credits
| Ron Clements | Director | |
| John Musker | Director | |
| John Musker | Screenwriter | |
| Ron Clements | Screenwriter | |
| Hans Christian Andersen | Story Creator | |
| Howard Ashman | Producer | |
| John Musker | Producer | |
| Mark Hester | Editor | |
| Alan Menken | Composer |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $6,031,914 (5.4% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 11.37 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 50.2% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 994 opening theaters/2,057 max. theaters, 13.1 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $300,159,098 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 15th, 1989 (Wide) by Walt Disney November 14th, 1997 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| International Releases: | December 21st, 1991 (Wide) (South Korea)
June 19th, 1998 (Wide) (Australia) August 12th, 2017 (Wide) (New Zealand) March 14th, 2024 (Limited), released as The Little Mermaid (인어공주-마법물약의 비밀) (South Korea) August 29th, 2024 (Limited) (New Zealand) ... Show all releases |
| Video Release: | May 18th, 1990 by Walt Disney Home Entertainment |
| MPA Rating: | G |
| Running Time: | 82 minutes |
| Franchise: | The Little Mermaid |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Animal Lead, Posthumous Release |
| Plot point: | Faustian, Love at First Sight, Romance, Talking Animals, Underwater |
| Release detail: | 3D Re-release |
| Subgenre: | Family Musical |
| Target audience: | Family Movie |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Production Method: | Hand Animation |
| Creative Type: | Kids Fiction |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 3 | $6,031,914 | 994 | $6,068 | $6,065,716 | 1 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 3 | $8,384,862 | +39% | 999 | $8,393 | $16,832,844 | 2 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 5 | $4,030,274 | -52% | 999 | $4,034 | $22,109,571 | 3 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 7 | $2,764,119 | -31% | 999 | $2,767 | $25,748,251 | 4 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 4 | $2,522,362 | -9% | 1,249 | $2,020 | $28,941,871 | 5 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 6 | $3,319,664 | +32% | 1,513 | $2,194 | $34,089,416 | 6 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 3 | $9,235,512 | +178% | 1,521 | $6,072 | $49,401,857 | 7 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 5 | $4,585,047 | -50% | 1,521 | $3,014 | $56,126,383 | 8 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 6 | $3,851,208 | -16% | 1,521 | $2,532 | $60,855,174 | 9 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 8 | $2,823,840 | -27% | 1,533 | $1,842 | $65,247,711 | 10 |
| Jan 26, 1990 | 9 | $2,174,414 | -23% | 1,530 | $1,421 | $68,066,110 | 11 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 9 | $1,774,352 | 1,325 | $1,339 | $74,262,415 | 14 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | 11 | $1,048,730 | -41% | 1,157 | $906 | $75,689,932 | 15 |
| Mar 23, 1990 | 19 | $580,701 | 833 | $697 | $79,181,238 | 19 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 3 | $9,814,520 | 2,054 | $4,778 | $9,814,520 | 418 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | 5 | $5,687,421 | -42% | 2,057 | $2,765 | $17,950,386 | 419 |
| Nov 28, 1997 | 8 | $3,990,314 | -30% | 1,929 | $2,069 | $23,947,879 | 420 |
| Dec 19, 1997 | 23 | $183,077 | 945 | $194 | $108,486,819 | 423 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | 27 | $226,707 | +24% | 649 | $349 | $108,859,916 | 424 |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 26 | $286,474 | +26% | 631 | $454 | $25,048,763 | 425 |
| Jan 9, 1998 | 29 | $144,202 | -50% | 394 | $366 | $109,602,596 | 426 |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 37 | $112,609 | -22% | 258 | $436 | $25,390,494 | 427 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 47 | $53,934 | -52% | 181 | $298 | $109,816,938 | 428 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 58 | $32,566 | -40% | 107 | $304 | $109,859,444 | 429 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | %YD | %LW | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 1997 | 4 | $2,305,000 | 2,054 | $1,122 | $2,305,000 | 2,922 | ||
| Nov 15, 1997 | 3 | $4,215,000 | +83% | 2,054 | $2,052 | $6,520,000 | 2,923 | |
| Nov 16, 1997 | 2 | $3,268,000 | -22% | 2,054 | $1,591 | $9,814,520 | 2,924 | |
| Nov 17, 1997 | 3 | $589,891 | -82% | 2,054 | $287 | $10,404,411 | 2,925 | |
| Nov 18, 1997 | 3 | $656,926 | +11% | 2,054 | $320 | $11,061,337 | 2,926 | |
| Nov 19, 1997 | 2 | $591,552 | -10% | 2,054 | $288 | $11,652,889 | 2,927 | |
| Nov 20, 1997 | 2 | $610,076 | +3% | 2,054 | $297 | $12,262,965 | 2,928 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | 7 | $1,280,000 | +110% | -44% | 2,057 | $622 | $13,543,000 | 2,929 |
| Nov 22, 1997 | 5 | $2,560,000 | +100% | -39% | 2,057 | $1,245 | $16,103,000 | 2,930 |
| Nov 23, 1997 | 5 | $1,874,000 | -27% | -43% | 2,054 | $912 | $17,950,000 | 2,931 |
| Nov 24, 1997 | 6 | $402,974 | -78% | -32% | 2,054 | $196 | $18,353,360 | 2,932 |
| Nov 25, 1997 | 5 | $516,971 | +28% | -21% | 2,054 | $252 | $18,870,331 | 2,933 |
| Nov 28, 1997 | 8 | $1,340,000 | +5% | 1,929 | $695 | $21,280,000 | 2,936 | |
| Nov 29, 1997 | 8 | $1,415,000 | +6% | -45% | 1,929 | $734 | $22,695,000 | 2,937 |
| Nov 30, 1997 | 7 | $1,246,000 | -12% | -34% | 1,929 | $646 | $23,947,879 | 2,938 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 4 | $8,414,180 | 994 | $8,465 | $8,447,982 | 2 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 3 | $9,631,315 | +14% | 999 | $9,641 | $18,079,297 | 3 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 5 | $4,904,835 | -49% | 999 | $4,910 | $22,984,132 | 4 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 6 | $3,435,377 | -30% | 999 | $3,439 | $26,419,509 | 5 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 4 | $4,350,243 | +27% | 1,249 | $3,483 | $30,769,752 | 6 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 4 | $9,396,593 | +116% | 1,513 | $6,211 | $40,166,345 | 7 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 3 | $11,374,991 | +21% | 1,521 | $7,479 | $51,541,336 | 8 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 6 | $5,462,630 | -52% | 1,521 | $3,591 | $57,003,966 | 9 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 6 | $5,419,905 | -1% | 1,521 | $3,563 | $62,423,871 | 10 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 9 | $3,467,825 | -36% | 1,533 | $2,262 | $65,891,696 | 11 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 9 | $2,153,139 | 1,325 | $1,625 | $74,641,202 | 15 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 3 | $12,262,965 | 2,054 | $5,970 | $12,262,965 | 419 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | 6 | $7,694,600 | -37% | 2,057 | $3,741 | $19,957,565 | 420 |
| Dec 19, 1997 | 29 | $329,467 | 945 | $349 | $108,633,209 | 424 | |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 1 | $84,696,105 | 631 | $134,225 | $109,458,394 | 426 | |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 1 | $84,485,119 | 258 | $327,462 | $109,763,004 | 428 | |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 50 | $63,874 | -100% | 181 | $353 | $109,826,878 | 429 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 6/19/1998 | $0 | 0 | 132 | 214 | $13,488 | 4/6/2026 | |||
| New Zealand | 8/12/2017 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | $63 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| South Korea | 12/21/1991 | $0 | 0 | 1,364 | 2,673 | $77,676 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| Rest of World | $110,632,907 | |||||||||
| International Total | $110,724,134 | 4/6/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Jodi Benson | Ariel | |
| Christopher Daniel Barnes | Prince Eric |
Supporting
| Jason Marin | Flounder | |
| Kenneth Mars | Triton | |
| Pat Carroll | Ursula | |
| René Auberjonois | Louis | |
| Frank Welker | Additional Voices / Max | |
| Edie McClurg | Carlotta |
Cameo
| Mark Hamill | Additional voices |
Supporting
| Jim Cummings | Additional Voices | |
| Tim Curry | Additional Voices | |
| Nancy Cartwright | Additional Voices | |
| Jack Angel | Additional Voices | |
| Mickie McGowan | Additional Voice | |
| Paddi Edwards | Flotsam and Jetsam |
Production and Technical Credits
| Ron Clements | Director | |
| John Musker | Director | |
| John Musker | Screenwriter | |
| Ron Clements | Screenwriter | |
| Hans Christian Andersen | Story Creator | |
| Howard Ashman | Producer | |
| John Musker | Producer | |
| Mark Hester | Editor | |
| Alan Menken | Composer |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.