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IMDbPro

Free Willy

  • 19931993
  • PGPG
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
78K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,553
218
Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:58
2 Videos
85 Photos
AdventureDramaFamily
When a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.When a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.When a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
78K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,553
218
    • Simon Wincer
    • Keith Walker(screenplay by)
    • Corey Blechman(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Jason James Richter
    • Lori Petty
    • Michael Madsen
    • Simon Wincer
    • Keith Walker(screenplay by)
    • Corey Blechman(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Jason James Richter
    • Lori Petty
    • Michael Madsen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 101User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    Free Willy
    Trailer 1:58
    Watch Free Willy
    Free Willy
    Trailer 0:17
    Watch Free Willy

    Photos85

    Michael Madsen, Jayne Atkinson, and Jason James Richter in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)
    Jason James Richter in Free Willy (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jason James Richter
    Jason James Richter
    • Jesse
    Lori Petty
    Lori Petty
    • Rae
    Michael Madsen
    Michael Madsen
    • Glen
    Jayne Atkinson
    Jayne Atkinson
    • Annie
    August Schellenberg
    August Schellenberg
    • Randolph
    Michael Ironside
    Michael Ironside
    • Dial
    Richard Riehle
    Richard Riehle
    • Wade
    Mykelti Williamson
    Mykelti Williamson
    • Dwight
    Michael Bacall
    Michael Bacall
    • Perry
    Danielle Harris
    Danielle Harris
    • Gwenie
    Isaiah Malone
    Isaiah Malone
    • Vector
    Betsy Toll
    • Passerby #1
    Rob Sample
    • Passerby #2
    Merrilyn Jones
    • Passerby #3
    Mickey Gaines
    • Waiter
    Justin R. Hall
    • Fish Thrower
    Robert M. Duque
    • Fish Thrower
    Sam Samson
    • Fish Thrower
      • Simon Wincer
      • Keith Walker(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Corey Blechman(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the movie was released, it brought the living conditions of the star orca, Keiko (Willy) to the world's attention. His tank was too small, with too-warm chlorinated artificial salt water. Keiko suffered from a weakened immune system and a skin condition around his pectoral fins. There was a monumental effort to release Keiko. A custom tank was built in the Oregon Coast Aquarium and in 1996, the whale was flown from Mexico to Oregon. He recovered well, and was moved to a sea pen in 1998. In July 2002, Keiko was released into the wild after spending 22 years in captivity. Unfortunately he did not fully adapt to the wild and died in December 2003 in Norway. Keiko became the second oldest orca to live in captivity.
    • Goofs
      When Willy is jumping over the stone wall at the end of the movie, the bottom of the actual whale does not match the pattern of the CGI whale that lands the jump.
    • Quotes

      Rae: You like whales?

      Jesse: I like him.

      Rae: Well, he doesn't like anybody. So you be careful around him. You see, Willy's a case. A very special case.

      Jesse: So? Who isn't?

    • Crazy credits
      A disclaimer at the end of the first half of the end credits following A Donner-Shuler Donner Production reads, "No whales were harassed or mistreated during the making of this film and all scenes involving a live animal were supervised by the American Humane Association."
    • Alternate versions
      The first Warner Bros. Family Entertainment variant featuring Bugs Bunny spinning the banner hoop after placing it on the WB shield appears in the fullscreen version of the film. This plaster can only be found in the VHS prints, 1990's HBO airing, and standard side of the 1997 DVD. The latter release used a similar version where the main logo is the first variant but with audio taken from the second variant.
    • Connections
      Edited into Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Will You Be There
      (Theme from "Free Willy")

      Written and Produced by Michael Jackson

      Co-Produced by Bruce Swedien

      Performed by Michael Jackson

      Courtesy of Epic Records

    User reviews101

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    5,2??? Don't believe in this rating!!! This is the best family movie of the 90-s and the sweetest one
    First of all, I want to say some of my thoughts about IMDb ratings. If you look at IMDb top 250 you can hardly find any family movie . In fact, there are only three family movie (I mean live action movies not animated flicks) in this chart. They are Princess Bride on the 99 position (haven't seen yet), A Christmas Story on 142 (a movie nobody heard of besides English speaking countries) and the E.T. on the 244 (forever classic - no point denying that). And I bet you would be unable to find another one even in top 500. On the other hand you can find in this list, for example, more than eighty thrillers or more than thirty 30 war movies. Does that result means that family movies can't be good. Obviously it is not. For me the point is that many of people as well as lots of critics don't appreciate movies sweet movies without profanity, drugs, sex and violence. Cheesy movie for kids only that's not a fair grade. Well it's only my opinion but for me it's very sad when such a beautiful movie become so undeservedly underrated. Now, more directly to our movie. I watched Free Willy no less than four or five times and found it one of the best family and animal movie ever made. The bonds of friendship between man and animal are shown incredibility well here. From this point Free Willy remembered me another beautiful animal movie The Black Stallion. The unlikely friendship between twelve years old Jesse and giant whale as the main element of the story is very sweet and touching. Overall plot is well constructed (and there's no point to complain its unreality) with decent development of the main characters. Young and definitely talented Jason Jammes Richter created terrific performance of a young lonely problem boy Jesse. Also very good in the movie were August Schellenberg (as Randolph) and Michael Madsen (as Glen). As I always mentioned cinematography is pretty good, including first-rate animal action (Keiko is so cute there). The beautiful movie soundtrack written by Basil Poleuydouris a bit resembled for me terrific Carmine Coppola's score for The Black Stallion. And finally, that's maybe the most important Free Willy is a very humanistic movie, a movie that what was made with love and care about nature. Thanks to Simon Wincer for this great masterpiece. We need more movies like this, not a laughable rubbish that Hollywood studios now provide for family entertainment. I rated Free Willy 10 out of 10 as an excellent and beautiful family friendly movie. Check out also its two sequels. They are also pretty good.

    Thanks for reading and sorry for my bad English.
    helpful•138
    28
    • Juni78ukr
    • Apr 20, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 16, 1993 (United States)
      • United States
      • Mexico
      • Official Facebook
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Astoria, Oregon, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
      • Warner Bros.
      • Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 52 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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