The Little Mermaid (2023)

A live action version of the beloved 1989 animated film that launched Disney into a second Golden Age of fairy tale films, this one stars a bright-eyed Halle Bailey as Ariel, the youngest daughter of ocean ruler King Triton (Javier Bardem). It stays true to the original film, showing a defiant Ariel longing to explore the human world despite her father’s warnings that it is full of violent predators. After one of her secret trips to the surface leads to her saving the life of the handsome Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), the now love-stricken mermaid makes a a deal with the devil in order to follow her heart - and by devil we mean the evil sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy). Ursula offers to turn Ariel human for three days in exchange for her melodic voice, with the caveat that if she can’t seal the deal with a kiss from Eric on the last day, she belongs to the sea witch forever. Under the sea, Halle trades the iconic purple seashells for a strapless bikini top of skin-hugging, iridescent scales, but still ends up in the buff when she gets her legs, though with carefully placed seaweed, hair, and camera angles to keep it PG. We knew it was a lot to ask that nudity be part of the world of this live action remake, but Halle still shines as the brave, sweet sea beauty we all know and love!