Free Willy image

Free Willy

Genre
Drama
Rating
PG
Released
16 July, 1993
Free Willy

Free Willy is a 1993 American family drama film, directed by Simon Wincer, produced by Lauren Shuler Donner and Jennie Lew Tugend, written by Keith A. Walker and Corey Blechman from a story by Walker and distributed by Warner Bros. under their Family Entertainment imprint. The film stars Jason James Richter, in his film debut, as Jesse, a foster boy who befriends a captive orca named Willy. Shot between May and August 1992 and released on July 16, 1993, the film received positive attention from critics and was a commercial success, grossing $153.6 million from a $20 million budget. It grew into a small franchise, including a television series, two sequels and a direct-to-video reboot.

Director Simon Wincer
Produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, Jennie Lew Tugend
Screenplay by Keith A. Walker, Corey Blechman
Story by Keith A. Walker
Starring Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, Jayne Atkinson, August Schellenberg, Michael Madsen
Music Basil Poledouris
Cinematography Robbie Greenberg
Edited by O. Nicholas Brown
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Released July 16, 1993
Running time 112 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $20 million
Box office $153.6 million
Netflix ID 523650

About Free Willy

A boy tries to free a killer whale from an evil aquarium. The movie grossed over $153 million worldwide.

Achievement of Free Willy

Because of the film, $20 million was given to the Save the Whales Foundation.  The movie marks Jason James Richter's film debut.

Top Facts You Did Not Know About Free Willy

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home - Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home is a 1995 American family film, directed by Dwight Little, and distributed by Warner Bros. under their Warner Bros. Family Entertainment label. It is a sequel to the 1993 film Free Willy, also starring Jason James Richter and August Schellenberg.. Free Willy 3: The Rescue - Free Willy 3: The Rescue is a 1997 American family film directed by Sam Pillsbury, and starring Jason James Richter and August Schellenberg.. Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove - Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove is a 2010 direct-to-video family film written and directed by Will Geiger with the story by Cindy McCreery. It is the fourth installment in the Free Willy film series, and a standalone sequel to Free Willy 3: The Rescue.. Films directed by Simon Wincer.. Films about dolphins.. Films about whales.. Films set in Astoria, Oregon.. Fictional killer whales.. Films about animal rights.. Films set in amusement parks.. Films set in Washington (state).. Regency Enterprises films.. Films about Native Americans.. 1990s adventure films.. StudioCanal films.. Films about orphans.

Latest information about Free Willy updated on July 28 2021.