Disney+ original film The Little Mermaid was released November 17th, 1989.
#TheLittleMermaid made $211.3M internationally.
rottentomatoes: 91%
metacritic: 88
imdb: 7.6
oscars: 2 wins
Ariel
Princess of the sea Ariel falls for a human prince Eric.
“Flounder, hurry up. There it is. Isn’t it fantastic? Oh! You’re not getting cold fins now, are you? All right. I’m going inside. You can just stay here and watch for sharks. Oh, Flounder. Flounder, don’t be such a guppy. Oh, are you okay? Shh! Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh! Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in your entire life? I don’t know, but I bet Scuttle will. I wonder what this one is. Flunder, will you relax? Nothing is going to happen. Flounder, you really are a guppy.” — Ariel
“Scuttle! Scuttle, look what we found. What? What is it? A dinglehopper. Oh! Music! Oh, the concert! Oh, my gosh! My father’s gonna kill me! I’m sorry! I gotta go! Thank you, Scuttle!” — Ariel
“Daddy, I’m sorry. I just forgot. Nothing happened. Daddy, they’re not barbarians. I’m 16 years old. I’m not a child anymore. But if you would just listen… if only I could make him understand. I just don’t see things the way he does. I don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad.” — Ariel
“♪ Look at this stuff Isn’t it neat? ♪ Wouldn’t ya think my collection’s complete? ♪ Wouldn’t ya think I’m the girl ♪ The girl who has everything? ♪ Look at this trove Treasures untold ♪ How many wonders can one cavern hold? ♪ Lookin’ around here you’d think ♪ Sure, she’s got everything ♪ I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty ♪ I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore ♪ You want thingamabobs I got 20 ♪ But who cares No big deal ♪ I want more ♪ I wanna be where the people are ♪ I wanna see Wanna see ’em dancin’ ♪ Walkin’ around on those… ♪ What do ya call ’em? ♪ Oh, feet. Flippin’ your fins you don’t get too far ♪ Legs are required for jumpin’, dancin’ ♪ Strollin’ along down a… what’s that word again? Street ♪ Up where they walk Up where they run ♪ Up where they stay all day in the sun ♪ Wanderin’ free Wish I could be ♪ Part of that world ♪ What would I give if I could live ♪ Out of these waters? ♪ What would I pay to spend a day ♪ Warm on the sand? ♪ Betcha on land they understand ♪ Bet they don’t reprimand their daughters ♪ Bright young women sick of swimmin’ ♪ Ready to stand ♪ And ready to know what the people know ♪ Ask ’em my questions and get some answers ♪ What’s a fire and why does it… what’s the word? Burn? ♪ When’s it my turn? Wouldn’t I love Love to explore that shore up above? ♪ Out of the sea ♪ Wish I could be ♪ Part of that World ♪” — Ariel
“Sebastian! It’s, uh… it’s just my collection. Oh, please, Sebastian, he would never understand. What do you suppose… Scuttle, be quiet. They’ll hear you. I’ve never seen a human this close before. Oh. He’s very handsome, isn’t he? Not that one. The one playing the snarfblatt. Is he dead? No, look! He’s breathing. He’s so beautiful.” — Ariel
“♪ What would I give to live where you are? ♪ What would I pay to stay here beside you? ♪ What would I do to see you smiling at me? ♪ Where would we walk Where would we run ♪ If we could stay all day in the sun? ♪ Just you and me and I could be ♪ Part of your world ♪ ” — Ariel
“I don’t know when ♪ I don’t know how ♪ But I know something’s starting right now ♪ Watch and you’ll see ♪ Someday I’ll be ♪ Part of your World ♪” — Ariel
“Oh. Morning, Daddy. He loves me. Mmm. He loves me not. He loves me! I knew it! I gotta see him again, tonight. Scuttle knows where he lives. I’ll swim up to his castle, then Flounder will splash around to get his attention. And then we’ll go…” — Ariel
“Flounder, why can’t you just tell me what this is all about? Oh, Flounder. Flounder, you’re the best! It looks just like him. It even has his eyes. Why, Eric, run away with you? Oh, this is all so, so sudden. Daddy? But, Dad, I… Daddy, I had to… he would have died. You don’t even know him. Daddy, I love him! I don’t care. Daddy! No! No! Please! Daddy, stop! Daddy, stop it! Daddy, no! Just go away. Who… who are you? I don’t understand. The sea witch? Why, that’s… I couldn’t possibly. No! Get out of here! Leave me alone! Wait.” — Ariel
“I’m going to see Ursula. Why don’t you go tell my father? You’re good at that. Can you do that? If I become human, I’ll never be with my father or sisters again. But I don’t have any… my voice? But without my voice, how can I…” — Ariel
Ursula
“Yes, hurry home, princess. We wouldn’t want to miss old Daddy’s celebration, now, would we? Ha! Celebration, indeed. Oh, bah! In my day, we had fantastical feasts, when I lived in the palace. And now look at me. Wasted away to practically nothing. Banished and exiled and practically starving, while he and his flimsy fish folk celebrate. Well, I’ll give them something to celebrate soon enough. Floatsam! Jetsam! I want you to keep an extra close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key to Triton’s undoing.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I can’t stand it. It’s too easy. The child is in love with a human. And not just any human. A prince! Her daddy will love that. King Triton’s headstrong, lovesick girl would make a charming addition to my little garden.”
“Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn’t lurk in doorways. It’s rude. One might question your upbringing. Now, then, you’re here because you have a thing for this human, this prince fellow. Not that I blame you. He is quite a catch, isn’t he? Well, angelfish, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself. My dear, sweet child. That’s what I do. It’s what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk, like yourself, poor souls with no one else to turn to.”
“♪ I admit that in the past I’ve been a nasty ♪ They weren’t kidding when they called me, well, a witch ♪ But you’ll find that nowadays I’ve mended all my ways ♪ Repented, seen the light and made a switch ♪ True? Yes. And I fortunately know a little magic ♪ It’s a talent that I always have possessed ♪ And here lately, please don’t laugh, I use it on behalf ♪ Of the miserable, lonely and depressed ♪ Pathetic.”
“♪ Poor unfortunate souls ♪ In pain, in need ♪ This one longing to be thinner That one wants to get the girl ♪ And do I help them? Yes, indeed ♪ Those poor, unfortunate souls ♪ So sad, so true ♪ They come flocking to my cauldron Crying spells, Ursula, please ♪ And I help them Yes, I do ♪ Now, it’s happened once or twice ♪ Someone couldn’t pay the price ♪ And I’m afraid I had to rake ’em across the coals ♪ Yes, I’ve had the odd complaint ♪ But on the whole I’ve been a saint ♪ To those poor unfortunate souls ♪”
“Now, here’s the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Got that? Three days. No, listen, this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you’ve got to get dear old princie to fall in love with you. That is, he’s got to kiss you. Not just any kiss, the kiss of true love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you’ll remain human permanently. But if he doesn’t, you’ll turn back into a mermaid, and you belong to me! Have we got a deal? That’s right! But you’ll have your man. Life’s full of tough choices, isn’t it? Oh! And there is one more thing. We haven’t discussed the subject of payment. You can’t get something for nothing, you know.”
“I’m not asking much. Just a token really, a trifle. You’ll never even miss it. What I want from you is your voice. You’ve got it, sweetcakes. No more talking, singing. Zip! You’ll have your looks, your pretty face. And don’t underestimate the importance of body language. Ha! The men up there don’t like a lot of blabber ♪ They think a girl who gossips is a bore ♪ Yes, on land it’s much preferred for ladies not to say a word ♪ And, after all, dear What is idle prattle for? ♪ Come on, they’re not all that impressed with conversation ♪ True gentlemen avoid it when they can ♪ But they dote and swoon and fawn On a lady who’s withdrawn ♪ It’s she who holds her tongue who get her man ♪ Come on, you poor unfortunate soul ♪ Go ahead, make your choice ♪ I’m a very busy woman and I haven’t got all day ♪ It won’t cost much, just your voice ♪ Ya poor, unfortunate soul ♪ It’s sad, but true ♪ If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet you’ve got to pay the toll ♪ Take a gulp and take a breath and go ahead and sign the scroll ♪ Floatsam, Jetsam now I’ve got her, boys ♪ The boss is on a roll ♪ This poor, unfortunate soul ♪”
“♪ Beluga, sevruga ♪ Come, winds of the Caspian Sea ♪ Laryncis, glossitis Et max laryngitis ♪ La voce to me ♪ Now, sing! Keep singing!”
Flounder
“Ariel, wait for me. You know I can’t swim that fast. Yeah, sure. It’s great. Now let’s get out of here. Who, me? No way. It’s just… it… it looks damp in there. Yeah. And I think I may be coming down with something. Yeah, I got this cough. Okay. Yeah, you go. I’ll stay and… what? Sharks? Ariel? Ariel, I can’t… I mean… Ariel, help! Ariel. Do you really think there might be sharks around here? I’m not a guppy. This is great. I mean, I really love this. Excitement, adventure, danger lurking around every corner… Ariel! Yeah, sure. No problem. I’m okay. Wow! Cool! But, uh, what is it? What was that? Did you hear something? Ariel? Shark! Shark! We’re gonna die! Oh, no! You big bully! I am not. Yeah. We were in this sunken shup, and it was really creepy… what about that one? Oh! The concert was today? But it wasn’t her fault. Uh, oh, first, uh, the shark chased us. Yeah, yeah. And we tried to… but we couldn’t, and he… and… and we… whoa! And then we were safe. But then this seagull came, and it was, ‘this is this, and that is that, and…’ Ariel, are you okay?”
“You’re not gonna tell him, are you? You’ll see. It’s a surprise. Poor Ariel. Ariel’s been turned into a human. She’s gotta make the prince fall in love with her, and he’s gotta kiss her.”
King Triton
“I’m really looking forward to this performance, Sebastian. And especially my little Ariel. Ariel!”
“I just don’t know what we’re going to do with you, young lady. As a result of your careless behavior… …the entire celebration was, uh… Seagull? What? Oh! You went up to the surface again, didn’t you? Didn’t you? Ariel, how many times must we go through this? You could have been seen by one of those barbarians, by one of those humans! They are dangerous. Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter snared by some fish-eater’s hook? Don’t you take that tone of voice with me, young lady! As long as you live under my ocean, you’ll obey my rules! Not another word! And I am never, never to hear of you going to the surface again! Is that clear? Do you think I was too hard on her? You’re absolutely right, Sebastian. Ariel needs constant supervision. Someone to watch over her, to keep her out of trouble. And you are just the crab to do it.”
“Well! What? What has she got? Ariel? In love?”
“Hey, let’s see now. Oh, who could the lucky merman be? Come in, Sebastian. Sebastian. I’m concerned about Ariel. Have you noticed she’s been acting peculiar lately? You know, mooning about. Daydreaming, singing to herself. You haven’t noticed, hmm? Sebastian? I know you’ve been keeping something from me. About Ariel? In love, hmm? Humans? What about humans?”
“I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed. Is it true you rescued a human from drowning? Contact between the human world and the mer-world is strictly forbidden. Ariel, you know that! Everyone knows that. One less human to worry about. Know him? I don’t have to know him! They’re all the same. Spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters incapable of any feeling… no! Have you lost your senses completely? He’s a human. You’re a mermaid. So help me, Ariel, I am going to get through to you. And if this is the only way, so be it!”
Sebastian
“Whoa! Your Majesty! This will be the finest concert I have ever conducted. Your daughters, they will be spectacular! Yes. Yes, yes. She has the most beautiful voice. Hmm? If only she’d show up for rehearsals once in a while.”
“Careless and reckless behavior! Well, it was ruined! That’s all! Completely destroyed! This concert was to be the pinnacle of my distinguished career. Now, thanks to you, I am the laughingstock of the entire kingdom! Hmph! Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you. Definitely not. Why, if Ariel was my daughter, I’d show her who was boss. None of this flitting to the surface and such other nonsense. No, sir. I’d keep her under tight control. Of course. Constant. All the time. How do I get myself into these situations? I should be writing symphonies, not tagging along after some headstrong teenager. Hmm? What is that girl up to? Huh?”
“Ariel, what are you… how could you… what is all this? Oh, I see. Your collection, hmm. If your father knew about this place… Ariel, you’re under a lot of pressure down here. Come with me, I’ll take you home… …and get you something warm to drink. Ariel? Ariel? Ariel, what are you… jumpin’ jellyfish! Ariel? Ariel! Please! Come back!”
“We just gonna forget this whole thing ever happened. The sea king will never know. You won’t tell him. I won’t tell him. I will stay in one piece. Okay. So far, so good. I don’t think the king knows. But it will not be easy keeping something like this a secret for long. Ariel, stop talking crazy! Ariel, please! Will you get your head out of the clouds and back in the water where it belongs? Down here is your home! Ariel, listen to me. The human world, it’s a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there.”
“♪ The seaweed is always greener In somebody else’s lake ♪ You dream bout going up there But that is a big mistake ♪ Just look at the world around you Right here on the ocean floor ♪ Such wonderful things surround you What more is you lookin’ for? ♪ Under the sea Under the sea ♪ Darling, it’s better down where it’s wetter Take it from me ♪ Up on the shore they work all day Out in the sun they slave away ♪ While we devoting full time to floating under the sea Down here all the fish is happy ♪ As off through the waves they roll, yeah The fish on the land ain’t happy ♪ They sad ’cause they in their bowl But fish in the bowl is lucky ♪ They in for a worser fate ♪ One day when the boss get hungry Guess who’s gonna be on the plate ♪ Oh, no! Under the sea Under the sea ♪ Nobody beat us Fry us and eat us ♪ In fricassee We what the land folks love to cook ♪ Under the sea we off the hook ♪ We got no troubles Life is the bubbles ♪ Under the sea Under the sea ♪ Since life is sweet here We got the beat here Naturally ♪ Even the sturgeon and the ray ♪ They get the urge and start to play ♪ We got the spirit You got to hear it ♪ Under the sea ♪ The newt play the flute The carp play the harp ♪ The plaice play the bass and they soundin’ sharp ♪ The bass play the brass The chub play the tub ♪ The fluke is the duke of soul ♪ The ray, he can play The ling’s on the strings ♪ The trout’s rocking out The blackfish, she sings ♪ The smelt and the sprat They know where it’s at ♪ And, oh, that blowfish blow ♪ Yeah, under the sea Under the sea ♪ Under the sea Under the sea ♪ When the sardine begin the beguine ♪ It’s music to me Music it is to me ♪ What do they got? A lot of sand ♪ We got a hot crustacean band ♪ Each little clam here know how to jam here under the sea ♪ Each little slug here cutting a rug here under the sea ♪ Each little snail here know how to wail here ♪ That’s why it’s hotter under the water ♪ Yeah, we in luck here down in the muck here ♪ Under the sea ♪”
“Ariel? Oh, somebody’s got to nail that girl’s fins to the floor. The sea king? He knows. I mustn’t overreact. I must remain calm. Yes? Yes, Your Majesty? Oh! Uh, peculiar? Oh, well, I… hmm? Keeping something? Ariel? I tried to stop her, sir! She wouldn’t listen! I told her to stay away from humans! They are bad! They are trouble! Humans? Who said anything about humans? Ariel, I…”
“I didn’t mean to tell. It was an accident. Ariel. Where are you going? Ariel, what are you doing here with this riffraff? Ariel, no! No! She’s a demon. She traded her voice to the sea witch and got legs. Geez, man! And she’s only got three days! Just look at her! On legs! On human legs! My nerves are shot! This is a catastrophe! What would her father say? I’ll tell you what her father’d say. He’d say he’s gonna kill himself a crab! That’s what her father’d say! I’m gonna march myself straight home right now and tell him just like I should have done the minute… and don’t you shake your head at me, young lady. Maybe there’s still time. If we could get that witch to give you back your voice, you could go home with all the normal fish and just be… just be… just be miserable for the rest of your life. All right, all right. I’ll try to help ya find that prince. Boy, what a soft shell I’m turning out to be.”
Scuttle
“Fourteen hundred and ninety-two Dah-de-dum Dee-do-do. Whoa! Mermaid off the port bow! Ariel, how you doin’, kid? Whoa, what a swim. Human stuff, huh? Hey, let me see. Oh! Oh! Look at this. Wow. This is special. This is very, very unusual. It’s a dinglehopper. Humans use these little babies to straighten their hair out. See? Just a little twirl here and a tank there a violee… ya got an aesthetically-pleasing configuration of hair that humans go nuts over. Ah! This, I haven’t seen in years. This is wonderful! A banded, bulbous snarfblatt. Now, the snarfblatt dates back to prehistorical times when humans used to sit around and stare at each other all day. Got very boring. So, they invented this snarfblatt to make fine music. Allow me. It’s stuck! Maybe you could make a little planter out of it or something. Any time, sweetie! Any time.”
“Hey, there, sweetie! Quite a show, eh? Ooh, I got ya. I got ya. We’re bein’ intrepidaceous. We’re out to discover! I don’t know. He looks kind of hairy and slobbery to me. Whoa! The wind’s all of a sudden on the move here! Yo! Ariel! It’s hard to say. Oh, I… I can’t make out a heartbeat.”
“Well, look at what the catfish dragged in. Look at ya. Look at ya. There’s somethin’ different. Don’t tell me. I got it. It’s your hairdo, right? You’ve been usin’ the dinglehopper, right? No? No, huh? Well, let me see. New seashells? No new seashells. I gotta admit I can’t put my foot on it right now. But if I just stand here long enough… I knew that. Now, Ariel, I’m telling ya. If you wanna be a human, the first thing ya gotta do is dress like one.”
Prince Eric
“Isn’t this great? The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face. A perfect day to be at sea. King Triton?”
“Max! Here, boy! Hey, come on, mutt. What ya doin’, huh, Max? Come on, Max. Good boy. Good boy. Ah, Grimsby, ya old beanpole, you shouldn’t have. Uh, gee, Grim… ha! It’s, uh… it’s really somethin’. Come on, Grim. Don’t start. Look, you’re not still sore because I didn’t fall for the Princess of Glowerhaven, are you? Oh, she’s out there somewhere. I just… I just haven’t found her yet. Believe me, Grim, when I find her, I’ll know. Without a doubt, it’ll just, bam, hit me, like lightning. Look out! Grim! Hang on! Max! Jump, Max! Come on, boy! Jump! You can do it, Max!”
“A girl rescued me. She… she was singing. She had the most beautiful voice.”
“That voice. I can’t get it out of my head. I’ve looked everywhere, Max. Where could she be?”
Grimsby
“Oh, yes. Delightful. Merpeople. Eric, pay no attention to this nautical nonsense. Aah!”
“Silence. It is now my honor and privilege to present our esteemed Prince Eric with a very special, very expensive, very large birthday present. I know. Happy birthday, Eric. Yes, I commissioned it myself. Of course, I had hoped it would be a wedding present. Oh, my! Eric, it isn’t me alone. The entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled down with the right girl. Perhaps you haven’t been looking hard enough. Eric!”
“Eric? Eric! You really delight in these sadistic strains on my blood pressure, don’t you? Ah, Eric, I think you’ve swallowed a bit too much seawater. Off we go. Come along, Max.”
Floatsam and Jetsam
“Poor child. Poor, sweet child. She has a very serious problem. If only there were something we could do. But there is something. Don’t be scared. We represent someone who can help you. Someone who can make all your dreams come true. Just imagine… you and your prince… together forever. Ursula has great powers. Suit yourself. That was only a suggestion. Yes? This way.”
Merfolk
“His Royal Highness, King Triton! And presenting the distinguished court composer, Horatio Felonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian!”
“♪ We are the daughters of Triton ♪ Great father who loves us all and named us well ♪ Aguata ♪ Andrina ♪ Arista, Attina ♪ Adella, Alana ♪ And then there is the youngest in her musical debut ♪ Our seventh little sister we’re presenting her to you ♪ To sing a song Sebastian wrote Her voice is like a bell ♪ She’s our sister Ari…”
“Ariel, dear, time to come out. You’ve been in there all morning. What is with her lately? Oh, she’s got it bad. Isn’t it obvious, Daddy? Ariel’s in love.”
“Sebastian! Sebastian, I’ve been looking all over for you. I’ve got an urgent message from the sea king. He wants to see you right away. Something about Ariel.”
Sailors
“♪ I’ll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue ♪ And it’s hey to the starboard, heave-ho ♪ Look out, lad A mermaid will be waiting for you ♪ In mysterious fathoms below ♪. A fine strong wind and a following sea. King Triton must be in a friendly type mood. Why, ruler of the merpeople, lad. Thought every good sailor knew about him. But it ain’t nonsense. It’s the truth. I’m tellin’ ya! Down in the depths of the ocean they live! Oh!”
“Hurricane a-comin’! Stand fast! Secure the riggin’!”
