Part 5/10:
On Memorial Day weekend, The Little Mermaid is projected to gross around $120 million domestically, including Thursday previews, which is a solid start. But the more telling figure remains the global total. Historically, Disney hits like Aladdin in 2019, also releasing during Memorial Day weekend, boasted over $200 million worldwide on opening, buoyed by robust international markets.
In comparison, The Little Mermaid's underperformance internationally—especially in markets like China where interest is virtually nonexistent—is troubling. This discrepancy between domestic and international response could mean the film won't reach the necessary revenue benchmarks, despite a seemingly decent domestic launch.