The mermaid appeal is pretty universal, especially for kids ages 4-12. There's something magnetic about a character who literally lives in two worlds — the familiar human one and the mysterious ocean depths. It's the ultimate "what if" fantasy.

For younger kids (ages 4-8), it's often about the visual spectacle. Underwater worlds are colorful, magical, and full of talking sea creatures. The transformation aspect is fascinating — who hasn't wondered what it would be like to have a tail and breathe underwater?

For older kids (ages 8-12), mermaid stories hit different. They're often about identity, belonging, and choosing between two paths. The "fish out of water" metaphor (pun intended) resonates with tweens navigating their own in-between phase — not quite a kid, not quite a teen.

There's also a gender dynamic worth noting: while mermaid movies traditionally skew toward girls, plenty of boys enjoy them too, especially the adventure-focused ones. If your son loves The Little Mermaid, that's completely normal and healthy.

Let's break down the major players, because not all mermaid content is equally worth your time.

The Little Mermaid — both the animated original and the 2023 live-action remake — remains the benchmark. The 1989 version is a legitimate masterpiece with incredible music, gorgeous animation, and yes, some problematic "give up your voice for a man" messaging that's worth discussing with older kids.

The 2023 version addresses some of those concerns (Ariel has more agency, Eric is less of a blank slate), and Halle Bailey's performance is stunning. Both versions work for ages 5+, though the live-action has some slightly scarier moments with Ursula.

Parent note: The "giving up your voice" theme bothers some parents more than others. If it bugs you, it's a great conversation starter about identity and compromise in relationships. If you're more relaxed about it, the movie still holds up as quality entertainment.

Aquamarine is the mermaid movie for the tween set (ages 8-13). It's a friendship story first, mermaid story second. Two best friends find a mermaid in their beach club pool, and hijinks ensue. It's sweet, funny, and refreshingly focused on female friendship rather than romance (though there is a cute boy subplot).

The themes here are actually great: loyalty, honesty, and what it means to be a good friend. It's also just... fun? Not every kids' movie needs to be a profound teaching moment. Sometimes "harmless and entertaining" is enough.

Okay, this is technically a show, not a movie, but H2O: Just Add Water deserves mention because it's basically the gateway drug to mermaid obsession for ages 8-12. Three Australian teens become mermaids and have to hide their secret while dealing with normal teenage drama.

It's campy, low-budget, and has aged about as well as a 2006 teen show can (which is to say: not great, but also not terrible). The special effects are laughable by today's standards, but kids don't care. The friendship dynamics are solid, and there's something appealing about the "normal life with a secret" premise.

Look, I'm not going to tell you Barbie in a Mermaid Tale is unwatchable, but it's definitely in the "your kid will be fine but you might lose brain cells" category. It's fine for ages 4-8 as background entertainment, but don't expect anything approaching the quality of modern Pixar or even decent Disney Channel content.

If your kid is obsessed with mermaids AND Barbie, this exists. That's about the strongest endorsement I can give.

Ponyo (2008) is technically a goldfish-turned-human story, but it's the most beautiful "mermaid-adjacent" film you'll ever see. Studio Ghibli magic, ages 5+, absolutely stunning. If your kid likes mermaids, they'll love Ponyo.

Luca (2021) is about sea monsters, not mermaids, but it scratches the same itch — characters who transform between human and aquatic forms, navigating identity and belonging. It's Pixar quality, which means it's actually good for adults too. Ages 6+.

The body image conversation: Many mermaid movies feature thin, conventionally attractive protagonists in seashell tops. This is worth acknowledging, especially with daughters. The 2023 Little Mermaid helps by casting Halle Bailey, but it's still a genre that tends toward a specific body type.

The "giving up everything for love" trope: This shows up a lot in mermaid stories. Ariel gives up her voice, her family, her entire world. It's fairy tale logic, but it's worth discussing with kids old enough to understand: "What do you think about Ariel leaving her family for someone she just met?"

The environmental angle: Mermaid movies can be a great entry point for conversations about ocean conservation. Many of these films showcase beautiful underwater worlds worth protecting.

Ages 4-6: Stick with The Little Mermaid (animated), Ponyo, and maybe the Barbie mermaid movies if you can tolerate them. Skip anything with romance as a primary plot.

Ages 7-9: Add The Little Mermaid (live-action), Luca, and Aquamarine. Start having conversations about the themes.

Ages 10+: Everything's fair game, and they're old enough to critically discuss the problematic elements. H2O: Just Add Water becomes more appealing to this age group.

Mermaid movies aren't going to rot your kid's brain, but they're also not all created equal. The best ones (The Little Mermaid, Ponyo, Luca) are genuinely good films with themes worth discussing. The middle tier (Aquamarine, H2O) is harmless entertainment. The bottom tier... well, sometimes kids need background noise while they play.

The real value in mermaid movies isn't the films themselves — it's the conversations they spark. Use them as jumping-off points to talk about identity, belonging, friendship, and what it means to navigate between different worlds. Your tween might not be growing a tail, but they're definitely figuring out who they are and where they fit.

And if your kid wants to watch The Little Mermaid for the 47th time? That's fine. We all had our comfort movies growing up. At least the music slaps.