Walt Disney Co. has taken a lot of abuse for converting its animated classics into still-largely-animated live action films. But The Mouse knows a dollar when it sees one sitting on the shelf as Disney-owned intellectual property.

The new less-animated “The Little Mermaid” had a decent Wednesday “early
access turnout of $850k and an $8 million Thursday night preview take, folded into a big $38 million dollar Friday, according to Box Office Pro.

That puts it on track to clear $95 million by Sunday night, $125 by the time the Monday holiday is one for the books, according to Deadline.com.

Will it be “the fourth highest Memorial Day opening ever?” It’s very long, a patience-testing musical for kids, a slug that’s a bit of a slog. But Disney will make bank on it.

“Fast X” opened at an inflated $112 million last weekend. The second weekend was always going to be the “tell” for this Vin Diesel dog. It’s falling off a cliff, plummeting on its Friday-to-Friday, close to a 70% plunge from its opening if it clears $21 million and just nudges out the more popular “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3.”

On its third full weekend, the middling “Guardians” may notch another $20 million take, as high as $26-27 million by Monday night.

“Super Mario Brothers Movie” is barely winding down its run, set to clear about $6 over three days, $8 over four. A rare video-game adaptation/blockbuster, not much of a plot or “characters” or anything, but the kids or the parents taking their kids have made it a $560 million hit. So what can you say?

Sony spent NO money promoting “The Machine,” an action comedy starring Bert Kreischer and Mark Hamill. It’s set to clear $6 million this weekend and crack the top five.

That allows it to edge the DeNiro/Sebastan Maniscalo comedy “About My Father,” which will also be in the $6 million range.

UPDATED via Box Office Pro.