Free Willy 3: The Rescue

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Free Willy 3: The Rescue

PG

Released Aug 8, 1997

1h 26m

Kids & Family

Adventure

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44%

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16 Reviews

44%

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50,000+ Ratings

In the third "Free Willy" film, Jesse (Jason James Richter) is 16 and employed aboard a research ship along with his old friend and mentor, Randolph (August Schellenberg). After Jesse meets Max (Vincent Berry), the disapproving son of a whaler hoping to catch Willy the orca for his meat, the two team with oceanographer Drew (Annie Corley) to stop the whalers before they can get to Willy and the rest of his pod, and convince them to give up their cruel and illegal practice.

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

There is a majesty to whales that the second Willy movie trivialized. Part three returns to some of the human elements that made the first movie so good.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Russell Smith

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2000

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Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

For devoted -- and young -- Willy fans only.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 15, 2010

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Susan Granger

www.susangranger.com

Rated: 2/5

Dec 21, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Sep 24, 2005

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

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Stephen C

A failure in 1 hour and 26 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $3,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

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Audience Member

This one I remembered for being the best. Well it is, sort of. It has it's moment and it's acting is slightly better than the first one but it's still campy as fuck and just feels so much like a 90s movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

This is probably the best one but we're still talking about Free Willy. The cinematography is great and it has the most realistic dialogue but the message is kinda forced.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

I admit, I was surprised by this installment. It was more down to Earth and was actually a decent story. I remember when this was announced I thought, "Not again" but then I saw it and I was a bit short-sighted. It treats humans as decidedly even, and mixes it in with a good story that's not so heavy-handed this time. Jesse seems and acts real, the science that they produce actually has some merit, and the side story with the boy and his father with a spear gun does have some debate with it. For the most part, all sides are equal. Most of the jokes are sporadic, and us as adults will like it, but I don't think kids will like it as much as the other two. Admitting, it's only an hour and twenty-five minutes and seems that it's not long enough that you are wanting more out of it. It wasn't as successful as a film, and it's vastly underrated. I would definitely put this on the list. Pretty good little movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

Ok no more please!! Stop making this ok ok!!!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/10/18

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Sam Pillsbury

Director

Jason James Richter

Jesse

August Schellenberg

Randolph Johnson

Annie Corley

Drew Halbert

Vincent Berry

Max Wesley

Patrick Kilpatrick

John

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Synopsis

In the third "Free Willy" film, Jesse (Jason James Richter) is 16 and employed aboard a research ship along with his old friend and mentor, Randolph (August Schellenberg). After Jesse meets Max (Vincent Berry), the disapproving son of a whaler hoping to catch Willy the orca for his meat, the two team with oceanographer Drew (Annie Corley) to stop the whalers before they can get to Willy and the rest of his pod, and convince them to give up their cruel and illegal practice.

Director: Sam Pillsbury
Producer: Jennie Lew Tugend
Screenwriter: Keith Walker, John Mattson
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Donner/Schuler-Donner, Regency Enterprises
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.5M
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

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