On what date did Disney's 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid receive its wide theatrical release?

Disney’s 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid received its wide theatrical release on November 17, 1989. The date marks the film’s broad United States release after an earlier premiere and limited engagements.

The film became a major commercial and critical success, helping revive Disney’s reputation in feature animation. Its combination of fairy-tale storytelling, character-driven songs, expressive animation, and Broadway-influenced musical structure became a model for several later Disney animated films.

The Little Mermaid is often described as the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, although the term refers to a broader period rather than a single officially defined event. Films such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King followed its success during the 1990s.

The date is distinct from the film’s production milestones and award-season events. The movie was released in 1989, but its Academy Awards were presented in 1990 for achievements associated with the 1989 film.