Free Willy (franchise)

Free Willy is a 1993 American family drama film released by Warner Bros. The film stars Jason James Richter as a delinquent boy named Jesse who becomes attached to a captive killer whale, the film's eponymous "Willy." Directed by Simon Wincer, it was shot mainly in Mexico City and Oregon between May and August 1992.

The film's theme is Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" he originally produced and recorded for his 1991 album Dangerous. The song won "Best Song in a Movie" at the 1994 MTV Movie Awards and was also included in the album All Time Greatest Movie Songs, released by Sony in 1999.

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home is a 1995 family film, directed Dwight H. Little, and released by Warner Bros under its Family Entertainment banner. It is a sequel to the 1993 film that takes place two years after Willy's jump to freedom. Jesse reunites with Willy during a camping trip in the San Juan Islands as the teenager tries to help Willy and his siblings during an oil spill.

Free Willy 3: The Rescue was subsequently released in 1997, making a trilogy. Keiko does not actually appear in this film, unlike the original movie. Willy is played by a robotic double, while the Free Willy Keiko Foundation devised a plan to bring him to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where he would be rehabilitated for poor health. Michael Jackson returned to perform the film's songs contributing the theme song "Childhood", which can be heard during the scene where Elvis runs away while the instrumental version played when he tears up a photo of his mom with Jesse.

Free Willy 3: The Rescue is a 1997 family film directed by Sam Pillsbury. Released by Warner Bros under its Family Entertainment banner, the film is the second sequel to the 1993 Free Willy. The film is also the last with Keiko before he died of pneumonia in 2003.

The film features a teenaged Jesse and old friend Randolph trying to foil an illegal whaler threatening Willy and his pregnant mate.

Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove is the fourth film and a reboot in the series. It was released through Warner Premiere as a direct-to-video installment. Written and directed by Will Greiger with the story by Cindy McCreery, the film stars Bindi Irwin as Kirra who discovers a baby killer whale stranded in the lagoon near her grandfather's (Beau Bridges) rundown seaside amusement park in South Africa. She embarks on a quest to lead Willy back to his pod.