Jesse becomes reunited with Willy three years after the whale's jump to freedom as the teenager tries to rescue the killer whale and other orcas from an oil spill.
Practical Effects
Real orcas + animatronics = surprisingly convincing whale family.
Cinematography
Pacific Northwest waterways shot like nature documentary porn.
Acting
Michael Madsen somehow makes 'whale dad' work. Respect.
Director
Dwight H. Little
Jason James Richter
Jesse
Michael Madsen
Glen Greenwood
Jayne Atkinson
Annie Greenwood
August Schellenberg
Randolph Johnson
Mary Kate Schellhardt
Nadine
Francis Capra
Elvis
Mykelti Williamson
Dwight Mercer
Elizabeth Peña
Kate Haley
Jon Tenney
John Milner
M. Emmet Walsh
Bill Wilcox
Paul Tuerpe
Milner's Assistant
John Considine
Commander Blake
Steve Kahan
Captain Nilson
Neal Matarazzo
Helmsman Kelly
Al Sapienza
Engineer
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Keiko, the real orca who played Willy, was still in captivity during filming—this movie's 'free Willy' message hit differently knowing he wasn't actually free yet.
This came during the mid-90s eco-thriller boom where every family movie needed an environmental villain and a precocious teen savior.
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