Free Willy

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Free Willy

PG

Released Jul 16, 1993

1h 51m

Kids & Family

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When maladjusted orphan Jesse (Jason James Richter) vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley (Lori Petty), develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial (Michael Ironside) soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.

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Critics Consensus

Free Willy tugs at the heartstrings skillfully enough to leap above the rising tide of sentimentality that threatens to drown its formulaic family-friendly story.

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Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

There's something to be said for fairy tales--when they're done with breadth and emotion. At its best, "Free Willy" jumps that barrier.

Aug 4, 2020

Full Review

Philip Thomas

Empire Magazine

Despite a clichéd plot and some ropey performances, this is still a well-made and entertaining children's film.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 4, 2020

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

With a phony kid and boring whale, there isn't much to recommend in "Free Willy."

Rated: 2/4

Aug 4, 2020

Full Review

Molly Haskell

Ladies' Home Journal

Like all memorable children's films, this one will bring tears to the eyes of parents and kids alike as it deals with the eternal themes of love, loss, trust and forgiveness.

Aug 4, 2021

Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

It's pretty hard to resist once Keiko and Jason James Richter are on screen together, providing you're between four and ten at heart.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 4, 2020

Full Review

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

A wayward boy befriends a moody killer whale.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 15, 2010

Full Review

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Stephen C

A failure in 1 hour and 51 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

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This Old G

I guess it has its moments but it's very amateurish and so thick with sentiment that I almost threw up

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

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Rahquel R

Es una bella película, que te puede hacer llorar, especialmente si amas a los animales, con sus protagonistas excelentes y unos secundarios aceptables se vuelve una muy buena cinta, su mensaje vale la pena aun con actuaciones mediocres de por medio.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

Full Review

Leonard D

I'll never forget going to see this in the theater when it first came out. I have a real love for orca whales, and this is one of those flicks which is proof of it! At times, it can be corny and slow, but that doesn't stop it from being a childhood favorite.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/22/24

Full Review

Corey S

So the people that trapped the orca was the wrong person and the people that save the orca was the great person they should trap the sailors in a jail cell. And it’s a great movie. Jesse you did the right thing! So and maybe you should also make the sailors drown too, and the jail cell. You did a great thing Jesse‘s family.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/20/24

Full Review

Gareth v

While this is a cheesy, cliche riddled family movie, there is just enough here to save it from slipping into trashy Hallmark movie territory.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

Full Review

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Simon Wincer

Director

Jason James Richter

Jesse

Lori Petty

Rae Lindley

Jayne Atkinson

Annie Greenwood

Michael Madsen

Glen Greenwood

Michael Ironside

Dial

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Synopsis

When maladjusted orphan Jesse (Jason James Richter) vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley (Lori Petty), develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial (Michael Ironside) soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.

Director: Simon Wincer
Producer: Jennie Lew Tugend, Lauren Shuler Donner
Screenwriter: Keith Walker, Corey Blechman
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Alcor Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 16, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 10, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $76.3M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround

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