The Little Mermaid's enchanting and dark tale inspired not only authors but many artists working in the movie industry too. Fairy Tale retellings are beloved by audiences who love to get lost in their favorite stories time and time again. Movie fans can choose from brilliant movies based on Cinderella and other iconic tales and can also follow their favorite mermaid's adventures below and above water too.
Thanks to these thrilling movies based on this classic tale, movie lovers can go on new adventures with their favorite characters while watching some of the greatest rom-com movies, horror stories, as well as classic films, and musicals from all over the world.
Only live-action movies will be considered, which is why Disney's The Little Mermaid is not included.
7 Mermaid In Paris (2020)
Mermaid in Paris is one of the most whimsical yet little-known French movies based on The Little Mermaid and a few other fantasy stories. This is a modern adaptation of the beloved classic tale, but it's set in modern-day Paris. It's perfect for those who love weird and wonderful world-building and underrated French sci-fi movies with unique styles.
This enchanting and visually gorgeous movie is the perfect choice for those who're hopeless romantics and love eccentric fantasy love stories with a similar vibe to Amelie and traditional fairy tales. The story follows a young Parisian man who rescues and falls in love with a mermaid despite all the dangers and difficulties they have to face.
6 The Little Mermaid (1976)
The Little Mermaid is one of the most visually unique classic adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. This lovely old Czech fantasy film stays mostly true to the original tale from 1837 and is one of the most family-friendly live-action versions.
While it's more dramatic compared to the animation it's still kid-friendly and tells the iconic love story between a mermaid and a man. The story follows Mala, a young mermaid who saves a prince from drowning and falls desperately in love with him. After she makes a deal with an evil sorceress she embarks on a journey that leads to heartbreak and a possible catastrophe.
5 The Lure (2015)
The Lure is for those movie buffs who love fantasy horror movies and prefer their fairy tales dark and twisted. This Polish horror musical is based on the traditional The Little Mermaid tale, but it got a weirdly dark twist. However, the movie also has some great visuals, great design, and some truly creepy and bloody moments.
The story follows two young mermaids, Golden and Silver, who join a rock band they see playing music on the beach in modern-day Poland. One of the mermaids, Silver, falls in love with a band member who rejects her because he's disgusted and only sees her as fish. Silver eventually surgically removes her tail to get human legs just to get rejected again. In the meanwhile, her sister, Golden, falls in love with the taste of human flesh and ends up taking revenge on the heartless human.
4 Miranda (1948)
Miranda is perfect for those who love classic noir movies and old Hollywood movies with all their glamour and charm. This hilarious comedy fantasy movie is based on the play with the same title that was inspired by the iconic The Little Mermaid fairy tale. However, in this version, the young mermaid is no innocent naive girl but a cheeky young woman who knows how to get what she wants.
The story follows a young doctor, Paul, who gets captured by the young mermaid, Miranda, during one of his fishing trips. After keeping the physician captured for a week she convinces the man to take her to London where she gets into hilarious mischief while flirting and charming her way through the City of Dreams.
3 Splash (1984)
Splash is one of the most magical and beloved Tom Hanks movies that's so similar to The Little Mermaid story that it could be its live-action adaptation. It's one of the most iconic rom-coms from the '80s with hilarious moments and an unforgettable love story.
The story follows Allen who lives a normal but boring life in New York City. His life gets turned upside down when Miranda, a young mermaid, decides to walk the land and find him. Miranda was in love with Allen since she rescued him from drowning as a young boy and even though the two can't speak they fell madly in love with each other. The two have to face difficulties before Allen decides to leave the dry land and live together with Miranda underwater.
2 The Mermaid (2016)
The Little Mermaid's tale inspired artists all over the world and The Mermaid is one of the funniest and most romantic Chinese-Hong Kong adaptations that's a must-see for anyone who loves this classic fairy tale. The story is set in the modern world and has great twists, thrilling moments, and of course a beautiful love story.
The story follows Shan, a young mermaid who is sent to the human realm after the mermaid's ecosystem is facing obliteration because of a developer. However, when Shan meets the young businessman instead of assassinating him she falls in love, and the young couple soon has to face great dangers together because of an evil and mysterious organization.
1 The Shape Of Water (2017)
The Shape of Water is Guillermo del Toro's most magical modern love story that's loosely based on the classic tale of The Little Mermaid. It's one of the most beautiful and wholesome Guillermo del Toro movies with a timeless love story between a mute cleaning lady and a mysterious creature who's living in captivity in an isolation tank.
The movie is set in 1962 Baltimore, and it follows the shy Elisa who lives an isolated life and works in a high-security lab where she gets interested in the creature in the water tank. After the two develop a relationship she decides that she must rescue the creature and actually manages to keep it in her home where the two fall in love. However, they still have to face dangers and find a way to evade the attacks of the captors. Eventually, Elisa decides to follow the Amphibian Man underwater where the two can finally live happily ever after.