Free Willy (franchise)

Last updated
Free Willy
Created by Keith A. Walker
Original work Free Willy
Owner Warner Bros. Pictures
Years1993-2010
Films and television
Film(s) Free Willy
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Free Willy 3: The Rescue
Animated series Free Willy
Direct-to-video Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove
Audio
Soundtrack(s) Free Willy
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Free Willy 3: The Rescue

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 and eventually develops a strong connection. While trying to juggle his newly found life, 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.

Contents

Following the success of Free Willy, it was followed by an animated series, two sequels, and a direct-to-video reboot.

Films

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 now 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.

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
Free Willy June 11, 1993 Simon Wincer Corey Blechman & Keith A. Walker Keith A. WalkerJennie Lew Tugend & Lauren Shuler Donner
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home July 19, 1995 Dwight Little John Mattson, Karen Janszen & Corey Blechman
Free Willy 3: The Rescue August 7, 1997 Sam Pillsbury John MattsonJennie Lew Tugend
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove March 23, 2010Will GeigerCindy McCreeryDavid Wicht, Laura Lodin & John Stainton

Television

Free Willy (1994 - 1995)

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 13October 1, 1994 (1994-10-01)December 24, 1994 (1994-12-24)
2 8September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09)December 16, 1995 (1995-12-16)

Cast and crew

Cast

List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

  • An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  U indicates an uncredited appearance.
  •  V indicates a voice-only role.
CharactersOriginal seriesAnimated seriesReboot
Free Willy Free Willy 2:
The Adventure Home
Free Willy 3:
The Rescue
Free Willy Free Willy:
Escape from Pirate's Cove
Season 1Season 2
Jesse Jason James Richter Zachary Bennett V
Willy Keiko Keiko U Paul Haddad V CGI Orca
Randolph Johnson August Schellenberg Michael Fletcher V
Annie Greenwood Jayne Atkinson Sheila McCarthy V
Glen Greenwood Michael Madsen Ron Len V
Rae Lindley Lori Petty
Dial Michael Ironside
Wade Richard Riehle
Dwight Mercer Mykelti Williamson
Perry Michael Bacall
Gwenie Danielle Harris
Elvis Francis Capra
Nadine Mary Kate Schellhardt
John Milner Jon Tenney
Kate Haley Elizabeth Peña
Wilcox M. Emmet Walsh
Captain Nilson Steve Kahan
Commander Blake John Considine
Drew Halbert Annie Corley
Max WesleyVincent Berry
John Wesley Patrick Kilpatrick
Kron Ian Tracey
1st Mate SandersonPeter LaCroix
Captain Drake Matthew Walker
DineenStephen E. Miller
Mary WesleyTasha Simms
Rockland Stone
The Machine
Gary Krawford V
MarleneRachel Crawford V
P.R. Frickley Andrew Sabiston V
Mr. Naugle Neil Crone V
Lucille Alyson Court V
AmphonoidsJames Kidnie V
Kirra Cooper Bindi Irwin
Gus Grisby Beau Bridges
Mansa Bongolethu Mbutuma
SifisoSiyabuela Ramba
Rolf V.D. WoodsStephen Jennings
BlikkieMatthew Roberts
JayceHeima Jaffa
Dr. Sam CooperKevin Otto
DiffLouw Venter

Crew

FilmCrew/Detail
Composer(s)CinematographerEditor(s)Production companiesDistributing companies
Free Willy Basil Poledouris Robbie Greenberg O. Nicholas BrownAlcor Films
Le Studio Canal+
Regency Enterprises
Donner/Shuler-Donner
Warner Bros.
Free Willy 2:
The Adventure Home
László Kovács Dallas Puett
Robert Brown
Alcor Films
Le Studio Canal+
Regency Enterprises
Shuler-Donner/Donner
Free Willy 3:
The Rescue
Cliff Eidelman Tobias A. Schliessler Margaret GoodspeedRegency Enterprises
Shuler Donner/Donner
Free Willy:
Escape from Pirate's Cove
Enis RotthoffRobert MalpageSabrina PliscoFilm Africa Worldwide
ApolloMovie Beteiligungs
Warner Premiere

Reception

Box office performance

FilmRelease dateBox office revenueBudgetRef.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwide
Free Willy July 16, 1993$77,709,806$76,000,000$153,709,806$20,000,000 [1]
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home July 19, 1995$30,077,111$30,077,111$31,000,000 [2]
Free Willy 3: The Rescue August 8, 1997$3,446,539$3,446,539 [3]
Total$111,222,275$76,000,000$187,222,275$51,000,000

Critical and public response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore [4]
Free Willy 71% (31 reviews) [5] 79 (14 reviews) [6] A
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home 50% (26 reviews) [7] A-
Free Willy 3: The Rescue 44% (16 reviews) [8] B+
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove

References

  1. "Free Willy (1993)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  2. "Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  3. "Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  5. "Free Willy". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  6. "Free Willy". Metacritic . Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  7. "Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  8. "Free Willy 3: The Rescue". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 12, 2020.