The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
2/5
Moderate
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This live action version of The Little Mermaid is still a family musical fantasy, with a warm sense of adventure, romance, and wonder, but it also includes a few darker moments than very young children may expect. The main sensitive elements involve peril at sea, a visibly threatening villain, unsettling magical transformations, and a strong parent child conflict involving anger, destruction, and coercion. The overall intensity is moderate and stylized rather than graphic, with no explicit sexual content and little to no harsh language, yet several suspenseful scenes may feel intense for sensitive viewers, especially during the storm, the magical bargain, and the final confrontation. Themes of grief and loss also sit in the background, including references to Ariel's mother's death and the fear of losing her voice, autonomy, or place in her world. Most children who enjoy fantasy adventures can follow it comfortably from about age 7, though parental support is helpful for those who are easily frightened by sinister villains, emotional confrontations, or scenes where the heroine is placed in serious danger.
Synopsis
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
Difficult scenes
The early shipwreck sequence may be intense for younger viewers. The storm is loud and chaotic, sailors are in danger, the vessel breaks apart, and the prince must be rescued while unconscious, creating real suspense even though the scene stays within family adventure territory. Ariel's meeting with Ursula is one of the film's most sensitive moments. The villain has a strongly menacing presence, with manipulative dialogue, eerie sea creatures surrounding her, and a magical bargain centered on Ariel losing her voice, which can be upsetting for children who are deeply invested in the heroine. The conflict between Ariel and Triton carries more emotional force than many films aimed at very young children. Her father reacts with anger, gives harsh orders, and destroys Ariel's treasured collection, a scene that may affect children who are sensitive to family arguments, parental rage, or emotional humiliation. In the final stretch, several scenes build urgency, pursuit, and physical danger in quick succession. Without becoming graphic, the film presents a large scale magical showdown, credible peril for the main characters, and a villain who becomes more frightening, which can feel intense for children who struggle with darker climactic scenes.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2023
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Countries
- United States of America
- Original language
- EN
- Directed by
- Rob Marshall
- Main cast
- Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Jessica Alexander
- Studios
- Walt Disney Pictures, Lucamar Productions, Marc Platt Productions
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
2/5
Moderate
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This live action version of The Little Mermaid is still a family musical fantasy, with a warm sense of adventure, romance, and wonder, but it also includes a few darker moments than very young children may expect. The main sensitive elements involve peril at sea, a visibly threatening villain, unsettling magical transformations, and a strong parent child conflict involving anger, destruction, and coercion. The overall intensity is moderate and stylized rather than graphic, with no explicit sexual content and little to no harsh language, yet several suspenseful scenes may feel intense for sensitive viewers, especially during the storm, the magical bargain, and the final confrontation. Themes of grief and loss also sit in the background, including references to Ariel's mother's death and the fear of losing her voice, autonomy, or place in her world. Most children who enjoy fantasy adventures can follow it comfortably from about age 7, though parental support is helpful for those who are easily frightened by sinister villains, emotional confrontations, or scenes where the heroine is placed in serious danger.
Synopsis
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
Difficult scenes
The early shipwreck sequence may be intense for younger viewers. The storm is loud and chaotic, sailors are in danger, the vessel breaks apart, and the prince must be rescued while unconscious, creating real suspense even though the scene stays within family adventure territory. Ariel's meeting with Ursula is one of the film's most sensitive moments. The villain has a strongly menacing presence, with manipulative dialogue, eerie sea creatures surrounding her, and a magical bargain centered on Ariel losing her voice, which can be upsetting for children who are deeply invested in the heroine. The conflict between Ariel and Triton carries more emotional force than many films aimed at very young children. Her father reacts with anger, gives harsh orders, and destroys Ariel's treasured collection, a scene that may affect children who are sensitive to family arguments, parental rage, or emotional humiliation. In the final stretch, several scenes build urgency, pursuit, and physical danger in quick succession. Without becoming graphic, the film presents a large scale magical showdown, credible peril for the main characters, and a villain who becomes more frightening, which can feel intense for children who struggle with darker climactic scenes.