TL;DR: Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula is a masterclass in camp and drag-inspired villainy, but she’s significantly more intense than the 1989 cartoon version. If your kid is sensitive to loud noises, dark imagery, or "giant monsters," the final 20 minutes of The Little Mermaid (2023) might be a bit much. For most kids 7+, it’s a thrill; for the 5-and-under crowd, it’s a gamble.
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When Disney announced Melissa McCarthy was playing Ursula, the internet had thoughts. Some wanted a literal drag queen, others were worried it would be too "Bridesmaids-y." But now that the dust (or sea salt) has settled, we can talk about what’s actually on the screen.
McCarthy isn't just playing a villain; she’s channeling the history of the character, which was originally modeled after the legendary drag queen Divine. This Ursula is bigger, louder, and frankly, a lot more "extra" than the original. For parents, this means a performance that is incredibly entertaining but also carries a weight and a "creep factor" that the 1989 animation couldn't quite reach.
Let’s be real: the villains are usually the most interesting part of these movies. McCarthy brings a specific kind of "fun-scary" to the role.
- The Drag Influence: If you notice your kid mimicking her dramatic hand gestures or that specific "theatric" way she speaks, it’s because McCarthy leaned heavily into the drag roots of the character. It’s high-camp, high-drama, and high-energy.
- The Backstory: Unlike The Little Mermaid (1989), the new film explicitly makes Ursula King Triton’s sister. This adds a layer of "family drama" that older kids (8-12) usually find more engaging than just a random sea witch being mean for no reason.
- The Music: "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is still a banger. McCarthy can actually sing, and the staging—complete with glowing tentacles and bioluminescent "souls"—is visually stunning.
Ask our chatbot about the best Disney villain songs for a family playlist
If you’re deciding whether to hit play on Disney+ tonight, there are three specific areas where the "scary" dial gets turned up to eleven.
In the cartoon, the eels were sneaky but still "cartoony." In the 2023 version, they look like actual, slimy, prehistoric predators. They don't talk in the same way—they’re more like Ursula’s silent, stalking attack dogs. If your child has a thing about snakes or eels, these two are definitely nightmare fuel.
The "Body Horror" of the Souls
The "Poor Unfortunate Souls" she keeps in her lair aren't just little shriveled polyps this time. They look like distressed, trapped spirits. The transformation sequence where Ariel loses her voice is also more visceral. It’s not "horror movie" level, but it’s definitely more intense than the original’s bubble-and-light show.
The Final Battle (Kaiju Ursula)
This is the big one. In the finale, Ursula grows to the size of a skyscraper. Because it's live-action (or very realistic CGI), she looks much more formidable. There’s a lot of lightning, crashing waves, and a very dark color palette. It feels less like a fairy tale and more like an action-adventure movie. For a 4-year-old, a giant, screaming Melissa McCarthy rising out of a dark ocean might be the thing that ends co-sleeping for the month.
Every kid is different, but based on community feedback and the "jump-scare" frequency, here is how we break it down:
- Ages 3-5: Proceed with caution. They might love the "Under the Sea" parts, but you might want to have the remote ready to skip the Ursula scenes or the final battle. It’s loud and dark.
- Ages 6-9: This is the sweet spot. They’ll likely find Ursula "cool-scary." They might ask questions about why she’s so mean to her brother (Triton), which is a great opening to talk about jealousy and family dynamics.
- Ages 10+: They’ll probably appreciate the performance for what it is. If they’ve seen Cruella or Maleficent, this is right in their wheelhouse.
If your kid does get a little spooked, or if you want to use the movie as a jumping-off point for a real conversation, here are a few angles:
- "She’s an Actress": Sometimes it helps to show kids a clip of Melissa McCarthy on YouTube being her normal, funny self. It breaks the "magic" just enough to remind them that the sea witch is just a lady in a suit with a lot of makeup.
- The "Sibling" Talk: Since Ursula and Triton are siblings in this version, you can talk about how Ursula felt left out or "unloved." It doesn’t excuse her being a villain, but it makes her a human (well, a cecaelia) rather than just a monster.
- The Price of a Voice: The movie is a great way to talk about "bad deals." Ursula is essentially a predatory lender for the ocean. Asking your kid, "Do you think Ariel made a good choice giving up her voice?" is a classic Screenwise move to encourage critical thinking.
Check out our guide on teaching kids media literacy through movies
Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula is arguably the best part of the remake, but she’s not the "safe" cartoon villain you remember from childhood. She’s formidable, she’s loud, and the CGI makes her world feel very real.
If you have a sensitive kid, maybe watch the 1989 version first. If they handle that fine, move up to the 2023 version. And honestly? Be prepared for them to start quoting her. "I'm a girl who likes to eat!" is a mood, and McCarthy delivers it perfectly.
- Watch the original: Compare the two with The Little Mermaid (1989).
- Read the book: Check out the original (and much darker) The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen if you have older kids who like "the real story."
- Explore more villains: If they loved the vibe, they might like Descendants on Disney+.
Ask our chatbot for a curated list of "Spooky but Safe" movies for 7-year-olds