Box office: “The Little Mermaid” grossed $10.3 million in previews

The little mermaid As the long Memorial Day weekend began, the North American box office grossed $10.3 million in sneak previews.

This is one of the best performances ever ahead of the bank holiday weekend. Little MermaidThe balance sheet includes $850,000 in income from special screenings on Wednesday; The rest comes from traditional Thursday night performances.

In total, Little Mermaid ranks 7th on the list of top preview earnings for images rated G or PG.

Rob Marshall is directing the live-action adaptation of the popular Disney animated film. The new Little Mermaid Halle Bailey plays Ariel, the spirited young mermaid who makes a dangerous deal with the evil sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) in order to experience life on land and meet the dashing Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). However, the pact poses a great risk to her father’s water kingdom.

The cast also includes Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni and Art Malik.

Bailey’s performance as Ariel drew acclaim from critics, while social media commentators sparked racist backlash against casting a black actress in the title role. Disney insiders don’t anticipate these protests will hurt the film in North America, but are waiting to see how the film performs in certain overseas markets.

The little mermaid plans to earn up to $120 million for the four-day vacation. That would be the fifth-biggest domestic launch for Memorial Day weekend, a ranking currently occupied by Disney’s live-action Aladdinwhich opened with $116.8 million during the four-day holiday after previews grossed $7 million.

The four-day production of the film is expected to have a three-day gross of $100 million. The pre-sale is progressing Aladdinbut behind other live-action remakes Beauty and the Beast And The Lion King.

Abroad, the film will hit theaters by Sunday for $80 million.

Interest is sparked by women, mothers and other women Beauty and the Beastwhose audience consisted of 70 percent women.

The film features music by multiple Oscar winner Alan Menken and new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The action comedy from Legendary The machine and Robert De Niro comedy About my father are also open nationwide, but aren’t expected to gross more than $5 or $6 million on their domestic debuts.

The machine, from Screen Gems, starring Bert Kreischer and is inspired by the comedian’s stand-up act of the same name. Mark Hamill stars in the lead role.