Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- wacky
- irreverent
- sincere
- funny movie night
- fantasy date night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's distinctive absurdist humor, big-hearted fairy-tale romance, and resonant environmental message despite occasional hokey effects and unsubtle delivery.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Weaponized sea urchins, a man-octopus, exaggerated slapstick, and a sincere love story combine into a deliberately bizarre comic register.
Liu Xuan's sea-reclamation project endangers mermaids and makes pollution and habitat destruction central to the plot.
Human developer Liu Xuan falls for mermaid Shan while their communities are placed in opposition.
The film presents love overcoming barriers and environmental responsibility through an unapologetically pure modern fairy-tale framework.
Films like The Mermaid, and why
Kung Fu Hustle
shares Stephen Chow's absurdist physical comedy, eccentric characters, and high-energy fantasy spectacle
Shaolin Soccer
shares broad farce, romantic fantasy, and a sentimental environmental message beneath cartoonish invention
Splash
shares a modern fairy-tale romance, magical creatures, and ecological themes with comedic warmth
The Shape of Water
shares irreverent creature comedy, cross-species romance, and a strange but big-hearted tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Stephen Chow
- Release Date
- 2016-02-08
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (501)
Cast
- Lin Yun
- Deng Chao
- Zhang Yuqi
- Show Lo
- Tsui Hark
- Wen Zhang
- Kris Wu
- Lee Sheung-Ching
- Lu Zhengyu
- Chiu Chi-Ling
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Mermaid about?
- A ruthless coastal developer falls for the mermaid sent to stop his destructive project, igniting a wildly absurd environmental fairy tale.
- What is The Mermaid like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Mermaid as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Mermaid violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Mermaid as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Mermaid?
- Critics broadly praised the film's distinctive absurdist humor, big-hearted fairy-tale romance, and resonant environmental message despite occasional hokey effects and unsubtle delivery.
- Which films are like The Mermaid?
- Films with a similar feel include Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer, Splash, and The Shape of Water.
- How long is The Mermaid?
- The Mermaid runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Mermaid?
- In United States, The Mermaid is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
