If you grew up in the 90s, the image of Willy jumping over Jesse is something that is probably burned into your brain. I remember Free Willy being a pretty big deal when it was released in the early 90s, and I think even today, this is a fun movie. I watched this with my son a few years back, and he really enjoyed it, so I think that this is a movie that has a very timeless quality about it.
Where to Watch Free Willy
Free Willy was released on July 16, 1993. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video.
The Movie Review
The thing with Free Willy is that on one hand, this is a charming, fun, and heartfelt story about a bond between a boy and an orca. However, it is hard to watch this these days with the knowledge that this is actually a real orca! This would never get made today. Willy would be CGI for sure! However, here, when you see the orca on the screen, it is actually there. The orca and the training team did a wonderful job in showcasing so much emotion from this amazing creature.
Now, while that is all great. At the end of the day, this was still a huge, powerful, and intelligent animal that was kept in captivity in order to make a movie. That I will admit, does take a little bit of the shine away from Free Willy. Yet, I do think some good came of it as I remember there being a lot of talk about them actually trying to free the orca, who was called Keiko. So if this did raise awareness about animals being kept in captivity and being forced to perform, I do think that is a good thing.
A Family Movie That Still Holds Up
Outside of that, Free Willy is a fun movie that pre-teens and teens can still enjoy today. Our main character is a kid called Jesse, and Jesse is out on the streets after being ditched by his mom. Jason James Richter, who played Jesse in what was his first-ever movie role, did a hell of a job here, and he still works as an actor to this day. I remember the Tekken movie from several years ago and seeing him pop up in that, and I got such a kick out of it.
Jesse and Willy’s Bond
Anyway, Jesse is arrested after breaking into an amusement park, where he spray-paints the tank that Willy is being kept in. Jesse is then sent to live with Glen and Annie Greenwood, and he is forced to work at the amusement park to clean the mess he made on Willy’s tank. By the way, seeing someone like Michael Madsen play a role like Glen is so damn funny, but he nails it. We also have Lori Petty, who is a marine biologist, and she is great, too.
The Plot to Save Willy
Willy was captured and taken away from his pod, and the idea was that the owner of the theme park would make a ton of money from him. Willy is not happy about being in captivity, and so far is not willing to perform, and he is costing the owner a great deal of money! Jesse and Willy bond, and the owner sees this as a way of finally getting Willy to perform and make him some money.
When that does not work, the owner decides to kill Willy and cash in on the insurance, which leads to Jesse hatching a plan to get Willy out of there and back to his pod. This is just a really fun movie with a ton of heart, and the kind of movie that, when the iconic scene at the end happens, leaves you with a big smile on your face.
Free Willy’s Legacy and Sequels
Free Willy would go on to become a hit, but it should have been a one-and-done! The two sequels, as well as the straight-to-video movie, were nowhere near as good as this. There was also a TV series too, but I have never actually seen that. Still, this first movie is well worth a watch, especially if you are looking for a good movie for family movie night.
