The Little Mermaid (1989) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
This colorful adventure tells the story of an impetuous mermaid princess named Ariel who falls in love with the very human Prince Eric and puts everything on the line for the chance to be with him. Memorable songs and characters -- including the villainous sea witch Ursula.
Rated G • 1989 • 1h 23m
This G-rated animated classic tells the story of the mermaid princess Ariel, who makes a dangerous bargain with the sea witch Ursula to become human and win the love of Prince Eric. The film's rating reflects some mild animated violence and scenes of peril that may be frightening for the youngest viewers. Key moments include a scary shark chase, a shipwreck in a storm, and a climactic battle where Ursula becomes a giant monster and is… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Little Mermaid appropriate for kids?
This G-rated animated classic tells the story of the mermaid princess Ariel, who makes a dangerous bargain with the sea witch Ursula to become human and win the love of Prince Eric. The film's rating reflects some mild animated violence and scenes of peril that may be… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Little Mermaid
What happens in The Little Mermaid, moment by moment
- 0:06 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
- 0:19 ⚔ Violence & Gore 2/10
- 0:20 🔥 Mature Themes 2/10
Sex and nudity in The Little Mermaid
Content is very mild. Mermaids wear seashell tops. When Ariel is transformed into a human, she is briefly seen from behind with her lower body obscured by shadows before she is given a dress. There are a few chaste, romantic kisses between Ariel and Prince Eric. There is no sexual content or innuendo.
Violence and gore in The Little Mermaid
Violence is animated and consistently mild, though some scenes are intense. A shark pursues Ariel and Flounder in a scary chase scene near the beginning. King Triton angrily destroys Ariel's collection of human objects with blasts from his trident. In the climax, the villain Ursula grows to a monstrous size, and she is impaled by the bowsprit of a ship, though the death is not graphic. Her eel minions are also accidentally electrocuted and disintegrate.
Language in The Little Mermaid
Language is not a concern. In the song "Les Poissons," Chef Louis exclaims "by God!", which is a very mild religious exclamation. There is no other profanity.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Little Mermaid
Substance use is minimal and incidental. During a dinner scene, human characters have wine glasses on the table. In a few scenes, background characters are seen smoking pipes.
Mature themes in The Little Mermaid
The film deals with themes of teenage rebellion and severe father-daughter conflict, shown when King Triton destroys his daughter's prized possessions in a fit of rage. The villain, Ursula, is menacing, and her dark magic can be frightening; her lair contains a garden of souls she has trapped as grotesque polyps. Ariel's transformation, where ghostly hands pull the voice from her throat, and the climactic storm sequence with a giant Ursula, are intense and may scare an audience of very young children.
Scary moments in The Little Mermaid
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Little Mermaid yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Little Mermaid appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Little Mermaid is best for ages 6+. It's rated G. This G-rated animated classic tells the story of the mermaid princess Ariel, who makes a dangerous bargain with the sea witch Ursula to become human and win the love of Prince Eric. The film's rating reflects some mild…
What age rating does The Little Mermaid have?
The Little Mermaid is officially rated G. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 6+.
What is The Little Mermaid about?
This G-rated animated classic tells the story of the mermaid princess Ariel, who makes a dangerous bargain with the sea witch Ursula to become human and win the love of Prince Eric. The film's rating reflects some mild animated violence and scenes of peril that may be frightening for the youngest viewers. Key moments…
Is there sex or nudity in The Little Mermaid?
Content is very mild. Mermaids wear seashell tops. When Ariel is transformed into a human, she is briefly seen from behind with her lower body obscured by shadows before she is given a dress. There are a few chaste, romantic kisses between Ariel and Prince…
How violent is The Little Mermaid?
Violence is animated and consistently mild, though some scenes are intense. A shark pursues Ariel and Flounder in a scary chase scene near the beginning. King Triton angrily destroys Ariel's collection of human objects with blasts from his trident. In the…
Is the language in The Little Mermaid appropriate for kids?
Language is not a concern. In the song "Les Poissons," Chef Louis exclaims "by God!", which is a very mild religious exclamation. There is no other profanity.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Little Mermaid?
Substance use is minimal and incidental. During a dinner scene, human characters have wine glasses on the table. In a few scenes, background characters are seen smoking pipes.
What mature themes appear in The Little Mermaid?
The film deals with themes of teenage rebellion and severe father-daughter conflict, shown when King Triton destroys his daughter's prized possessions in a fit of rage. The villain, Ursula, is menacing, and her dark magic can be frightening; her lair contains…
How long is The Little Mermaid?
The Little Mermaid runs 83 minutes, directed by John Musker, Ron Clements, released in 1989.
Where can I read the full The Little Mermaid parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
Parents also checked these movies for 6-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Movies like The Little Mermaid with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More animation movies with parent guides
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers parent guide
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets parent guide
- Inside Out parent guide
- Doctor Strange parent guide
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban parent guide
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl parent guide
- Thor parent guide
- Suicide Squad parent guide
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire parent guide
Fairy-Tale Retelling movies parents are checking
- Deadpool parent guide
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice parent guide
- Shrek parent guide
- Frozen parent guide
- Man of Steel parent guide
- Beauty and the Beast parent guide
- Silver Linings Playbook parent guide
- Aladdin parent guide
- Despicable Me 2 parent guide
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith parent guide
- The Mask parent guide
- Aladdin parent guide
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- To the Wonder parent guide
- Sibyl parent guide
- Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child parent guide
- Grand Piano parent guide
- Boiling Point parent guide
- Planet Hulk parent guide
- Ophelia parent guide
- Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Mr. Church parent guide
- Don't Worry, I'm Fine parent guide
- Day Watch parent guide
- Lifted parent guide
- The Night Before the Exams parent guide
- The Black Dahlia parent guide