Aquamarine

On a sunlit stretch of coast, two teenage friends, Claire Brown and Hailey Rogers, stumble upon a real mermaid after a fierce storm sweeps her onto the beach. Aquamarine, a feisty visitor with a fashionably fearless attitude, follows a simple goal: prove to her father that real love exists in the human world so she can stay above water. The girls agree to help her pursue the town's most eligible lifeguard, Raymond, while navigating their own crushes, gossip and a scheming classmate named Cecilia Banks. As Aquamarine tests the limits of human emotion and the girls learn about loyalty and second chances, friendship becomes the guiding force that makes their summer feel unforgettable and leave a memory for many viewers.

Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, Aquamarine arrived in 2006 as a light teen fantasy romance. It draws on Alice Hoffman's Aquamarine with screenplay input from Jessica Bendinger and John Quaintance, and blends practical effects with playful digital imagery and color.

Box office: The film grossed about $23,006,849 worldwide on a $12,000,000 budget, marking a modest but profitable run for a family oriented fantasy. It performed best with younger audiences and families during school break periods, expanding in markets as well.

Relative to other mid 2000s teen fantasies, Aquamarine offered a breezy blend of humor and heart. Sara Paxton's mermaid character and the sunny shore setting gave audiences a friendly take on first loves and friendship that many families remember, helping shape a wave of light family fantasies in its era.

Reception was mixed but generally positive for its warmth and performances. Critics highlighted the chemistry between Emma Roberts as Claire and Sara Paxton as Aquamarine, and praised the film for its earnest focus on friendship, self confidence, and what love can mean for a teen who is growing up today.