‘The Little Mermaid’ Tanks in China and South Korea Amid Racist Backlash From Some Viewers

“The Little Mermaid” has faced a disappointing response from moviegoers in China and South Korea, partly due to racist criticisms surrounding the casting of Black actress Halle Bailey as the main character Ariel.

In mainland China, the Disney live-action remake has only earned $3.6 million since its release on May 26, according to Box Office Mojo. In its first five days, it made just 19.5 million yuan ($2.7 million), significantly lower than the 142 million yuan (almost $20 million) earned by “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” during the same period, as reported by Chinese box office tracker Endata.

Similarly, in South Korea, “The Little Mermaid” has grossed $4.4 million since May 24. It attracted approximately 472,000 viewers in its first week, whereas the new “Fast and Furious” film, “Fast X,” had 643,000 fans attending within the same timeframe, according to the Korean Film Council. “Fast X” premiered a week earlier than “The Little Mermaid.”

The cool reception of the film in these countries is linked to concerns and objections raised by viewers regarding Halle Bailey’s casting, a decision that has been celebrated elsewhere. In the United States, young Black girls have expressed appreciation for Disney’s choice, stating that they feel represented on the big screen through her leading role.

Although “The Little Mermaid” has performed well at the domestic box office, ranking as the second-highest grossing film over its second weekend, it has encountered negative reviews on IMDb due to alleged “review bombing.” IMDb responded by addressing the unusual voting activity and adjusting its rating calculation.

Globally, the film has earned an estimated $327 million, with $186 million coming from the domestic market and $141 million from international audiences. However, its contribution from China, the second-largest box office market, has been minimal.

Viewers in mainland China expressed their objections to the film online, mainly expressing disappointment with Bailey’s casting. Popular Chinese movie review website Douban gave the film a score of just 5.1 out of 10. On Maoyan, a Chinese movie review and box office tracking platform, some users made discriminatory comments about Bailey’s skin color and stated that the portrayal of Ariel did not align with their expectations.

Similar sentiments were observed on social media in South Korea, with users claiming that the movie was “ruined” for them and using the hashtag #NotMyAriel. In Japan, where the film has yet to be released, criticism has also emerged regarding the portrayal of Ariel, as it appears to deviate from the audience’s nostalgic memories.

Chinese state media has contributed to these reactions by highlighting the debate about representation in entertainment and criticizing Disney’s inclusion of minorities as a mere attempt to be politically correct.

In response to the backlash, Disney declined to comment, while the film’s director, Rob Marshall, emphasized that Bailey was chosen for her talent rather than any agenda. Despite the mixed reception in China and South Korea, “The Little Mermaid” has performed better in other Asian markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as ranking highly in several countries across the globe.