The Little Mermaid is doing its first weekend in theaters wonderfully.
Disney’s live-action flick of the animated classic, which spent an estimated $150,000 on star Halle Bailey’s red hair, quickly recouped those costs and more with a strong box office run.
Moviegoers have made the highly anticipated musical a part of their world, paying some $38 million for tickets on the film’s opening day on Friday.
According Deadlinethe movie was on course to become the third highest ever for Memorial Day weekend.
Analysts estimate the film will make some $104 million for the Friday-Sunday issues and will earn between $120 million and $130 million for the four-day hiatus.
Swimming: The Little Mermaid swims its first weekend in theaters. Moviegoers have made the highly anticipated musical a part of their world, paying some $38 million for tickets on the film’s opening day on Friday
Halle Bailey, 23, stars as Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, played by 54-year-old Javier Bardem, who rules the seas.
She has an insatiable curiosity to discover life beyond the ocean.
After Ariel rescues a shipwrecked prince (Jonah Hauer-King, 27), she makes a deal with Melissa McCarthy’s evil sea witch Ursula to experience human life.
The only catch is that she has to sacrifice her beautiful singing voice and the only way to get it back is through a true love’s kiss.
According to Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak, romance adventure scores high with audiences of all ages and races.
91% of moviegoers said they had a positive attitude towards the film, and 76% said they would definitely recommend it.
The racial distribution of the women’s film audience is as follows: 35% Black, 25% Latino and Hispanic, 26% Caucasian and 11% Asian.
The film and the cast of Halle, who is African American, suffered fierce racist backlash from people unhappy that a white animated character was replaced with a live black woman.
“The fact that I can represent all these little black and brown boys and girls that are going to come is really special to me because I know that if I had had that when I was younger it would have completely changed my outlook on life. life.,’ she said The Hollywood Reporter.
On Saturday, Halle, who was part of a full media press to promote the project, celebrated the film’s success, sharing the trailer on her Instagram Stories and writing, “Finally home and resting now but c is just crazy”. Thank you all.’
For Halley, it’s been a five-year journey from her first audition to finally hitting the big screen.
Box office: Analysts estimate the film will make some $104 million for Friday-Sunday issues and will earn between $120 million and $130 million for the four-day hiatus. The movie was on track to become the third highest ever for Memorial Day weekend
Audience: 91% of moviegoers said they had a positive attitude towards the film and 76% said they would definitely recommend it. The racial breakdown of female film audiences is as follows: 35% Black, 25% Latino and Hispanic, 26% Caucasian, and 11% Asian
Backlash: The casting of Halle, who is African American, as the lead led to a racist backlash against the film. “The fact that I can represent all these little black and brown boys and girls that are coming is really special to me,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.
Number one: Halle celebrated the film’s first day at the box office by sharing a snippet of the trailer that read the world’s No. 1 film
Funny: Melissa McCarthy who plays Ursula wrote on social media: “World ready or not… here we come! I hope it brings you as much joy and love as we felt making it!!!’
In an interview with Charmthe African-American actress, said she felt she and Ariel broke through barriers together.
“I remember being in the harness in the air and rocking around all day and in the tank and water for hours straight and I really felt like I came out of my shell in which I had been for so long. ‘
Ariel is so passionate about what she wants for herself and her future and I really felt like she was saying “you can do this”.
Melissa McCarthy, who plays Ursula, wrote on social media, “Ready or not world…here we come!” I hope it brings you as much joy and love as we felt making it!!!’
