The Little Mermaid Movies In Order & How Many Are There?

The Little Mermaid is a beloved Disney franchise that has captured the hearts of audiences for generations. With its enchanting story, colorful characters, and unforgettable music, it’s no wonder that this tale of a young mermaid who longs to be part of the human world has become a classic.

But with multiple movies in the franchise, it can be difficult to know where to start. How many Little Mermaid movies are there? And what is the best order to watch them? In this article, we’ll explore the Little Mermaid movies in order and answer these questions and more.

How Many The Little Mermaid Movies Are There?

There are four movies in The Little Mermaid franchise. The first animated movie called The Little Mermaid, came out in 1989. The second installment is a direct-to-video sequel on VHS in 2000 called The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. The last animated film, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning, is a direct-to-video prequel to the original film, released on DVD in 2008. The first live-action The Little Mermaid movie came out in 2023.

• The Little Mermaid (1989)
• The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (Video 2000)
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (Video 2008)
• The Little Mermaid (2023)

Now let us check the best way to watch The Little Mermaid movies in order.

The Little Mermaid Movies In Order

There are two ways you can watch the first three The Little Mermaid movies in order. The first way is by the release date, as suggested above, or in chronological order. Both ways of watching are good, but we will cover it here in chronological order as we have shown you above the way of the release date. The fourth movie, The Little Mermaid live-action can be watched either first or last, as it is a remake of the original.

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (Video 2008)

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008) is a prequel to the 1989 film, telling how Ariel became interested in human culture and music. The film takes place in the kingdom of Atlantica, where music is forbidden. Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, loves to sing and dance, but she knows that her father would never approve.

One day, Ariel meets a human prince named Eric, and she is instantly smitten. She decides to make a deal with the sea witch Ursula in exchange for her human legs. However, Ursula has her own plan, and Ariel must find a way to break the deal and save her father and Eric.

The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid (1989) is the original animated film that tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of becoming human. Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula in exchange for her human legs.

However, there is a catch: if Ariel cannot win the love of Prince Eric within three days, she will become Ursula’s prisoner. Ariel must race against time to find true love and break the curse.

The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (Video 2000)

The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000) is a sequel to the 1989 film and tells the story of Ariel and Eric’s daughter, Melody. Melody is a mermaid who loves to swim on the ocean’s surface, much to her father’s disapproval.

One day, Melody is kidnapped by a sea witch named Morgana, who is Ursula’s sister. Ariel and Eric must team up to rescue Melody and save the kingdom of Atlantica.

The Little Mermaid (2023)

The Little Mermaid (2023) is a live-action remake of the 1989 film. The film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.

The film follows the same basic plot as the animated film but with some changes. For example, Ariel is a more independent and strong-willed character in the live-action film.

Do You Need to Watch The Little Mermaid Movies in Order?

You should watch animated The Little Mermaid movies in order. Either by its release date or in chronological order. The live-action remake you can either watch first or last. We would suggest last.

Will There Be More The Little Mermaid Movies in The Future?

Nothing is officially announced, and a lot will probably depend on the success of the live-action remake. Still, we do hope to see Ariel and the rest of the gang in new adventures.