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Free Willy Details

1993 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 2425 members

Jesse, a homeless orphan who spends his days evading the police, finally gets caught spray painting a whale tank at a local park. Because he distrusts adults intensely, Jesse's not too happy when authorities place him in a foster home and sentence him to clean up the tank he vandalized. Unexpectedly, Willy, the whale who .. Read more

Starring Michael Madsen, Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, Jayne Atkinson
Director Simon Wincer
Genres Family

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Free Willy

Jesse, a homeless orphan who spends his days evading the police, finally gets caught spray painting a whale tank at a local park. Because he distrusts adults intensely, Jesse's not too happy when authorities place him in a foster home and sentence him to clean up the tank he vandalized. Unexpectedly, Willy, the whale who inhabits the tank, takes a liking to Jesse, and the animal and child develop a bond -- a bond that also helps Jesse open up to the adults in his life, including his new parents and the whale's caretakers. But then Jesse learns that Dial, who owns the park, only wants to keep Willy if he can be trained to perform for an audience. Can the boy find a way to save his beloved whale before Dial plays some dirty tricks of his own

Starring Michael Madsen, Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, Jayne Atkinson, August Schellenberg
Director Simon Wincer
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 47 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Family
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 07 Sep 1999
Production year: 1993
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (2) of Free Willy

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    This magnificent children's picture about a boy and his whale knows exactly what strings to pull and when. Australian director Simon Wincer combines animatronic models with shots of Keiko, the real-life killer whale that plays Willy, with great skill. The action away from the aqua park where Willy is the star attraction is suffocated by political correctness, family-bonding scenes and hammed-up villainy, but 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.

    • Radio Times
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Sentimental animal story with a little charm and some appeal to the under-10s, but no more than a damp update of Lassie.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of Free Willy

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Free Willy

    Free willy i have really enjoyed. Willy is really cute.

      • A customer from Solihull
  • Most recent members' review of Free Willy

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Free Willy

    Free willy i have really enjoyed. Willy is really cute.

      • A customer from Solihull
  • More like this

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Rating breakdown

2,425 Member ratings
  • 100
236
  • 90
142
  • 80
313
  • 70
378
  • 60
612
  • 50
298
  • 40
198
  • 30
111
  • 20
97
  • 10
40

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    • Free Willy
      Jesse, a homeless orphan who spends his days evading the police, finally gets caught spray painting a whale tank at a local park. Because he distrusts adults intensely, Jesse's not too happy when authorities place him in a foster home and sentence him to clean up the tank he vandalized. ...