Part 2/11:
Initially, The Little Mermaid failed to meet expectations at the domestic box office, grossing around $95 million over three days, slightly below the $100 million projection and comparable to Aladdin from four years prior. Internationally, the numbers are underwhelming, with reports describing a "sinking" box office across various regions including China, Korea, Europe, and South America. Given the film's enormous budget and marketing expenses, analysts suggest it needs to hit around $750-800 million just to break even. Its slow international start raises concerns about its financial viability for Disney, prompting the media to seek scapegoats.