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Jason James Richter, Jayne Atkinson, Lori Petty, August Schellenberg, Michael Madsen ... see more see more... , Michael Ironside , Richard Riehle , Mykelti Williamson , Michael Bacall , Danielle Harris , Lynda Gordon , Judy Taylor , Betsy Toll , Tom Lasswell , Keiko the Killer Whale

The touching story of a boy and his killer whale made this family drama a surprise box office hit. Jesse (Jason James Richter) is a kid without parents who has bounced from one foster home to another ... read more read more...and is living on the streets. One night, he's caught spraying graffiti with his friend Perry (Michael Bacall) in a theme park. Jesse and Perry are caught red handed by Dwight (Mykel T. Williamson), a policeman who thinks that Jesse needs a more stable and disciplined environment. Dwight arranges for Jesse to stay with a new foster family, Glen and Annie Greenwood (Michael Madsen and Jayne Atkinson), with whom Jesse has an initially stormy relationship. Part of Jesse's punishment involves cleaning up the damage he caused at the park, where the new attraction is Willy, a killer whale who is being trained to do tricks. However, Willy was traumatized when he was stolen from his family by mercenary fisherman and does not respond well to the genuine concern of his trainers, Rae (Lori Petty) and Randolph (August Schellenberg). Jesse and Willy, both stranded without families in a place where they don't fit in, develop a close emotional bond, and with Jesse's help, Willy begins to display aptitude as a performer. Thanks to his friendship with Willy, Jesse develops a new sense of responsibility and a healthier relationship with the Greenwoods. However, Dial (Michael Ironside), the owner of the park, doesn't much care for animals and isn't happy with the slower-than-expected progress of Willy's training; having insured the whale for $1 million dollars, he figures that Willy is worth more dead than alive, and Jesse, Rae, and Randolph have to rescue their aquatic friend and return him to the ocean when Dial seems ready to live up to his threats. Free Willy, which featured a star performance by a killer whale named Keiko (who is doubled in some scenes by animatronic models) included the theme song "Will You Be There," a top-ten hit for Michael Jackson, and spawned two sequels. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

48% liked it

660,150 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

23 critics

PG, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Simon Wincer

Release Date: July 16, 1993

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DVD Release Date: June 5, 2001

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Stats: 23,833 reviews

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Free Willy Keiko Free Willy touch Free Willy (1993) FW 32 Free Willy FW 26 FW 74 FW 50 FW 86 FW 85 FW 27 Willy FW 72 FW 38 FW 9 FW 33
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Flixster Reviews (23,833)

  • aquateen2
    April 27, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img]

    The story is pretty cute and entirely inspirational but it's not that emotionally involving and a majority of its run time involves watching the orca jump. In comparison though it doesn't have enough cute... read moreness or charm to be a memorable piece. It's worth a look. Just jump right in with lowered expectations.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    September 28, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Free Willy is a decent family film. I remember liking it as a kid, but it's one of those family films that doesn't really age well. I can think of many other childhood favorites that are better than this. Everyone knows the story of Free Willy. This is one of those films that rea... read morelly doesn't do anything that great. I enjoyed it as a kid, but it's not one of those films that stand out among other childhood favorites. Looking back now, the film is good, but is never anything great. The acting is average for a film like this, and so is the story. The best actor in this film is Michael Ironside and the rest of the cast are really so-so. Free Willy is a decent family film, never anything great, and compared to the films from my childhood, Free Willy is my least favorite. The film isn't really memorable. As a family film, it's perfect, but one should realize that this isn't a film that will stick with you, unlike so many other family films such as Toy Story, The Sandlot and Home Alone. Free Willy is entertaining, but it feels so ordinary in terms of a family film. This isn't the type of film that can withstand multiple viewings. Free Willy might have been good as a childhood film, but it's one that hasn't stood the test of time. I'll stick with Toy Story, at least that film is timeless, and lots of fun with good acting on the actors parts. But this, this feels like it tries too hard at being a sentimental film, and it just doesn't cut it.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    Makes me cry everytime! A childhood favourite and a classic!
  • ajv2688
    May 19, 2011
    ajv2688
    Not your ordinary kid and animal movie, it's also an activist/political movie. It's about saving the whales, obviously, and that's cool. I really liked this movie when I saw it in theatres as a kid, and I think kids today will like it too. This movie is cute and sweet, but als... read moreo full of hope.
  • ythelastman89
    January 22, 2011
    ythelastman89
    I've got to say that this will always be a classic in my book. I really like the story and the overall feel of the movie. It's not just a trivial boy + animal adventure. This has a pretty dark theme going, having your main character be a homeless tween is pretty brave. Especially... read more when he's extremely flawed and such a troublemaker. The sideplot of killer whale poachers is not too bad either.
  • theunknownhobo
    November 16, 2010
    theunknownhobo
    Scariest stuff out there.
  • FilmFanatik
    February 23, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    This died a horrible death and I'm so thankful.
  • fb733768972
    January 15, 2010
    fb733768972
    Really well made! Could not have been made any better!
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    Boy meets whale, boy looses whale, boy finds whale and sets him free. Willy should have bitten his head off though as it would have been more entertaining!
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Of the three "Free Willy" movies, I like this one the best. A teen (Jason James Richter) befriends a whale (Keiko) and ends up getting a job working with Keiko. However, trouble arises when some criminals bust Keiko's tank trying to get rid of the whale. Jason and his friends mus... read moret find a way to save Keiko by freeing him into the ocean.
    "Free Willy" is an all around good movie. It'll keep you interested while you watch the movie and wonder how they're gonna get the job done. If you like good drama movies, I recommend getting "Free Willy." It's one of the best drama movies of the 90's. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. All three of the FW movies rock and I actually don't like trying to rank them compared to one another cause their level of greatness is so similar in my book. I love a great drama movie.

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Critic Reviews

Charles Cassady
December 15, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

A wayward boy befriends a moody killer whale. Full Review

Steve Crum
February 17, 2008
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Save the whale! Still a good family film with a great Michael Jackson title song.

Clint Morris
March 11, 2006
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Good family flick

John Wirt
July 14, 2005
John Wirt, Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

Schmaltzy.

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
July 8, 2005
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

Keiko sure knows how to jump

Ken Hanke
May 26, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Gooey pap that drowns in its own phoniness.

Bob Bloom
May 1, 2003
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

A good family picture that does not get too sweet; worth a look.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 6, 2003
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Free Willy focuses on the friendship between a troubled 12-year-old boy and an orca at an adventure park. It will appeal tremendously to all "friends of nature," a term coined by Albert Schweitzer. Full Review

John J. Puccio
January 14, 2003
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...many adults will find it too blatantly manipulative, but all the same it is decent, lightweight, juvenile entertainment.

Christopher Null
January 11, 2003
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Michael Madsen as a "good guy" foster father? Lori Petty as a whale trainer? Who cast ths movie!?). Full Review

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Facts

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  • In 1977 Keiko the orca, was born in Atlantic Ocean near Iceland.
    On 12 December 2003, Keiko died in Norway at the age of 27, 18 months after he was returned to the wild. He died of pneumonia.
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Free Willy : Watch Free on TV

Free Willy Trivia

  • A 12 year old boy befriends a 7,000 lb killer whale & sets him free?  Answer »
  • What was the movie where they try to free a killer whale?  Answer »
  • Randolph: You must have something special, that's why Willy didn't eat you up. Maybe high blood, medicine roots... Jesse: No way. Randolph: Then you're just one lucky little white boy, you like the sound of that better?  Answer »
  • In what movie did a boy named Jesse save a whale?"  Answer »
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