Mermaids

Mermaids

Year: 1990

Runtime: 110 min

Language: English

DramaComedyRomance

Five women unexpectedly discover they are mermaids and find themselves drawn to a thriving underwater world. As they navigate this new reality, they explore themes of identity, acceptance, and the courage to embrace their true selves. The experience leads them on a journey of self-discovery and belonging within a vibrant and magical community.

Mermaids (1990) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Mermaids (1990) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a sleepy coastal town where the rhythm of tide and town are inseparable, five seemingly ordinary women begin to sense that the world they thought they knew is only a surface. Rachel carries the restless energy of a perpetual mover, always chasing fresh starts, while her teenage daughter Charlotte wrestles with a deep‑seated yearning for something beyond the familiar walls of home. Kate, the athletic sister, feels most alive when she’s weightless, slicing through water as if it were air. Joining them are Mia, a shy librarian whose love of myth feels oddly personal, and Sofia, a free‑spirited artist whose sketches have always hinted at hidden depths. Their lives intersect under the quiet hum of the ocean, and an uncanny pull draws them together toward a secret that has waited beneath the waves for generations.

The film’s tone balances dreamy wonder with intimate realism, inviting viewers to glide between the everyday and the magical. The coastal setting feels both grounding and otherworldly: weathered boardwalks give way to moonlit surf, and lantern‑lit streets echo the phosphorescent glow of an unseen underwater city. This vibrant backdrop frames the story’s exploration of identity, as each woman confronts the idea that personal truth might be far more fluid than the lives they’ve built on land.

As they each sense the stir of scales and song beneath their skin, a quiet sense of belonging begins to surface. The narrative hints at a thriving underwater community—a place of luminous coral, ancient currents, and a tapestry of lives that have learned to thrive in harmony with the sea. The women’s burgeoning connection to this hidden world promises a journey of self‑acceptance and courageous transformation, all while the surface world watches, unaware of the tide that is about to rise.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 13:36

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Bittersweet Coming-of-Age Movies like Mermaids

Awkward adolescent journeys where self-discovery is tinged with heartache and hope.If you liked the blend of heartache and hope in Mermaids, discover more stories about the awkward journey of adolescence. These movies, like Lady Bird and The Virgin Suicides, explore first love and family dynamics with a nostalgic, bittersweet tone that feels authentic and deeply moving.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist navigating the complexities of adolescence, often in a specific time period that adds to the nostalgic feel. The journey involves a central conflict, such as a strained parental relationship or a pivotal first romance, that forces the character to confront who they are versus who they are expected to be. The resolution is rarely purely happy or sad, instead embracing the mixed emotions of leaving childhood behind.

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Movies with Complicated Mother-Daughter Relationships like Mermaids

Stories where love and conflict are inextricably woven between mothers and daughters.For viewers who appreciated the central, fraught mother-daughter relationship in Mermaids, this collection features similar dramas. Films like Postcards from the Edge and Terms of Endearment also explore the lifelong bonds, fierce arguments, and hard-won understanding that define these complex familial connections.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around the evolving conflict and connection between a mother and daughter figure. The tension often stems from clashing personalities, unmet expectations, or past secrets. The plot explores how both characters grow and change through their disputes and moments of tenderness, moving toward a resolution that may involve acceptance, distance, or a new understanding, but rarely a simple fix.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific thematic focus on the nuances of the mother-daughter bond. They consistently feature medium intensity driven by familial conflict, a dramatic and sometimes eccentric mood, and a focus on character development over plot. The emotional core is the push-and-pull of this fundamental relationship.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Mermaids

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Mermaids

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