Mermaids are some of the most fascinating fantasy creatures. From their sparkling tails to their lives under the sea, they have been appealing for years and in a variety of ways. Some claim to have actually spotted these beauties, while most simply enjoy reading about them in books and watching them in shows and films.
That being said, we thought we'd round up the best movies that focus on mermaids. There are super popular ones, such as Ariel’s story from Disney, and there are more obscure works, which may just end up on some readers’ must-watch lists.
Updated By Amanda Bruce On June 23, 2020: Mermaids remain one of the most fascinating story subjects, and as long as audiences are interested in them, movies will continue featuring them. Sometimes, the mermaids in question are sweet and romantic, while other times, they are vicious - and still other times, they are both. No matter the type of mermaid, there's one audiences will love in all of the movies added since this list's original publishing.
Miranda
Released in 1948, this movie might be partially responsible for kickstarting the interest in mermaids on the big screen. Though short films had featured movies in the decades preceding it, Miranda was the first big production for mermaids.
Based on the stage play, the movie features a fisherman accidentally catching a mermaid and caring for her. She causes all kinds of hijinks as she finds herself in the middle of everyone's relationships in a small town. It even spawned a sequel.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Technically, this installment of the Pirates of The Caribbean franchise isn't a mermaid movie, but it does feature a new take on mermaids. They're a type of siren and a tear from one is needed in a complicated scheme by Captain Blackbeard.
The mermaids of the story are equal parts sweet and vicious, providing the audience with an interesting new take on the mythic creature, but also a new expansion of the Pirates movies.
Peter Pan (2003)
The 2003 version of Peter Pan definitely isn't the first version of the story, but it is the most accurate adaptation of the original story. While the story focuses on Wendy growing up when she meets a boy who never will, the mermaids are some of the first people Wendy encounters in Neverland.
These mermaids aren't particularly friendly, and this is the first time a Peter Pan retelling makes them genuinely frightening instead of just jealous of Wendy's presence as they try to drown her.
The Little Mermaid
Not to be confused with the animated Disney version, this tale is a live-action version released in 2018 featuring Poppy Drayton as the title character.
The story follows a reporter who finds himself wondering whether a woman he sees in a traveling circus is a real mermaid. Sent to write a story about the "mermaid healing water" hocked by the man running the show, he hopes to find a cure for his niece's disease, but instead ends up in the middle of a battle for the woman's freedom. Like most mermaid tales, it's a love story and an adventure.
The Mermaid
In 2016, Chinese cinema saw the release of The Mermaid. It drowned the box office competition and became a massive hit.
In it, Shan is the titular mermaid. She travels to land in China, supporting her mermaid family who is living in a wrecked ship off the coast. The plan is for her to assassinate the man whose company is responsible for the pollution in their part of the water. Shan, however, falls for him once he lets his guard down, and the movie becomes more of an action-adventure than a romantic-comedy. The movie is also unique because it features more than just mermaids - like an uncle with octopus limbs.
The Little Mermaid
First up, of course, is The Little Mermaid, which was released by Disney in 1989. This tale is inspired a bit by a fairy tale from Hans Christian Andersen, and it stars Ariel, a mermaid who wants to live where the people are, and who falls in love with a human prince named Eric.
Each Disney princess movie is celebrated since these leading ladies are always so beautiful and bright and bold. Plus, the happily ever afters, the catchy songs, the goofy sidekicks and the villains always really add to the overall story, as well.
Splash
In 1984, a rom-com flick called Splash was released. Directed by Ron Howard, it stars Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah and features supporting actors such as John Candy and Eugene Levy. A fun fact is that this was actually the first film to be put out by Touchstone Pictures, which was created by Walt Disney Studios.
The plot of this film centers around a man who falls for an interesting woman… a woman who, yes, is actually a mermaid! If anyone has not seen this yet, add it to the to-do list.
Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire
The magical world of Harry Potter is filled with interesting creatures, including merpeople. They showed up in the fourth film, Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire, in 2005.
During the Triwizard Tournament, these underwater beings kept people in an enchanted sleep until a champion swam down to save them. They live in the Black Lake at Hogwarts, they are only seen for a bit of time, but they still help make this popular movie one that references mermaids.
Mermaids
Of course, while on this topic, the flick titled Mermaids must be mentioned. Released in 1990, it starred three very well-known female stars: Cher, Winona Ryder, and Christina Ricci. This was actually Ricci’s first film, and Ryder received awards and nominations for her role, as well.
While these three did not play characters that were real mermaids, there are mentions of swimming, and there is an amazing mermaid Halloween costume worn by Cher, as well. That alone is a good enough reason to watch or rewatch this one!
The Thirteenth Year
Up next on this list is a Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) called The Thirteenth Year, which aired in 1999. Like all DCOMs, this one had a thrilling plot, as it focused on a teenage boy who figured out that his mom is a mermaid. How did he discover this? Well, he started developing some scales and fins when he turned 13, of course!
The Thirteenth Year may not be an acclaimed work, but it is an entertaining and family-friendly option to consider.
Aquamarine
On a similar note, Aquamarine came out in 2006. It is partly based on a young adult novel from 2001. In this flick, two girls find a mermaid in a swimming pool, and these three main characters are played by Emma Roberts, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, and Sara Paxton.
Yes, anyone who enjoys a good underwater fantasy story should give this one a try, too. Just look at those babies!
Peter Pan
Another Disney film that contains these fantastical beings is Peter Pan. This animated movie was released in 1953, and it told the story of children running away and escaping reality in Neverland.
When Wendy, John and Michael Darling first got to this land with Peter, they met some mermaids. They had shining tails. They used starfish as hair accessories. And they tried to drown Wendy! While these supporting characters are not the sweetest, they do deserve some more attention, as some very classic creatures from a very beloved brand.
Lady In The Water
For a thriller in this category, there is Lady In The Water, which has been around since 2006. It was written, produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan (who is known for his twists), and it starred Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard (who is pictured here).
The plot of this film also focuses on a woman who is discovered in a pool… a woman who is actually a water nymph. There are not too many stories out there that focus on water nymphs, so this is an underrated one that gets a place on this list.
Sabrina Down Under
From 1996 to 2003, Melissa Joan Hart portrayed Sabrina Spellman on Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In 1999, a TV movie called Sabrina Down Under featured this teenage witch and her talking cat, Salem; they went to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, in order to help save mermaids from ocean pollution. A relevant concern, a beautiful setting, a little magic thrown in, and more mermaids… What's not to love?
Beach Blanket Bingo
And last but not least for this mermaid list, there is a unique flick that is called Beach Blanket Bingo. Released in 1965, it is the fifth installment in the beach party film series, as well as the most popular installment.
It crammed so much into this story, too. There is a singer named Sugar Kane who is being used by her agent. There is skydiving. There is a plan to make a boyfriend jealous. There is a group of bikers. There is a villain who kidnaps Sugar. And there is a character named Bonehead falling in love with a mermaid named Lorelei.