The little Mermaid grossed $10.3 million in previews at the North American box office as the long Memorial Day weekend began.
That’s one of the best showings ever for holiday weekend showings. Disney’s live action Aladdin holds the record with $10.8 million in previews. Little Mermaid‘s tally includes $850,000 in gross from Wednesday special screenings; the rest is from traditional Thursday night screenings.
General, Little Mermaid ranks #7 on the list of top previews for photos rated G or PG.
Rob Marshall directs the live-action remake of Disney’s beloved animated film. The new Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, the feisty young mermaid who makes a dangerous deal with the evil sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to experience life on land and meet dashing Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). However, the pact poses a great risk to her father’s water-rich kingdom.
The cast also includes Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni and Art Malik.
Bailey’s performance as Ariel was praised by critics amid a racist backlash from social media commentators protesting the casting of a black actress in the title role. Disney insiders don’t expect these protests to hurt the movie in North America, but are waiting to see how the movie plays in certain overseas markets.
The little Mermaid trying to make a whopping $120 million for the four-day vacation. That would be the fifth-largest domestic takeoff for Memorial Day weekend, a ranking currently held by Disney’s live-action Aladdinwhich opened to $116.8 million during the four-day holiday.
The film’s four-day trek is expected to include a three-day gross of $100 million. The presale is ahead Aladdinbut behind other live-action remakes Beauty and the Beast And The lionking.
Overseas, the film follows an $80 million opening through Sunday.
Interest is fueled by girls, mothers and other women, similar to Beauty and the Beastwhose audience was 70 percent female.
The film features a score by multiple Oscar winner Alan Menken, as well as new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Legendary action comedy The machine and Robert De Niro comedy About my father also opened nationwide, but are not expected to clear more than $5 million or $6 million on their domestic debut.
The machine, from Screen Gems, stars Bert Kreischer and is inspired by the comedian’s stand-up act of the same name. Mark Hamill plays along.
