The Best Mermaid Movies, from ‘Ponyo’ to ‘Little Mermaid’ (original) (raw)
Beneath every placid surface and between each crashing wave, the movies’ most magical aquatic adventures portend the possibility of mermaids. Half-human, half-fish creatures swam onto the big screen at the turn of the 20th century, appearing in silent works such as Georges Méliès‘ 1904 short film “The Mermaid” and John G. Adolfi’s 1918 feature “Queen of the Sea” among others. The mythical archetype was subsequently reeled in as the effervescent love interest template for numerous ’30s and ’40s rom-coms, with the concept perfected in Irving Pichel’s well-loved talky “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid,” starring Ann Blyth.
The siren songs characteristic of these mysterious ocean-dwellers even resulted in a string of MGM aqua musicals. (You might recall: Those were sent up by Scarlett Johansson in the Coen brothers’ spoofy 2016 flick “Hail, Caesar!”) Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” brought the mermaid musical to the animation-loving masses in 1989, winning Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Under the Sea” at the Oscars. Darryl Hannah appeared opposite Tom Hanks not much earlier in the 1984 Academy Award-nominated rom-com “Splash,” directed by Ron Howard. Howard’s film is among a league of contemporary mermaid romances, from Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum’s sparkling “Aquamarine” to M. Night Shyamalan’s insufferable “Lady in the Water.”
A Best Picture winner from 2018, Guillermo del Toro’s masterful “The Shape of Water” captures the slippery second side to mermaids in the movies: As much as mermaids are portrayed as beautiful damsels, they can also be vicious monsters dragging heroes to the murky depths. Mermaids, or merfolk in general, have been the bad guys in numerous projects; most notably in Universal’s black-and-white classic “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Sure, one could argue that’s a sea monster movie as opposed to a mermaid movie. But with charming flicks like “Luca” asking the same question, while so clearly fitting the cheery “best mermaid movie” bill, that seems a semantic argument more than a thematic one.
Ranked by both entertainment value and category relevance, here are the 23 best movies about mermaids, sea monsters, and magical creatures walking on land. We’re updating this list in spring 2023, in honor of the release of Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid”: swimming into theaters May 26.
With editorial contributions by Kate Erbland.
23. “The Glass Bottom Boat” (1966)
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Starring Rod Taylor and Doris Day, Frank Tashlin’s instantly lovable 1966 rom-com ranks low on this list not because it’s lacking in quality, but because its connection to mermaids is limited. That said, its inclusion speaks volumes to just how irresistible “Glass Bottom Boat” can be. When aerospace engineer Bruce Templeton accidentally hooks Jennifer Nelson, a diver dressed as a mermaid, off the coast of Catalina, they embark on a whirlwind love-hate relationship. Their passionate affair continues at the office where Jennifer and Bruce both work, inadvertently catching the attention of the CIA.
22. “Nymph” (2014)
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Also known as “Mamula” or “Killer Mermaid,” this Serbian thriller follows friends Kelly (Kristina Klebe) and Lucy (Natalie Burn) on a vacation to Montenegro, where a siren-like creature with razor-sharp teeth awaits. There’s arguably too much going on in director Milan Todorovic’s 2014 nightmare, complete with a secondary antagonist weirdly reminiscent of “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Still, this is the truest bluest mermaid slasher on the market, staking out essential territory for mythical monsters in the genre.
21. Night Tide (1961)
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In the gripping, if slightly choppy “Night Tide,” Johnny Drake (Dennis Hopper) is a sailor smitten with a Santa Monica pier performer known as Mora the Mermaid (Linda Lawson). After Johnny learns Mora’s last few boyfriends drowned under mysterious circumstances — and that Mora actually believes she is a mermaid, ravaged by a desire to kill — a kooky-yet-compelling caper sets sail. Is Mora a murderous mer-person or a confused young woman as the traveled Captain Murdock (Gavin Muir) claims? Therein lies the tale.
20. “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005)
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The fourth “Harry Potter” film includes plenty that isn’t mermaid-related, from teenage students fighting literal dragons to the timelessly charming Yule Ball. Still, Harry’s second trial in the Triwizard Tournament — tasked to rescue his friend Ron from an underwater maze overridden with vicious merpeople — stands out among the best moments in this generally strong “Goblet of Fire” adaption from director Mike Newell and screenwriter Steve Kloves. Daniel Radcliffe sells the CGI-heavy sequence with remarkable believability, even as audiences are submerged in the characteristically ludicrous magic of a school murdering students for sport.
19. “Aquaman” (2018)
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Jason Momoa stars as D.C. Comics’ titular protector of the deep in “Aquaman,” directed by James Wan. The Hawaiian native is the fourth actor to bring Arthur Curry to the big screen, debuting the role in the original 2017 cut of “Justice League.” Momoa appears opposite Amber Heard, as crown princess Mera, in this stand-alone quest to seize the Trident of Atlan and protect the people of the underwater city of Atlantis. Cue this one up just for soundtrack gem “Ocean to Ocean” performed by Pitbull, featuring an unhinged sampling of Toto’s “Africa.”
18. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011)
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“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” marks the franchise’s fourth sea-faring voyage, this time following Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. That seemingly impossible quest is complicated even further by an ancient ritual — involving a mermaid — that’s required to activate the fountain’s supernatural properties. Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey plays one of numerous mermaids in the 2011 film, opposite love interest Sam Claflin as a lovestruck prisoner. Geoffrey Rush, Penélope Cruz, and more also appear.
17. “Miranda” (1948)
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Written and adapted by Peter Blackmore from his stage play of the same name, “Miranda” tells the whimsical story of a married doctor (Griffith Jones) held captive by a flirtatious mermaid (Glynis Johns). This 1948 comedy replaces the archetypal fantasy romance with an unwelcome house guest arc that still lets its leads — including Googie Withers as the doctor’s wife — achieve hysterical chemistry. Come for the promise of a mermaid conning her way into a free trip to London. Stay for the wheelchair and strategically placed blanket she uses to get there.
16. “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)
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If you haven’t yet seen this staple of horrifying spoof cinema, then you should metaphorically run — not walk — to the nearest streaming service with its “Cabin in the Woods” lights on. If you have already seen it, then you know exactly why the spoiler-riffic 2011 movie is appearing on a list about mermaids. Technicians Gary Sitterson (Richard Jenkins) and Steve Hadley (Bradley Whitford) discuss mermaids at length in the unconventional zombie flick, which reframes the half-human sea creatures as vicious predators. Don’t google this one.
15. “The Secret of Roan Inish” (1994)
Image Credit: Samuel Goldwyn Films/Everett Collection
Writer-director John Sayles dives into author Rosalie K. Fry’s 1957 novel “Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry” in this understated exploration of selkies, creatures of Celtic and Norse mythology described as transformed seals who can shed their skin to appear human on land. When 12-year-old Fiona Coneelly (Jeni Courtney) moves to an isolated fishing village to stay with her grandparents, she grows convinced her long lost baby brother is living along the shoreline. The fanciful-yet-simple adventure has an almost meditative quality, guided by the knowing hand of the mind behind “Matewan.”
14. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022)
Image Credit: Disney/Marvel/Everett Collection
In the long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s “Black Panther,” Ryan Coogler sets Wakanda on a collision course with another secretive nation. With cleverly engineered face masks that allow them to breathe air and the ancient warrior Namor (Tenoch Huerta) serving as their fearsome leader, the aquatic Talokan people emerge on land as a worthy adversary for Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) in an otherwise formulaic Marvel outing that’s as middling as the rest of Phase 4. They’re not the scariest merpeople on this list, but witness the act one Talokan assault on a U.S. Navy ship and you’ll see why they might qualify for the best organized.
13. “The Thirteenth Year” (1999)
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One of the better Disney Channel Original Movies of its time, “The Thirteenth Year” is so titled for its teenage protagonist Cody (Chez Starbuck). The star swimmer leads a relatively typical life, despite having been left with his adoptive fisherman father (Brent Briscoe) by his mysterious mermaid mother (Stephanie Chantel Durelli) on a boat 13 years ago. It isn’t until after the clock strikes midnight on Cody’s birthday that his aquatic powers — inexplicably including electric sparks flying from his fingers and the ability to full-on Peter Parker up walls – begin to appear.
12. “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid” (1948)
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“Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid” is a fountain of ’40s charm, starring William Powell as Arthur Peabody and Ann Blyth as his maritime mistress, whom Arthur calls Lenore. Although Arthur is married to the kind Polly Peabody (Irene Hervey), he’s troubled by the malaise of his marriage. After he hooks Lenore and hides her in a pond, Arthur slips into a comedy of errors oozing with ridiculousness and romance. Andrea King, Clinton Sundberg, Art Smith, and more round out the cast.
11. “Aquamarine” (2006)
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Sara Paxton is the titular “Aquamarine” in director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum’s easy-breezy teen rom-com. In the wake of one girl’s parents’ decision to move, best friends Hailey (JoJo) and Claire (Emma Roberts) discover a mermaid in a pool, who just so happens to be running from a royal betrothal back home. As the newfound trio of friends gets closer, so does the end of the summer. With talking starfish for earrings and magic nail polish to match her mood, Aquamarine may be cinema’s cutest mermaid.
10. “Hail, Caesar!” (2016)
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Triumphant and sparkling, Scarlett Johansson ever so briefly captures the shining history of mermaids’ many musical appearances on the silver screen for Joel and Ethan Coen’s “Hail, Caesar!” Maybe you remember the image: a beautiful blonde wearing a fish-scaled swimsuit, ready to dive into a crystal-blue pool where a synchronized routine awaits. It’s evocative of multiple musicals with mermaid motifs, including the 1949 flick “Neptune’s Daughter,” providing a stunning backdrop for Johansson’s unapologetically uproarious comedic performance.
9. “The Little Mermaid” (2023)
Image Credit: Giles Keyte/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
It’s star Halle Bailey, appearing in her first leading role, who makes the best case for why this classic Disney tale needed to be made into a live-action affair. Just look at her face, so expressive and so open, so deeply and wonderfully human and alive. There are some things even the most lovingly rendered pieces of hand-drawn animation just can’t match, and Bailey’s emotive skill is one of them. (And her stunning singing? Further icing on the “this young woman is a movie star” cake.) —KE
Read IndieWire’s complete review of “The Little Mermaid” by Kate Erbland.
8. “The Mermaid” (2016)
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Among the highest grossing Chinese theatrical releases ever, Stephen Chow’s “The Mermaid” is a visually luxurious exploration of mermaid society and amphibious romance as weird as it is endearing. After property mogul Liu Xuan (Deng Chao) begins developing a nature preserve where a group of mermaids secretly lives, the cunning Shan (Lin Yun) attempts to assassinate him. But the pair’s electric dynamic soon begets a romance that puts Shan and her home, as well as Liu and his career, at risk. The vibrant colors and costuming are worth diving in for alone.
7. “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954)
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Director Jack Arnold’s “Creature from the Black Lagoon” joined the Universal Monster Movie catalog later that you’d think, arriving in theaters more than 20 years after “Dracula” made his dastardly debut in 1931. One can debate Gill-man’s classification as a merman (though the name “Gill-man” is an argument unto itself), but undeniable is the creature’s impact on cinema. “Creature from the Black Lagoon” has been evoked in countless other mer-properties, most notably including 2018 Best Picture winner (and second place on this list) “The Shape of Water.”
6. “Luca” (2021)
Image Credit: Disney/Everett Collection
Sea monsters living in the canals of an Italian town embark on a land-and-sea adventure in “Luca,” Pixar’s characteristically delightful aquatic romp from summer 2021. Nominated for Best Animated Feature, director Enrico Casarosa’s coming-of-age flick follows the titular mer-boy (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) and his best friend Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer) in a literal fish-out-water fairy tale anchored in morals about loyalty and friendship. Not only is the colorful character design of “Luca” a feast for the eyes, but it boasts a light and airy tone perfect for family audiences.
5. “The Lighthouse” (2019)
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Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe engage in an unnervingly gorgeous, stunningly tense two-hander for Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse.” Shot in black-and-white with a four-to-three aspect ratio, the cryptic psychological thriller about two 19th century men working a month-long shift at a New England lighthouse can — and has — been interpreted dozens of ways. But the mermaid at its center, played by Valeriia Karamän, is its inarguable linchpin, further enriching the film’s already substantial drama with opulent terror.
4. “The Little Mermaid” (1989)
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If any movie can be called the mermaid movie, it’s this mermaid movie. Voiced by Jodi Benson, Disney princess Ariel has defined mermaids for generations with her jazzy story of a charming prince, evil sea witch, and league of oceanic sidekicks. Parts of “The Little Mermaid” hold up better than others, certainly. (Sacrificing your voice for a man? Bad. Pat Carroll singing “Poor Unfortunate Souls”? So good it should be criminalized.) But broadly speaking, it’s an enduring animated take on Hans Christian Andersen’s 19th century fairy tale. If you like Disney classics about big dreamers, then “The Little Mermaid” should almost certainly be — wait for it — part of your world.
3. “Splash” (1984)
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Darryl Hannah and Tom Hanks take a surprisingly refreshing dip in classic rom-com waters for “Splash,” director Ron Howard’s 1984 meet-cute between a man who returns to Cape Cod to find a mysterious young girl he met as a child. Co-writers Brian Grazer, Babaloo Mandel, Bruce Jay Friedman, and Lowell Ganz were nominated for Best Original Screenplay at that year’s Academy Awards for their work on the hilarious and heartfelt saga of a mermaid trying to stay secret in New York City.
2. “The Shape of Water” (2017)
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Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” won Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars, finally bringing horror’s 26-year shutout in the category to an end. It also happens to be about a merman-like creature and its plot oozes with mermaid movie tropes. Sally Hawkins stars as Elisa, a soft-hearted cleaner at a 1960s Baltimore testing facility who falls for a test subject, portrayed by titan of creature performance Doug Jones. Romantic and lush as it is unsettling, “The Shape of Water” married land and sea in ways no other film — including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” — ever has.
1. “Ponyo” (2008)
Image Credit: Studio Ghibli
Hayao Miyazaki captures and then rapidly expands upon the enduring charm of “The Little Mermaid” in his triumphant tenth film about a runaway goldfish and the 5-year-old human who rescues her. “Ponyo” differs from Han Christian Andersen’s Danish fairy tale in myriad ways; chief among them that our adorable protagonist slowly wills herself to become human instead of haggling with a sexy octopus for it. But it’s the bubbling flourishes and unique expansions Miyazaki brings to “Ponyo” that make it the best mermaid movie ever: an effervescent blend of imagination, magic, and heart.