Best Mermaid Movies of all time Updated 2025
Dive into the enchanting world beneath the waves with the best mermaid movies 2025 that have been popular in audiences worldwide with their mystical tales and incredible storylines. From romantic fantasies to thrilling adventures, these films have hooked the viewers to underwater realms filled with mermaids and their mesmerizing stories. Whether exploring the depths of classic fairy tales or bringing a modern twist to these mythical beings, these movies showcase fascination with mermaids. Join us as we journey through the cinematic waves and discover the magic, romance, and intrigue that make these mermaid films truly extraordinary.
1. The Little Mermaid (2023)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
The storyline revolves around Ariel, a mermaid princess intrigued by the human world. After rescuing Prince Eric from a shipwreck, she strikes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to gain the ability to walk on land. The 2023 musical romantic fantasy film is directed by Rob Marshall and features a screenplay by David Magee. Produced jointly by Walt Disney Pictures, DeLuca, Marshall, and Marc Platt Productions, it serves as a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1989 animated movie with the same title. The animated film, in turn, draws inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale. Halle Bailey, a singer, takes on the titular role, and the cast includes Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy.
2. Killer Mermaid (2014)
IMDb Rating: 4.1/10
Two American friends vacationing in the Mediterranean discover a hidden siren’s lair beneath an old military fort. What starts as a fun adventure turns into a fight for their lives. One night, while getting intimate, Sergej hears the mermaid’s song and drowns. Ana, scared and seeking help, is attacked by someone with an anchor, and her body is dragged away. The vacation takes a terrifying twist.
3. Aqua Marine (2006)
IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Aquamarine is a 2006 teen fantasy romantic comedy film from the United States and Australia, directed by Elizabeth Allen. In the small beach town of Baybridge near Tampa, Florida, best friends Claire Brown and Hailey Rogers are savoring the last days of summer before Hailey’s impending move to Australia due to her mother’s job as a marine biologist. Desperate to change her mother’s mind about the move, Hailey prays for a miracle to the ocean god, leading to a sudden storm. The following night, the girls sneak into the local pool and unexpectedly encounter a mermaid named Aquamarine, who washed ashore during the storm.
It is loosely based on Alice Hoffman’s 2001 young adult novel with the same title. The movie features Emma Roberts, Joanna “JoJo” Levesque, and Sara Paxton in the lead roles and was released by 20th Century Fox in the United States on March 3, 2006.
4. A mermaid in Paris (2020)
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
A Mermaid in Paris (French: Une sirène à Paris) is a 2020 romantic comedy fantasy film directed by Mathias Malzieu. He co-wrote the script with Stéphane Landowski. Starring Nicolas Duvauchelle and Marilyn Lima, the movie premiered in France on March 11, 2020, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.
5. The Little Mermaid (1989)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy film created by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The Little Mermaid narrates the storyof Ariel, a teenage mermaid princess who aspires to be human and falls in love with a human prince named Eric. This prompts her to enter into a magical pact with the sea witch Ursula in order to become human and be with him.
Loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 Danish fairy tale of the same name, the film was written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. It was produced by Musker and Howard Ashman, who also collaborated on the film’s songs alongside Alan Menken, with Menken also composing the score. The voice cast includes René Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Paddi Edwards, Buddy Hackett, Jason Marin, Kenneth Mars, Ben Wright, and Samuel E. Wright.
6. The Shape of Water (2017)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
The Shape of Water is a 2017 romantic fantasy film directed by Guillermo del Toro and co-written by del Toro and Vanessa Taylor. The cast includes Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer. The story is set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, and revolves around a mute custodian working at a high-security government laboratory. She develops a romantic connection with a captive humanoid amphibian creature and endeavors to rescue him from the threat of death posed by a malevolent colonel.
Premiering on August 31, 2017, as part of the main competition at the 74th Venice International Film Festival, The Shape of Water received the prestigious Golden Lion award. The film was also showcased at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Initially released in two New York City theaters on December 1, 2017, it later expanded to a wider release on December 22, 2017, ultimately earning a global box office revenue of $195 million.
7. The Lure (2015)
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
The Lure is a 2015 is a Polish horror musical film, directed by Agnieszka Smoczyńska. The plot revolves around two sirens emerging from the waters to perform in a nightclub. One of them falls in love with a man, decides to sacrifice her tail, but loses her voice in the process. The narrative is a reinterpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” drawing inspiration from Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s personal experiences. Following its premiere in Poland, the film received favorable reviews during screenings at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and Fantasia Film Festival.
8. The Splash (1984)
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Splash is a 1984 American romantic fantasy comedy directed by Ron Howard, with a screenplay by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, and Bruce Jay Friedman, based on a story by Friedman and producer Brian Grazer. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy, and Eugene Levy. The storyline revolves around a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman hiding the secret that she is a mermaid. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Notably, “Splash” holds significance as the inaugural film released by Touchstone Pictures, a film label established by Walt Disney Studios in the same year. The creation of Touchstone Pictures aimed to release films tailored for adult audiences, featuring mature content that was not suitable for Disney’s primary Walt Disney Pictures banner.
9. Lady in the water (2006)
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Lady in the Water is a 2006 American psychological thriller and fantasy film, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who co-produced the film with Sam Mercer. The storyline revolves around the superintendent of a Philadelphia apartment complex who discovers a young woman in the swimming pool. As the plot unfolds, he and his neighbors realize that she is a water nymph, or Narf, whose life is endangered by a vicious, wolf-like mystical creature called a Scrunt. The Scrunt attempts to prevent her from returning to her watery blue world. Lady in the Water was released on July 21, 2006, marking Shyamalan’s first film not distributed by Walt Disney Studios under their Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures labels since “Wide Awake.”
The cast includes Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard, with supporting roles played by Bob Balaban, Jeffrey Wright, Sarita Choudhury, Freddy Rodriguez, Bill Irwin, and Jared Harris. Legendary Pictures and Blinding Edge Pictures produced the film, which was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
10. Mermaid: Lake of the Dead (2018)
IMDb Rating: 4.5/10
The impending marriage of Marina and Roma is on the horizon. Roma’s friends arrange a bachelor party at a house near a lake where Roma’s mother had tragically drowned under mysterious circumstances in the past. As the evening unfolds, Roma finds himself preoccupied with thoughts of his future wife due to a recent disagreement with Marina. Seeking solace, he distances himself from the party and heads down to the lake. Leveraging his aspirations as a swimming professional, he takes the opportunity to train in the lake. Emerging from the water, he encounters a young woman who captivates him. Feeling an unusually strong attraction, he is charmed and kissed by her. Unbeknownst to him, the seemingly ordinary woman is, in fact, a mermaid, setting off an unforeseen curse.
11. The Mermaid (2016)
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
The Mermaid (Chinese: 美人鱼) is a 2016 romantic comedy fantasy film from China and Hong Kong, directed, co-written, and produced by Stephen Chow. The cast includes Lin Yun, Deng Chao, Zhang Yuqi, and Show Lo. The plot revolves around a playboy businessman (Deng Chao) who unexpectedly falls in love with a mermaid (Lin Yun) assigned to assassinate him.
The film premiered in China on February 8, 2016, and swiftly set numerous box office records, including the largest opening day and the highest single-day gross by its seventh day in theaters. The Mermaid achieved the most significant opening week in Chinese cinema history, ultimately securing its place as the thirteenth-highest-grossing film of all time in China.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the world of mermaid movies offers a spellbinding fusion of magic, romance, and adventure, captivating audiences with tales both classic and contemporary. As we embark on this cinematic journey through the depths of the ocean, the enduring allure of mermaids comes to life, weaving tales of love, mystery, and mythical wonder. Whether through timeless fairy tales or modern interpretations, these films leave an indelible mark on our imagination, reminding us of the enduring fascination with these enchanting creatures. So, dive deep and immerse yourself in the fantastical world of the best mermaid movies, where the allure of the ocean beckons and the mysteries of the deep unfold in mesmerizing ways.
