The Little Mermaid and Aladdin are by far some of Disney's most famous and beloved movies of all time. They feature two of the official Disney princesses - Ariel and Jasmine - and make sure to include all the elements of a good movie from a likable protagonist to a menacing villain.
But despite their success, fans like to compare the two all the time, trying to decide which of them is actually better. Indeed, some characteristics of Aladdin might make it superior to The Little Mermaid, but in other instances, the latter takes the win. It's best to compare the two to decide which of them is truly better.
10 The Little Mermaid: Ursula Is The Perfect Villain
Among the classic Disney villains, both Jafar and Ursula are some of the most memorable ones. But when it comes to their scariness, Ursula takes the win here.
To become the ruler of the seas, the finds the weakest spot of King Triton which is his daughter Ariel. Jafar, though also wanting to take over the Sultan, seems a bit laughable with the way he decides to make his plan come true.
9 Aladdin: Jasmine's Role Is More Significant Than Being Just The Love Interest
The difference between the two love interests is that they are of different genders here - Aladdin is the protagonist with Jasmine being his other half, and Ariel is the protagonist with Prince Eric being the love of her life.
And while Prince Eric is definitely a charming guy, Jasmine is no less beautiful. Moreover, Jasmine plays a way more active role in the development of the plot. She even criticizes the way she is being discussed by other men in her life.
8 The Little Mermaid: The Underwater Setting Is Unique Among Disney Films
The majority of Disney animated movies that feature official Disney princesses take place somewhere in Europe, but The Little Mermaid and Aladdin take a different approach.
Aladdin is set in the Middle East which makes it more unusual for Western audiences, but The Little Mermaid is partially set underwater which is unusual for audiences all around the world.
7 Aladdin: It Earned More At The Box Office On A Smaller Budget
When it comes to overall success, Aladdin is the winner by a slight margin. On a budget of $28 million, it earned $504 million at the box office while The Little Mermaid earned $233 million on a budget of $40 million.
Both movies got nominated for and won multiple Academy Awards as well as getting critic reviews that are quite close. So, in essence, it's only the commercial success that makes the difference.
6 The Little Mermaid: The Supporting Characters Enrich The Movie
The supporting and background characters might seem to be something unimportant but they are actually the ones enriching the cast of the movie and giving the protagonist someone to interact with.
Aladdin has some pretty good supporting characters like Genie, Abu, Iago, and the Sultan, but The Little Mermaid arguably has more interesting ones like King Triton, Prince Eric, Ariel's sisters, Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle.
5 Aladdin: The Jokes Are Enjoyable For Anyone Watching
Comic relief is an integral part of any animated Disney movie as it provides humorous entertainment for the kids and maybe even some interesting jokes for their parents.
The Little Mermaid has not one but several characters specifically created for comic relief, but Aladdin has several of them too. And still, Aladdin takes himself less seriously than Ariel does which is probably why he gets into way funnier situations.
4 The Little Mermaid: Themes Of Alienation & Unrequited Love Are Addressed Extensively
Though Disney animated movies are made for kids, that doesn't mean that they don't have any themes in them. Aladdin, for instance, touches upon the topics of social classes, freedom and confinement, truth, cunning, and power.
The Little Mermaid, on the other hand, also covers quite a few interesting themes and discusses them more extensively. These include alienation, unrequited love, choices, and so on.
3 Aladdin: The Impressive Visuals Were Made With More Advanced Technology
Disney's movies are known for their outstanding animation quality, and both Aladdin and The Little Mermaid are no exceptions to this as they both still look good even after so many years.
And yet, because Aladdin was released three years after The Little Mermaid, it had the privilege of being made using more advanced technology.
2 The Little Mermaid: There's A Lot Of Lore Behind The Underwater World
Obviously, the lore is not the most important part of an animated movie, but it still plays a significant enough role as it helps the viewers get more immersed into the world of the protagonist.
Aladdin does a pretty good job with its worldbuilding, but while the magical elements such as the Genie, his lamp, and the flying carpet are definitely cool, they can't compare to an entire underwater world of The Little Mermaid.
1 Aladdin: The Songs Are Unforgettable & Iconic
Arguably, Disney's trademark has always been its songs. And the songs in both The Little Mermaid and Aladdin are absolutely unforgettable.
Still, when judging the two movies by their songs, it seems that Aladdin has more memorable content. From "A Whole New World" to "Friend Like Me" to "Arabian Nights," all of them are gems that can be listened to over and over again.