From Movieweb: “With a $250 million production cost and a reported $140 million marketing cost, The Little Mermaid, under the most generous of projections, needs to gross approximately $560 million at the worldwide box office, according to Hollywood insiders, to reach its break-even threshold.”
So they are 85% (476/560) to the minumum to break even in 24 days since opening. Not a bad rate inmy mind. This does not include new merchandising opportunities that it will generate.
The Little Mermaid will do just fine for Disney’s bottom line.