Free Willy

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Videos & Photos

  • Trailer 1
  • Trailer 1

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Simon Wincer

Producer:

Jennie Lew Tugend, Lauren Shuler Donner

Writer:

Keith Walker, Corey Blechman

Release Date:

Jul 16, 1993

Runtime:

1hr 52m

Synopsis

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.

Cast

  • Jason James Richter
  • Lori Petty
  • Jayne Atkinson
  • August Schellenberg
  • Michael Madsen
  • Michael Ironside
  • Richard Riehle
  • Mykelti Williamson
  • Michael Bacall
  • Danielle Harris

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.1
254.0K
20.7K
22.2K
RATINGS 1.0K FANS
3.1
  • Sep 24, 2019

    How’d they get away with putting the end on the cover

    684 Likes
    Mike Ginn
    Mike Ginn
    Apr 8, 2017

    interviewer: when did you get in to activism? me, an intellectual: well it started in 1993 with the international "free willy" movement...

    407 Likes
    scoobert doo (aka mo)
    scoobert doo (aka mo)
    Nov 24, 2013

    Jaws for kids. Porn for killer whale fetishists. Goldmine for penis joke lovers. A sigh and a roll of the eyes for film lovers, possessors of common sense and adults with functioning brains.

    330 Likes
    DirkH
    DirkH
  •
    Feb 5, 2023

    This movie is truly a masterpiece - me, age 6

    329 Likes
    alor
    alor
    Aug 6, 2017

    I•ron•y /īrenē/ noun  Using a captive whale—trained to perform and do tricks for people's amusement—in a movie about how keeping whales captive—so they can perform and do tricks for people's amusement—is cruel.

    238 Likes
    Cameron
    Cameron
    Aug 10, 2020

    Why did this stress me out more than uncut gems

    182 Likes
    Nynke㋛
    Nynke㋛
  •
    Mar 7, 2018

    This was literally one of my favourite things to watch when I was little.

    168 Likes
    OliviaDay
    OliviaDay
    Aug 1, 2022

    compliments to lead actor Keiko

    134 Likes
    milena
    milena
    Dec 14, 2017

    There is a 1-800 number hotline at the end of this movie that helps the whales. I called it tonight and it still exists. The movie is almost twenty five years old and the real whale that played Willy died well over a decade ago. Yet, this phone number is still activated.…

    103 Likes
    Pube
    Pube
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

89%
Community 1,328
❤️ LOVE
23%
👍 LIKE
66%
😐 MEH
9%
👎 DISLIKE
2%
Top Reviews
  • Isabella
    Isabella liked
    Free Willy

    Free my boy

    😭 🔥 3 3Y
    Fairy
    Fairy disliked
    Free Willy

    Fwee wiwwy

    2 3Y
    Ingrid
    Ingrid loved
    Free Willy

    So much soul 💙🐳🥲

    1 4Y
  • zxki
    zxki liked
    Free Willy

    so sad

    1 2Y
    12oc1o
    12oc1o liked
    Free Willy

    Between 👍🏼 and 😐 for me. I think the movie’s story is interesting, like how the way they filmed it went against the values the movie is against… but then that inspired activism for the real life orca Keiko, yay. It was ok, and the ending was cute and unrealistic just how I like it

    1Y
    Caroline
    Caroline liked
    Free Willy

    i did ponder if they fake freed him and then put him back into captivity after. like did you use a captive wale to tell a story about freeing a wale. but i looked it up and they actually helped raise awareness to free the real wale but then he died being reliant on humans anyways

    1M
  • Ava
    Ava loved
    Free Willy

    Amazing movie! I love this movie so much! It has a great message and Willy is such an adorable yet misunderstood creature. Very inspiring story and great feel good movie with some specific scenes that might upset animal lovers

    2M
    Zara I
    Zara I liked
    Free Willy

    It’s nice to see Orcas represented as the intelligent and harmless creatures they really are. Classic Throwback even though it’s not from my time 😏

    27D
    Jd
    Jd loved
    Free Willy

    I was lucky enough to meet Keiko, who plays Willy, when he was at the Newport Aquarium on the Oregon Coast. Where my love for orcas began!

    3M
View More Popular Free Willy Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

79
metacritic
Based on 14 Critics
7.3

USER SCORE (72)

Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Reviews
80

How each frees the other is the stuff of Free Willy, which is as engaging as such films can be without offering rude surprises.

View full review
Metacritic review by Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
The New York Times
80

There are extremely touching moments between Jesse and mystical Randolph, who seems to understand just about everything; and, more tellingly, between Jesse and mechanic Jim.

View full review
Metacritic review by Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
90

Actually, the film's more serious side is beautifully balanced by the joy we experience as both Jesse and Willy come into their own.

View full review
Metacritic review by Hal Hinson
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Free Willy (1993) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). It's generally considered a family-friendly movie.
How long is Free Willy (1993)?
The movie is 1hr 52min long.
What's Free Willy (1993) about?
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.
Who's the cast of Free Willy (1993)?
  • Jason James Richter as Jesse
  • Lori Petty as Rae Lindley
  • Jayne Atkinson as Annie Greenwood
  • August Schellenberg as Randolph Johnson
  • Michael Madsen as Glen
  • Michael Ironside as Dial
  • Richard Riehle as Wade
  • Mykelti Williamson as Dwight Mercer
  • Michael Bacall as Perry
  • Danielle Harris as Gwenie
Who's the director behind Free Willy (1993)?
Simon Wincer directed Free Willy (1993).
Who produced Free Willy (1993)?
Jennie Lew Tugend and Lauren Shuler Donner produced Free Willy (1993).