Free Willy is a media franchise from Warner Bros. that started with the 1993 film Free Willy that went on to become a sleeper hit at the box office. The original series primarily follows a street kid named Jesse who befriends an orca named Willy with whom he develops a strong friendship. He and Willy are challenged with overcoming or defeating various hazards to the ocean or Willy himself including corporate greed, hunters, poachers, and oil disasters.
Following the success of Free Willy, it was followed by an animated series, two sequels, and a direct-to-video first reboot film, and an upcoming theatrical second reboot film.
Films Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s) Free Willy Simon Wincer Corey Blechman & Keith A. Walker Keith A. Walker Jennie Lew Tugend and Lauren Shuler Donner Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home Dwight H. Little John Mattson, Karen Janszen & Corey Blackman Free Willy 3: The Rescue Sam Pillsbury John Mattson Jennie Lew Tugend Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove Will Geiger Cindy McCreery David Wicht, Laura Lodin and John Stainton Untitled reboot Mary-Margaret Kunze & Jade Halley Bartlett Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco and Kassee Whiting
Free Willy story chronology
Free Willy (1993)
A delinquent orphan named Jesse is forced to clean up graffiti at the Northwest Adventure Park as part of his probation while staying with new foster parents. There, he becomes attached to a captive killer whale, the film's eponymous "Willy", until he discovers a secret from the park's greedy owner that threatens their friendship.
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995)
Two years after setting him free, Jesse reunites with Willy during a camping trip in the San Juan Islands with the Greenwoods and newly-discovered half-brother named Elvis as the teenager tries to help Willy and his siblings Luna and Littlespot return to their mother Catspaw after an oil spill separated them in addition to endangering Luna.
Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997)
Jesse works with his old friend Randolph at an orca institute where he tracks down Willy and his mate Nicky, and also teams up with Max to stop the latter's father from hunting the whales.
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove (2010)
Kirra discovers a baby killer whale washed ashore in the lagoon near her grandfather's rundown seaside amusement park during her stay in South Africa. She names the orca Willy and embarks on a quest to lead him back to his pod before he is sold. This film served as a reboot in the series.
Future
In July 2026, a reboot of the franchise was announced to be in development. Kassee Whiting with Mary-Margaret Kunze and Jade Halley Bartlett will serve as co-screenwriters, while Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, Kassee Whiting, Lauren Shuler Donner, and Courtney Baker will produce. Anthony and Joe Russo will serve in executive producing roles. The project is intended to be a joint-venture production between Warner Bros. and AGBO.
Television
Free Willy (1994–1995)
The show continues the adventures of the orca Willy and Jesse, the boy who freed him from captivity as shown in the film.
Main cast and characters
Characters Film Television Free Willy Free Willy 2: Free Willy 3: Free Willy: Free Willy Jesse Jason James Richter Zachary Bennett Willy Keiko colspan="2" Paul Haddad Randolph Johnson August Schellenberg Michael Fletcher Annie Greenwood Jayne Atkinson colspan="2" Sheila McCarthy Glen Greenwood Michael Madsen colspan="2" Ron Len Rae Lindley Lori Petty colspan="4" Dial Michael Ironside colspan="4" Wade Richard Riehle colspan="4" Dwight Mercer Mykelti Williamson colspan="3" Perry Michael Bacall colspan="4" Gwenie Danielle Harris colspan="4" Elvis Francis Capra colspan="3" Nadine Mary Kate Schellhardt colspan="3" John Milner Jon Tenney colspan="3" Kate Haley Elizabeth Peña colspan="3" Wilcox M. Emmet Walsh colspan="3" Captain Nilson Steve Kahan colspan="3" Commander Blake John Considine colspan="3" Drew Halbert colspan="2" Annie Corley colspan="2" Max Wesley colspan="2" Vincent Berry colspan="2" John Wesley colspan="2" Patrick Kilpatrick colspan="2" Kron colspan="2" Ian Tracey colspan="2" 1st Mate Sanderson colspan="2" Peter LaCroix colspan="2" Captain Drake colspan="2" Matthew Walker colspan="2" Dineen colspan="2" Stephen E. Miller colspan="2" Mary Wesley colspan="2" Tasha Simms colspan="2" Kirra Cooper colspan="3" Bindi Irwin Gus Grisby colspan="3" Beau Bridges Mansa colspan="3" Bongolethu Mbutuma Sifiso colspan="3" Siyabuela Ramba Rolf V.D. Woods colspan="3" Stephen Jennings Blikkie colspan="3" Matthew Roberts Jayce colspan="3" Heima Jaffa Dr. Sam Cooper colspan="3" Kevin Otto Diff colspan="3" Louw Venter Rockland Stone colspan="4" Gary Krawford Marlene colspan="4" Rachel Crawford P.R. Frickley colspan="4" Andrew Sabiston Mr. Naugle colspan="4" Neil Crone Einstein colspan="4" Kevin Zegers Lucille colspan="4" Alyson Court Amphonoids colspan="4" James Kidnie
Crew and additional production details Film Crew/Detail Composer(s) Cinematographer Editor(s) Production companies Distributing companies Running time Free Willy Basil Poledouris Robbie Greenberg O. Nicholas Brown Alcor FilmsLe Studio Canal+Regency EnterprisesDonner/Shuler-Donner Warner Bros. 1 hr 52 mins Free Willy 2:The Adventure Home László Kovács Dallas PuettRobert Brown Alcor FilmsLe Studio Canal+Regency EnterprisesShuler-Donner/Donner 1 hr 38 mins Free Willy 3:The Rescue Cliff Eidelman Tobias A. Schliessler Margaret Goodspeed Regency EnterprisesShuler Donner/Donner 1 hr 26 mins Free Willy:Escape from Pirate's Cove Enis Rotthoff Robert Malpage Sabrina Plisco Film Africa WorldwideApolloMovie Beteiligungs Warner Premiere 1 hr 41 mins
Reception Box office performance Film Release date Box office revenue Budget North America Other territories Worldwide Free Willy July 16, 1993 $77,709,806 $76,000,000 $153,709,806 $20,000,000 Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home July 19, 1995 $30,077,111 $38,000,000 $68,000,000 $31,000,000 Free Willy 3: The Rescue August 8, 1997 $3,446,539 $3,446,539 Total $111,222,275 $76,000,000 $187,222,275 $51,000,000
Critical and public response Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore Free Willy 71% (31 reviews) 79 (14 reviews) A Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home 50% (26 reviews) A- Free Willy 3: The Rescue 44% (16 reviews) B+ Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove
References
Notes
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