The remake of the 1989 Disney animated classic stars Halle Bailey as Ariel. Bailey’s adaptation of the titular character was widely praised by critics, although the movie as a whole got a decidedly mixed reaction. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, just 67% of critics gave the movie a favorable review. Audiences were far more pleased with the film, with 95% giving it a thumbs up on Rotten Tomatoes.
Many have argued that casting a Black actress in the role helps Black children feel represented in popular culture. Disney first introduced a Black princess in 2009, with Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog.” But Disney has recast characters originally portrayed as White with actors of different races before, including its 1997 remake of “Cinderella” with Brandy, a Black actress.