The Latest Mermaid Movie Release and Production Details
The most recent mermaid-themed feature film to reach theaters and streaming platforms is The Last Mermaid, a live-action fantasy drama produced by independent studio Lantern Entertainment and distributed by Bleecker Street in the United States. The project entered development in 2022 and completed principal photography in coastal Portugal and Iceland over a 14-week schedule in 2023. The film centers on a marine biologist who discovers a reclusive mermaid population off the coast of a remote fishing village and must navigate conflicting interests between conservationists, local fishermen, and a corporate energy company. The screenplay was written by director Clara Mendes and adapted from a short story published in The Atlantic in 2021. Production was funded through a combination of private equity and a European film commission grant, with Lantern Entertainment retaining worldwide distribution rights outside select territories.
Principal photography wrapped in late 2023, and the film premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in October 2024, where it won the award for Best Visual Effects. Theatrical release in North America followed in January 2025, with a simultaneous limited IMAX and standard screening rollout. The production budget was reported at $38 million by Forbes, making it one of the mid-budget independent fantasy films of the cycle. The film is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, peril, and brief language. Marketing campaigns emphasized practical underwater cinematography and minimal CGI, with the director stating that 70 percent of the underwater sequences were captured on practical sets during the Iceland shoot.
Cast, Characters, and Creative Team
The lead role of marine biologist Dr. Elara Voss is played by Danish actress Freja Lindqvist, whose previous credits include the 2022 Nordic thriller Tide. Supporting roles include Portuguese actor João Mendes as village elder Tomás, and American actor Michael Chen as the corporate representative from offshore energy firm Northwave Dynamics. The mermaid characters are portrayed through a combination of motion-capture performance and prosthetics, with lead underwater performer Sólveig Arnardóttir serving as the primary body double. The film's visual effects were supervised by Erik Johansson, whose studio handled the CGI integration for the underwater sequences. The score was composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, known for her work on Joker and Women Talking, and recorded with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra.
The creative team also includes cinematographer Rui Monteiro, production designer Astrid Larsen, and costume designer Beatrice Fontaine, who sourced authentic wool and linen garments for the village ensemble. The film features dialogue in English, Portuguese, and Icelandic, with subtitles provided for international markets. The cast underwent a six-week freediving and underwater safety certification course before filming began. The film's runtime is 127 minutes, and the theatrical cut includes a post-credits scene that teases a potential sequel. Critical reception on aggregator sites places the film at a 78 percent approval rating based on 142 reviews as of the latest update.
Streaming Availability and Box Office Performance
The Last Mermaid earned $24.3 million in its opening weekend across 3,100 North American screens, according to Box Office Mojo. Domestic cumulative gross reached $51.7 million, with international markets adding $42.1 million for a worldwide total of $93.8 million as of the latest reporting period. The film is