Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has been underperforming since it swam into theaters, with some analysts predicting that it may not even reach $500 million worldwide by the end of its theatrical run (it's already close to passing this milestone).
Though the family-friendly reimagining of the animated classic has been holding steady in the U.S. after about a month on general release (it's now passed $250 million domestically), it has been struggling in international markets, especially in many parts of Asia where the movie is "getting doused" due to racist backlash over the casting of Black actress Halle Bailey in the lead role of Ariel.
However, it's a very different story in The Philippines.
According to THR, The Little Mermaid is currently the biggest blockbuster of the year in the Southeast Asian country, taking in $5.8 million to surpass two of the highest-grossing global hits of the year: Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($2.2 million) and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($4.7 million).
“The Philippines, obviously, is a standout market for us,” says John Hsu, Disney’s senior vp studio business in Asia Pacific. “It’s rare, but it’s the biggest territory for The Little Mermaid in Southeast Asia by far, our third highest-grossing market in Asia-Pacific behind Australia and Japan, and our 11th highest-grossing territory globally."
Does this signify a new lease of life for the film as it nears the end of its theatrical run? Well, it will probably end up performing a little better than recent projections suggested, but it will still fall way short of those initial $1 billion estimates.
The Little Mermaid is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
The movie is now in theaters.