‘The Little Mermaid’ struggles in China and South Korea; source blames ‘racist reaction’ for low turnout.

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” Fails to Make a Splash in China and South Korea Due to Racism

The live-action version of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” has had a disappointing showing in China and South Korea, with the film earning just $3.6 million and $4.4 million respectively during its first 10 days in theaters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this is due to the “racist reaction” towards the film, which features Halle Bailey, a black actress, in the leading role as Ariel.

“We did not expect the racist reaction and therefore, for the picture to underperform internationally,” a source said.

Director Rob Marshall defended the casting choice, stating that Bailey was simply the best fit for the role. However, a negative op-ed in China’s government-affiliated publication The Global Times criticized Disney’s “lazy and irresponsible storytelling strategy” and accused the company of pursuing “political correctness” for financial gain.

American Audiences Respond Positively

Despite the backlash overseas, American audiences have responded positively to the film, with a strong opening for the Memorial Day holiday premiere, bringing in $117.5 million over the four-day weekend. Reviews have been mixed, but many critics have praised Bailey’s performance and singing ability as a bright spot in the movie.

• IMDb changed their rating system ranking for this movie specifically after it was suspected that users were “review bombing” the live-action Disney movie.
• The Hollywood Reporter noted how the measures taken to weed out reviews made in “poor faith” are harder to enforce internationally, which could affect those box office numbers.

Overall, the controversy surrounding the film’s casting choice highlights the ongoing conversation about diversity and representation in Hollywood.

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