Free Willy (1993): cast, story & where to watch
1993 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1993, Free Willy is a drama, adventure and family film directed by Simon Wincer, running about 112 minutes. “How far would you go for a friend?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.
Who’s in it. Free Willy stars Jason James Richter as Jesse, Lori Petty as Rae Lindley, August Schellenberg as Randolph Johnson and Michael Madsen as Glen Greenwood, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Free Willy has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $153.7M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Free Willy page.
If you liked it. Fans of Free Willy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Free Willy (1993)?
- In US, Free Willy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Free Willy worth watching?
- Free Willy holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, adventure and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Free Willy?
- Free Willy stars Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, August Schellenberg, Michael Madsen and Jayne Atkinson.
- When was Free Willy released?
- Free Willy was released in 1993, with a runtime of about 112 minutes.