When does The Little Mermaid (2023) come to Disney+?

The live-action version of The Little Mermaid has already become a good box-office success for Disney. So when does this new version swim its way onto Disney+?

The Little Mermaid is one of the most important movies in Disney history. In 1989, Disney animated films were considered forgettable, but The Little Mermaid changed that. It was one of the highest-grossing films of its time, its music became classic, and it kick-started a new “Golden Age” for Disney animation. 

Given Disney’s recent push for live-action versions of their past animated hits, it was only a matter of time before The Little Mermaid joined them. Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago), the film has gotten attention for the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel. 

So far, the film is doing well at the box office, opening on Memorial Day weekend with $117 million and globally on its way to gaining $250 million. There is concern over it not doing as well in China and complaints it’s being “review-bombed” on IMDB, yet it appears the film may be able to gain close to a billion dollars in the box office by the time it’s done. 

This leads to the question of how soon the movie can join its animated counterpart on Disney+.

When does The Little Mermaid come to Disney+?

Fans of Disney movies know there can be a fast turnaround before they’re available on Disney+. It all depends on how well the film does at the box office, as some can premiere on Disney+ just a couple of months after theatrical release while others take longer. 

The rule is that Disney releases need at least 45 days for a theatrical window before they appear on streaming services. But for something as big a hit as The Little Mermaid, it can be longer. Disney may decide to keep the film in theaters longer to boost its box office take before finally having its premiere on streaming.

Thus, it’s possible that the film may come to Disney+ sometime in late July or August. However, it’s more likely it will be in the fall and no doubt with one of the service’s “making of” specials to go along with it. 

Given the film has only been in theaters a short time, it’s logical it won’t be showing up on Disney+ until late summer at the earliest. But it should be great when it does, allowing fans to see both the animated and live-action versions of this classic tale together. 

The Little Mermaid is now playing in theaters.