6.5
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 6.5
Overview
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.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Neutral
Trans: Positive
Gender Swap: Yes
Race Swap: Yes
Overview
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.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
The film strongly aligns with progressive and liberal values by centering themes of diversity, female empowerment, and challenging traditional patriarchal structures, which are explicitly recognized as politically charged and have generated polarized reactions.
The Little Mermaid (2023) is recognized for its explicit recasting of a traditionally white lead character with a Black actress, marking a significant moment for representation. While the film aims for a multicultural world, its narrative does not explicitly critique traditional identities, though some observations note it glosses over historical contexts.
Secondary
The 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid features a minimal and implicit LGBTQ+ presence, with no prominent characters or storylines. While the political discourse around the film touches on themes of bodily autonomy and queering, these elements are not central to the movie's plot or character arcs, resulting in a neutral overall portrayal.
The 2023 film *The Little Mermaid* allegorically portrays trans experiences through Ariel's transformation from mermaid to human, interpreted as a metaphor for gender transition and self-discovery. King Triton's acceptance of Ariel's change symbolizes parental support for a child's authentic identity. Ursula's role as an enabler further emphasizes themes of agency and challenging restrictive norms, resulting in a primarily positive, affirming impact for trans and queer audiences.
The character Scuttle, who was canonically male in the 1989 animated film, is portrayed as female in the 2023 live-action adaptation, fulfilling the criteria for a gender swap.
Ariel, the protagonist of the original animated film, was depicted as a white character. In the 2023 live-action adaptation, the character is portrayed by a Black actress, which constitutes a race swap.
The film does not depict any female character engaging in or winning direct physical combat against one or more male opponents using skill, strength, or martial arts. The primary conflict involves magical powers and environmental challenges, rather than close-quarters physical altercations.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.2
6.3
Critic Ratings
6.7
5.9
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