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The film’s revenue from theatrical runs was approximately $285 million worldwide, according to industry estimates, which—after factoring in various splits—left Disney with a net theatrical return of around $150 million when accounting for distribution and other costs.
However, the story becomes more complicated when marketing costs are added. The marketing budget for The Little Mermaid was reportedly $140 million, a figure corroborated by industry insiders and media estimates. Adding this marketing expenditure, the direct loss for Disney on this project could be in the range of $150 to $160 million.