Disney is on track to lose millions from The Little Mermaid, despite a strong turnout in the US for Memorial Day weekend.
Disney spent roughly $390 million on producing and promoting the film.
Theaters take approximately half the ticket sales, meaning the film must hit nearly $800 million to break even.
According to a report from The Stock Dork, "The Little Mermaid achieved a successful domestic debut, generating $118.6 million over a four-day opening period, ranking it among the top five highest-grossing films for Memorial Day weekend. However, internationally, the film’s earnings were only $68 million."
The live-action remakes of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” both reached a billion dollars — a benchmark becoming increasingly less likely for the woke Little Mermaid film to reach.
"If the film manages to gross only $600 million globally, it will result in a loss of $200 million, and even achieving this level of domestic earnings still needs to be determined," the report explained. "Therefore, domestically, the likelihood that it could gross $300 to $350 million seems overly optimistic."
The children's film has been an avalanche of controversy since its announcement due to the race-bending of the lead character and edits to make original songs more politically correct.
Disney also invited drag queen Nina West to the movie's Los Angeles premiere. At the premiere for The Little Mermaid Actress Stephanie Beatriz told drag Queen Nina West that his work is “Literally saving lives.”
Nina West has been featured on children’s programming networks such as Nickelodeon and Disney.
— Meg Brock (@MegEBrock) May 29, 2023
The 44-year-old drag queen, whose real name is Andrew Levitt, has become a staple of Disney's children's programming after he rose to fame by competing on Ru Paul's Drag Race.
In a post to Instagram with video from the red carpet, Levitt wrote, "Thank you, @disney @disneystudios @disneyanimation @disneylittlemermaid for having me tonight and allowing me to share in such a magical celebration."
Levitt wore an over-the-top costume inspired by Ursula. McCarthy has said that she took inspiration from drag queens for the villain's character.
“There’s a drag queen that lives in me,” McCarthy previously told Entertainment Weekly. “I’m always right on the verge of going full-time with her… To keep the humor and the sadness and the edginess to Ursula is everything I want in a character — and frankly, everything I want in a drag queen.”
“I’m a huge, huge fan of drag shows and the whole art of it and the entertainment of it,” McCarthy said, noting that she has “been going to shows since I was not supposed to be going to shows.”
Levitt previously hosted a Disney+ LGBTQ Pride concert in 2021 as "Nina West," during which classic Disney songs were "reimagined" with LGBTQ themes.
Levitt has also authored a children's book titled The You Kind of Kind and starred in a video for Nickelodeon explaining "the meaning of Pride" for kids.
Disneyland will also host its first-ever "Pride Night" to celebrate the "LGBTQIA+ community and allies" in June to honor Pride Month.
"This after-hours event includes themed entertainment, Disney characters, one-of-a-kind photo opportunities, specialty menu items, event merchandise and more! It begins with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PT, then the private party runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. PT, when guests can ride some popular attractions after regular park hours," Disney Parks announced in a blog post. "A theme park reservation is not required."
The event will be open to all ages and feature a "Pride Nite Cavalcade featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle, Donald, Daisy and Goofy dressed in special attire as they make their way through the heart of Disneyland park down Main Street, U.S.A.!"
Characters will be dressed in "special attire," and there will be photo opportunities with "pride-themed backdrops."
