Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Mermaids

  • 1990
  • PG-13
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
39K
YOUR RATING
Christina Ricci, Winona Ryder, Cher, and Bob Hoskins in Mermaids (1990)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:20
2 Videos
75 Photos
Coming-of-AgeTeen ComedyComedyDramaRomance

An unconventional single mother relocates with her two daughters to a small Massachusetts town in 1963, where a number of events and relationships both challenge and strengthen their familia... Read allAn unconventional single mother relocates with her two daughters to a small Massachusetts town in 1963, where a number of events and relationships both challenge and strengthen their familial bonds.An unconventional single mother relocates with her two daughters to a small Massachusetts town in 1963, where a number of events and relationships both challenge and strengthen their familial bonds.

  • Director
    • Richard Benjamin
  • Writers
    • Patty Dann
    • June Roberts
  • Stars
    • Cher
    • Bob Hoskins
    • Winona Ryder
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    39K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Benjamin
    • Writers
      • Patty Dann
      • June Roberts
    • Stars
      • Cher
      • Bob Hoskins
      • Winona Ryder
    • 90User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Official Trailer
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?
    Clip 3:13
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?
    Clip 3:13
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?

    Photos75

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 67
    View Poster

    Top cast44

    Edit
    Cher
    Cher
    • Mrs. Flax
    Bob Hoskins
    Bob Hoskins
    • Lou Landsky
    Winona Ryder
    Winona Ryder
    • Charlotte Flax
    Michael Schoeffling
    Michael Schoeffling
    • Joe
    Christina Ricci
    Christina Ricci
    • Kate Flax
    Caroline McWilliams
    Caroline McWilliams
    • Carrie
    Jan Miner
    Jan Miner
    • Mother Superior
    Betsy Townsend
    • Mary O'Brien
    Richard McElvain
    Richard McElvain
    • Mr. Crain
    Paula Plum
    Paula Plum
    • Mrs. Crain
    Dossy Peabody
    • Coach Parker
    William Paul Steele
    • Boss in Oklahoma
    Rex Trailer
    • Dr. Reynolds
    Pete Kovner
    • Perfect Family Father
    Patricia Madden
    • Perfect Family Mother
    Justin Marchisio
    • Perfect Family Boy
    Caitlin Marie Bottomley
    • Perfect Family Girl
    Amy Gollnick
    • Girl in Bathroom #1
    • Director
      • Richard Benjamin
    • Writers
      • Patty Dann
      • June Roberts
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews90

    6.738.7K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8Stay_away_from_the_Metropol

    Winona's finest performance!

    Good stuff.

    Cher plays the realistic slutty single mom who is never really happy and doesn't know how to commit to any man. Bob Hoskins plays the realistic average guy who wants the hot mom but can't quite have her. ChrisTEENY Ricci is one of the most bad ass 5 year olds or however old she is in this. Chugging red wine and holding her head under water for fun. But it's Winona Ryder who really shines through as the troubled 15 year old who is completely focused on 2 things: 1. becoming a nun, and 2. losing her virginity to the cute bus driver who drives her to school.

    The awkward "love story" is quite compelling, as is the believable tension that is constantly erupting within the walls of the family's home. This is probably the greatest performance I have ever seen from Winona. She is intense and emotional throughout and it's extremely genuine feeling.

    A classic chick flick right here! It's got a lot of personality! Very well done!
    7debterrill

    Delightful coming-of-age film

    I think this is a delightful movie. The period details are fun, Cher is GREAT, and the chemistry between Hoskins, Cher, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci is excellent. Ryder is especially good at capturing that mixure of idealism, angst and embarrassment which is adolescence.
    9grantss

    Beautiful, funny, moving movie

    A single mother, Mrs Flax (played by Cher), relocates to a small town with her two daughters, Charlotte (Winona Ryder) and Kate (Christina Ricci). We see how their relationship evolves and new relationships are formed.

    Beautiful, funny, moving movie. Tackles a range of issues, and tackles them well. Plus, add in some hilarious one-liners and scenarios and you have a great movie.

    Cher surprises by proving herself a competent actress. Winona Ryder is gorgeous and great as her oldest daughter. I am not usually a fan of precocious kids in movies, but 10-year old Christina Ricci, in her first movie role, is great - adorable, bubbly and funny. Bob Hoskins is his usual solid self.

    Wonderful movie.
    Boyo-2

    Winona's finest hour

    Winona Ryder is fantastic in this movie - its a helluva part and she plays it for all it is worth. Whether she is worshipping Joe (the local hunk-deluxe), or watching 'The Singing Nun' on television, she is completely believable. Her relationship with her less-than-perfect Mother (Cher) is also believable. As a bonus, you get Christina Ricci and Bob Hoskins and some beautiful cinematography. It also has a real feel for the 60's.

    Downsides are one cliche too many (WHY does every movie that takes place in the 60's have to feature JFK's assassination?) and it goes on a tad too long, but its worth watching for sure.
    9marcofoti

    So underrated!

    Are you serious? Film, screenplay, Winona Ryder and Cher didn't get Oscar nominations? Only 56 as critics' metascore? Pure injustice! This film is awesome, so witty and beautifully acted! 👍🏻👍🏻

    More like this

    Moonstruck
    7.2
    Moonstruck
    The Witches of Eastwick
    6.6
    The Witches of Eastwick
    How to Make an American Quilt
    6.3
    How to Make an American Quilt
    Mask
    7.2
    Mask
    Heathers
    7.1
    Heathers
    Reality Bites
    6.6
    Reality Bites
    Steel Magnolias
    7.3
    Steel Magnolias
    Mystic Pizza
    6.4
    Mystic Pizza
    Great Balls of Fire!
    6.3
    Great Balls of Fire!
    Beaches
    7.0
    Beaches
    Girl, Interrupted
    7.3
    Girl, Interrupted
    Mermaids
    5.2
    Mermaids

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Source novelist Patty Dann has said of this filmed adaptation: "It was wonderful and a bit overwhelming. I would be sorting socks on the bed and get calls like, Barbra Streisand wants to do the movie, and I'd just say, sure, and then Cher ended up playing the mother. It was a wild experience. I like the movie very much. The first time I saw it without music it had a very different feel, and it took a while to get used to the soundtrack. When I wrote it, I never thought about music in the background, but now I put the music on sometimes when I clean the house."
    • Goofs
      The subtitle "1963" is shown as Charlotte watches Soeur Sourire perform "Dominique" on the 5 January 1964 broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show (1948).
    • Quotes

      Rachel Flax: Charlotte, I know you're planning a celibate life, but with half my chromosomes, I think that might be tough.

    • Alternate versions
      The versions shown on A&E and Lifetime both have the ending between Cher and Christina Ricci.
    • Connections
      Featured in Cher: The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Dominique
      Music by Soeur Sourire

      French lyrics by Soeur Sourire

      English lyrics by Noel Regney

      Performed by Soeur Sourire

      Courtesy of Sullivan Productions, Inc.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ

    • How long is Mermaids?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sirenas
    • Filming locations
      • North Easton, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production company
      • Orion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $35,419,397
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,514,678
      • Dec 16, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,419,397
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.