Free Willy (franchise) explained

Free Willy
Creator:Keith A. Walker
Origin:Free Willy
Owner:Warner Bros. Pictures
Years:1993–2010
Dtv: (2010)
Atv:Free Willy (1994–95)

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.

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

Films

FilmU.S. release date Director(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
Free WillySimon WincerKeith A. Walker & Corey BlechmanKeith A. WalkerLauren Shuler Donner and Jennie Lew Tugend
Dwight LittleKaren Janszen, Corey Blechman and John Mattson
Sam PillsburyJohn MattsonJennie Lew Tugend
Will GeigerCindy McCreeryDavid Wicht, John Stainton, Laura Lodin

Free Willy (1993)

See main article: Free Willy. 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)

See main article: Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home. 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)

See main article: Free Willy 3: The Rescue. 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)

See main article: Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove. 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's sold.

Television

Free Willy (1994–1995)

See main article: Free Willy (TV series).

Cast and crew

Cast

CharactersOriginal seriesAnimated seriesReboot
Free WillyFree Willy 2:
The Adventure Home		Free Willy 3:
The Rescue		Free WillyFree Willy:
Escape from Pirate's Cove
Season 1Season 2
JesseJason James RichterZachary Bennettstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
Willy KeikoKeiko
Randolph JohnsonAugust SchellenbergMichael Fletcherstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
Annie GreenwoodJayne Atkinsonstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 Sheila McCarthystyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
Glen GreenwoodMichael Madsenstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 Ron Lenstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
Rae LindleyLori Petty
Dial Michael Ironside
WadeRichard Riehle
Dwight MercerMykelti Williamson
PerryMichael Bacall
GwenieDanielle Harris
Elvisstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 Francis Capra
Nadinestyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 Mary Kate Schellhardt
John Milnerstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 Jon Tenney
Kate Haleystyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 Elizabeth Peña
Wilcoxstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 M. Emmet Walsh
Captain Nilsonstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 Steve Kahan
Commander Blakestyle=background-color:#D3D3D3 John Considine
Drew HalbertAnnie Corley
Max WesleyVincent Berry
John WesleyPatrick Kilpatrick
KronIan Tracey
1st Mate SandersonPeter LaCroix
Captain DrakeMatthew Walker
DineenStephen E. Miller
Mary WesleyTasha Simms
Rockland Stone
Gary Krawfordstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
MarleneRachel Crawfordstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
P.R. FrickleyAndrew Sabistonstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
Mr. NaugleNeil Cronestyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
LucilleAlyson Courtstyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
AmphonoidsJames Kidniestyle=background-color:#D3D3D3
Kirra CooperBindi Irwin
Gus GrisbyBeau Bridges
MansaBongolethu 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
companies		Distributing
companies
Free WillyBasil PoledourisRobbie GreenbergO. Nicholas BrownLe Studio Canal+
Regency Enterprises
Alcor Films
Donner/Shuler-Donner		Warner Bros.
Free Willy 2:
The Adventure Home		László KovácsRobert Brown
Dallas Puett		Le Studio Canal+
Regency Enterprises
Alcor Films
Shuler-Donner/Donner
Free Willy 3:
The Rescue		Cliff EidelmanTobias A. SchliesslerMargaret GoodspeedRegency Enterprises
Shuler Donner/Donner
Free Willy:
Escape from Pirate's Cove		Enis RotthoffRobert MalpageSabrina PliscoApolloMovie Beteiligungs
Film Africa Worldwide		Warner Premiere

Reception

Box office performance

FilmRelease dateBox office revenueBudget
North AmericaOther
territories		Worldwide
Free WillyJuly 16, 1993$77,709,806$76,000,000$153,709,806$20,000,000[1]
July 19, 1995$30,077,111$30,077,111$31,000,000[2]
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

FilmRotten TomatoesMetacriticCinemaScore[4]
Free Willy71% (31 reviews)[5] 79 (14 reviews)[6] A
50% (26 reviews)[7] A-
44% (16 reviews)[8] B+

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Free Willy (1993). Box Office Mojo . April 20, 2022.
  2. Web site: Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995). Box Office Mojo . June 21, 2021.
  3. Web site: Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997). Box Office Mojo . June 21, 2021.
  4. Web site: CinemaScore . . April 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413083139/https://www.cinemascore.com/ . April 13, 2022 . live.
  5. Web site: Free Willy . . December 20, 2021.
  6. Web site: Free Willy . . October 28, 2019.
  7. Web site: Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home . . August 12, 2020.
  8. Web site: Free Willy 3: The Rescue . . August 12, 2020.

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