The 20 Best Movies About Mermaids, Ranked

Mermaid movies are the cinematic equivalent of finding a seashell in your pocket that you swear you didn’t put there:
magical, slightly suspicious, and somehow always covered in glitter. Whether you like your merfolk sweet and sing-songy,
romantically mysterious, or straight-up “did that siren just eat a dude?” there’s a mermaid movie for you.

This ranking celebrates the full ocean buffet: animated classics, rom-com comfort food, art-house oddities, family favorites,
and a few darker “don’t swim alone” picks. Some are iconic. Some are underrated. A couple are delightfully bonkers.
All are unapologetically wet.

How this ranking works

I ranked these films using a simple recipe: (1) how central the mermaid/merfolk mythology is, (2) story and emotional punch,
(3) rewatchability (the “one more time” factor), (4) craft performances, animation, music, or atmosphere and (5) cultural
impact or cult status. In other words: the movies that make you want to stare dramatically at the horizon while holding a fork.

The 20 Best Movies About Mermaids, Ranked

1. #20 The King’s Daughter (2022)

   A period-fantasy that swings for epic romance and lands somewhere around “sparkly historical fever dream.” A captured mermaid
   becomes the key to immortality in a royal court full of ambition and questionable choices. It’s uneven, but if you enjoy
   lavish costumes, fairy-tale melodrama, and the general vibe of “Versailles, but make it fish,” it’s worth a curious watch.

2. #19 Mermaid Down (2019)

   Dark, indie, and unsettling a mermaid is dragged into the human world with trauma in tow, and the film leans into
   bleak horror energy more than whimsical fantasy. It’s not a “popcorn and sunshine” pick. It’s a “lock your doors,
   question your life choices, and maybe don’t trust seaside strangers” pick.

3. #18 The Mermaid: Lake of the Dead (2018)

   If you like your mermaids closer to folklore-horror than Disney-princess, this one’s for you. It taps into the eerie “water
   nymph” tradition: seduction, jealousy, and a cursed underwater pull that feels like the lake itself has a grudge.
   Atmospheric, creepy, and a good reminder that romance is great unless it’s supernatural romance that lives in a swamp.

4. #17 She Creature (2001)

   A gothic, made-for-TV horror gem with serious “stormy night at sea” atmosphere. A captured mermaid becomes both spectacle and
   threat, and the movie does what good creature-features do best: mix greed, fear, and consequences until someone regrets
   everything. It’s campy at times, but the creature design and claustrophobic ship setting give it a punch.

5. #16 Mad About Men (1954)

   A cheeky, old-school comedy in which a mermaid basically shows up to stir the pot and boy, does she stir. It’s playful,
   flirty, and built on the timeless truth that nothing disrupts a coastal community like a glamorous stranger with an agenda.
   Vintage fun with a winking tone and a mermaid who knows exactly what she’s doing.

6. #15 Miranda (1948)

   Another classic comedy built around one irresistible idea: a mermaid wants a tour of human life, and humans are… not prepared.
   It’s light, charming, and full of that mid-century “everyone’s fainting politely” energy. Think of it as a mermaid movie
   powered by social chaos instead of sea battles.

7. #14 Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 (2012)

   Bright, bubbly, and made for viewers who believe the ocean should have more pop music and fewer sharks (valid). It’s a
   kid-friendly sequel that doubles down on fantasy wish-fulfillment: undersea adventures, upbeat lessons, and a world where
   your biggest problem is usually self-confidence not, you know, drowning.

8. #13 Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (2010)

   The first movie earns its spot by being exactly what it promises: a cheerful, colorful mermaid fantasy with easy stakes and
   lots of sparkle. It’s perfect for a cozy family watch or a nostalgia hit if you grew up in the golden era of direct-to-DVD
   comfort cinema. Sometimes you don’t need realism; you need a mermaid who’s thriving.

9. #12 The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008)

   A prequel that explores Ariel before her famous deal-making era. It’s not the crown jewel of the franchise, but it has
   a soft spot for fans who love Atlantica lore, Ariel’s curiosity, and the musical heartbeat of the original world.
   Think of it as bonus content for people who treat “Under the Sea” like a lifestyle.

10. #11 The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000)

    A sequel centered on the next generation and the inherited urge to do the exact thing your parents begged you not to do.
    It’s smaller and more “Saturday morning sequel” than cinematic event, but it’s still a warm revisit to the characters,
    songs, and oceanic fairy-tale vibes that make the franchise so replayable.

11. #10 The Thirteenth Year (1999)

    Mermaid-adjacent in the best way: it’s a Disney Channel merman transformation story with teen awkwardness, family mystery,
    and that late-’90s wholesome energy where your biggest fear is gym class not sea monsters. It’s sweet, goofy,
    and surprisingly heartfelt about identity and belonging. Also: puberty was hard enough without fins.

12. #9 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

    This is the “mermaids are gorgeous… until they aren’t” entry. The mermaid sequence is a standout: alluring singing,
    sudden danger, and chaotic survival instincts. It’s not purely a mermaid movie, but it earns a place because it treats
    mermaids as mythic predators a sharp contrast to the usual fairy-tale framing.

13. #8 A Mermaid in Paris (2020)

    A romantic fantasy with a dreamy, modern-fable tone: a lonely human rescues a mermaid, and love blooms with a sense that
    the world might be more magical than it looks. It’s whimsical and stylized the kind of movie you watch when you want
    your romance with a side of neon, melancholy, and fairy-tale logic.

14. #7 Ondine (2009)

    A quiet, lyrical modern myth in which a fisherman pulls a mysterious woman from the sea and the story hovers between
    realism and folklore like it’s afraid to break the spell. It’s tender, patient, and emotionally grounded, with the mermaid
    idea functioning as both possibility and metaphor. Best enjoyed when you’re in a reflective mood.

15. #6 Aquamarine (2006)

    Pure early-2000s teen fantasy comfort: two best friends discover a mermaid, and suddenly summer becomes a mission involving
    friendship, first crushes, and learning what love actually means. It’s lighthearted, sweet, and unapologetically aimed at
    a younger audience which is exactly why it works. The ocean is basically a third best friend here.

16. #5 The Little Mermaid (2023)

    A modern live-action take that leans hard into spectacle and music while expanding the world above and below the surface.
    It’s a big, polished studio fantasy with emotional beats that aim for sincerity rather than irony. Whether you come for
    the updated visuals, the performances, or the “yes, we’re doing the songs” joy, it’s a major modern mermaid entry.

17. #4 The Mermaid (2016)

    A wild blend of comedy, romance, and environmental fable and it’s not shy about being absurd. The premise (a mermaid sent
    on a mission who gets emotionally complicated about it) becomes a playground for satire and slapstick. It’s fast, weird,
    and surprisingly sincere underneath the chaos like a cartoon that learned how to deliver a message mid-backflip.

18. #3 The Lure (2015)

    The most “I can’t believe this exists, and I’m so glad it does” pick on the list: part musical, part horror, part fairy tale,
    and fully committed to its man-eating mermaid mythology. It’s stylish, daring, and emotionally sharp, using the mermaid
    story to explore desire, exploitation, and the cost of trying to change yourself for love.

19. #2 Ponyo (2008)

    Mermaid-ish (goldfish princess!) but absolutely worthy: it captures the wonder of the sea with childlike imagination and
    breathtaking animation. The story is gentle and sincere, centered on friendship, big feelings, and ocean magic that feels
    both cozy and enormous. It’s the rare film that makes the ocean feel like home and the shoreline feel like a promise.

20. #1 The Little Mermaid (1989)

    The gold standard: a rebellious mermaid, a deal with a sea witch, iconic songs, and an undersea world that still feels
    alive decades later. It’s the movie that turned mermaids into a generation-defining obsession and proved animation could
    be romantic, funny, scary, and musically unforgettable in one breath. If mermaid cinema has a throne, Ariel carved it.

What makes mermaid movies feel so personal (500-word experience section)

Mermaid stories sneak up on you because they aren’t really about fish tails. They’re about the tug-of-war between comfort and
curiosity the feeling that your world is too small and the next one is just out of reach. That’s why so many people have a
“mermaid movie phase” at some point, even if they pretend it was “for the soundtrack” or “because my cousin picked it.”
The ocean becomes a metaphor you can rewatch.

There’s also a very specific emotional flavor mermaid movies deliver: wonder with a little danger. The sea is gorgeous, but it
doesn’t care about your plans. That’s why a bright, friendly mermaid like Aquamarine can feel comforting it’s the
fantasy of being understood by someone who doesn’t quite belong. Meanwhile, a darker film like The Lure hits differently
because it says the quiet part out loud: transformation can cost you something, and love can be both beautiful and predatory.
Same mythology, totally different aftertaste.

Watching a mermaid movie marathon is basically mood management. Start with a classic like The Little Mermaid (1989) to
set the emotional anchor: music, humor, and a clear fairy-tale engine. Then try a modern remix like The Little Mermaid (2023)
to see how the same bones play with different textures bigger visuals, different pacing, new emphasis. After that, it’s fun
to swerve. Go cozy with Ponyo if you want wonder and softness. Or go sharp with On Stranger Tides if you want the
reminder that siren songs are basically nature’s way of saying, “Congratulations, you’ve been selected for chaos.”

The most relatable “viewer experience” in mermaid movies is the moment someone realizes the rules have changed. A character
touches seawater and suddenly they’re not the person they were five minutes ago (The Thirteenth Year plays this as teen
comedy; horror films play it as doom). That feeling is familiar even without magic: puberty, grief, falling in love, moving,
starting over the human versions of growing fins. Mermaid movies externalize it in the most dramatic way possible, which is
why they’re oddly comforting. If you’re changing, at least the soundtrack can be good.

And then there’s the aesthetic joy: shimmering light, underwater hair that defies physics, and costumes that look like they were
designed by a coral reef with a fashion degree. Mermaid cinema understands something important: fantasy needs texture. The best
entries make you feel salt air in your imagination even if you’re watching in sweatpants with a snack you absolutely should
not bring near open water.

Ultimately, mermaid movies endure because they let you rehearse a brave decision in a safe place. Go to the surface. Stay in the sea.
Choose love. Choose yourself. Or, in the case of certain horror mermaids, choose violence. Whatever your mood, the ocean is open.

Conclusion

Mermaid movies are wildly flexible: they can be romantic, terrifying, hilarious, or heartbreakingly poetic sometimes all in
the same film. If you’re chasing pure nostalgia, start with The Little Mermaid (1989). If you want modern spectacle,
go 2023. If you want something daring, pick The Lure. And if you want a reminder that the sea is beautiful but
not always friendly, let the pirates (or the horror mermaids) teach you respect.