History Film / FreeWilly

Even so, the film managed to spawn three sequels: ''Film/FreeWilly2TheAdventureHome'' (1995), ''Free Willy 3: The Rescue'' (1997) and a non-canon reboot, ''Free Willy: [[WeAreStillRelevantDammit Escape from Pirate's Cove]]'' (2010) with Bindi Irwin in the leading role. There was also, believe it or not, an animated adaptation of the series produced by Creator/{{Nelvana}} that ran on Creator/{{ABC}} in the 1995-96 season, and a ''really'' weird one at that.

* ShownTheirWork: As it turns out, Willy's distress at the kids banging on the windows of his tank was quite justified, as the soundwaves amplified by this can cause dangerous degrees of stress in whales.

* ShownTheirWork: Especially for a movie in 90's, the depiction of Orcas and how they are effected by captivity is pretty accurate. This was also the first bit of media that accurately explained how Willy's collapsed fin is ''not'' normal in the wild, which Sea World and other theme parks denied, but is a result of being kept in a small pool. The way Willy reacts to the kids banging on the glass is also very true with orcas and other cetaceans like dolphins.

* BrutalHonesty: Jesse desperately clings to the belief that his mother will one day return to him. When the Willy Show is a disaster and he threatens to run away yet again out of anger, Dwight lays it hard into him that his mother is never coming back, and to walk out on the couple who have been the first true parents he's ever had in his troubled life would be a mistake he can't afford to make.

* CluelessAesop: The whole notion of freeing an animal who was forcefully taken out of his environment and separated from his family to live a life in captivity doesn't exactly work out too well when one remembers that this film was made possible by using an animal who actually ''was'' forcefully taken out of his environment and forced to live a life in captivity (although animatronics were used for scenes where Willy was actually in danger). Producers likely realised this as animatronic whales were used for the sequels. Also, releasing a captive animal to the wild is potentially dangerous because they haven't learned the necessary survival skills, and indeed, Willy's actor Keiko died soon after his release in real life.

* HappilyAdopted: It's not quite official, since Jesse is technically still a foster kid rather than legally adopted, but by the end of the first movie, he's come to accept Glen and Annie as parental figures; in the second movie, it's shown that Glen keeps a family photo in his wallet that includes Jesse. The end of the second film also suggests that Glen and Annie are prepared to take in Elvis long-term as well so that he and Jesse can stay together, but the third film (in which Glen and Annie don't appear) doesn't give any indication of what happened with that -- in fact, Elvis is never mentioned.

* MoneyDearBoy: Dial, the aquarium owner, only sees Willy as one of two things: a financial asset when he performs and a financial liability when he doesn't. To this end, he sabotages Willy's tank so he can collect on Willy's $1 million insurance policy. In fact, when Jesse, Randolph, and Rae abscond with Willy in order to reunite him with his family, the only reason Dial even bothers trying to get him back is because the policy doesn't cover theft.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Dwight, the social worker. He is forced to be harsh on Jesse due to his constant run-ins with the law, but he is committed to giving Jesse a sporting chance at a better life in spite of his abrasive and reckless nature.

* CaptivityHarmonica: Jesse plays harmonica. Played with in that as a youth he's obviously not in jail (or if he would be it would be in juvie), but is placed with a foster family that he initially rejects and forced to work at a water park to make up for earlier vandalism. The sounds attract the killer whale he end up befriending.

* CluelessAesop: The whole notion of freeing an animal who was forcefully taken out of his environment and separated from his family to live a life in captivity doesn't exactly work out too well when one remembers that this film was made possible by using an animal who actually ''was'' forcefully taken out of his environment and forced to live a life in captivity (Although animatronics we used for scenes where Willy was actually in danger). Producers likely realised this as animatronic whales were used for the sequels. Also, releasing a captive animal to the wild is potentially dangerous because they haven't learned the necessary survival skills, and indeed, Willy's actor Keiko died soon after his release in real life.

* DefrostingIceQueen: Jesse, who suffers from abandonment issues is initially cold and indifferent towards both his foster parents and his employers at the water park. He eventually comes around though, especially with Willy's help and starts adapting more comfortably into his new life.

* HumiliationConga: Of the undeserved variety, and PlayedForDrama. Jesse suffers a huge one when the Willy Show goes awry due to Willy refusing to perform. After having trained relentlessly and assuring Dial that they could make the show a real success (And in turn earn the money to help Willy), the whale is too agitated by the banging on his tank by the kids down below to respond to Jesse's calls. The audience then begins clapping ''not'' to applaud them, but to hurry them up. The claps turn to boos and Jesse rushes off the set in tears, and leaves the park feeling betrayed.

* MoneyDearBoy: Dial, the aquarium owner, only sees Willy as one of two things: a financial asset when performs and a financial liability when doesn't. To this end, he sabotages Willy's tank so he can collect on Willy's $1 million insurance policy. In fact, when Jesse, Randolph, and Rae abscond with Willy in order to reunite him with his family, the only reason Dial even bothers trying to get him back is because the policy doesn't cover theft.

** Jesse initially and understandably thinks his foster parents and caseworker are this, but they're actually pretty decent; Jesse just (understandably) has trouble trusting adult authority figures.

* HappilyAdopted: It's not quite official, since Jesse is technically still a foster kid rather than legally adopted, but by the end of the first movie, he's come to accept Glen and Annie as parental figures; in the second movie, it's shown that Glen keeps a family photo in his wallet that includes Jesse. (The end of the second film also suggests that Glen and Annie are prepared to take in Elvis long-term as well so that he and Jesse can stay together, but the third film -- in which Glen and Annie don't appear -- doesn't give any indication of what happened with that.)

* HappilyAdopted: It's not quite official, since Jesse is technically still a foster kid rather than legally adopted, but by the end of the first movie, he's come to accept Glen and Annie as parental figures. The second movie shows that Glen keeps a family photo in his wallet that includes Jesse.
** The end of the second film also suggests that Glen and Annie are prepared to take in Elvis long-term as well, although the third film doesn't follow up on this (or feature Jesse's foster family at all) so it's never revealed how that played out.

* CluelessAesop: The whole notion of freeing an animal who was forcefully taken out of his environment and separated from his family to live a life in captivity doesn't exactly work out too well when one remembers that this film was made possible by using an animal who actually ''was'' forcefully taken out of his environment and forced to live a life in captivity (Although animatronics we used for scenes where Willy was actually in danger). Producers likely realised this as animatronic whales were used for the sequels.

* Didn'tThinkThisThrough: A justified example. Jesse, Randolph and Rae ''can't'' stop to properly form a plan to free Willy as his tank is too badly damaged (and actually breaks completely as they are removing him). As a result, they run into many obstacles, such as not having a proper vehicle to tow Willy (resulting in them stealing Glen's truck) and blocked roads.

* CluelessAesop: The whole notion of freeing an animal who was forcefully taken out of his environment and separated from his family to live a life in captivity doesn't exactly work out too well when one remembers that this film could only have been made possible by using an animal who actually ''was'' forcefully taken out of his environment and forced to live a life in captivity.

* SceneryPorn: Most of the film is set in Aurora, Oregon; it spares no expense in showcasing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

* MagicalNativeAmerican: Randolph, though this is largely averted in the first film. It's played painfully straight in the first sequel and AnimatedAdaptation.

* BittersweetEnding: Willy is finally free to be with his family, having outwitted Dial and the whalers. However it quickly dawns on Jessie that it could be ages before he ever sees his best friend again. It is indeed a very sad goodbye for the two of them. Thankfully, the two of them now both have a place they can finally call home.
* BrutalHonesty: Jessie desperately clings to the belief that his mother will one day return to him. When the Willy Show is a disaster and he threatens to run away yet again out of anger, Dwight lays it hard into him that his mother is never coming back, and to walk out on the couple who have been the first true parents he's ever had in his troubled life would be a mistake he can't afford to make.

* EurekaMoment: Jessie spots Willy's family in the distance from atop the water park, and it's this revelation that prompts him to abandon his grudge against Willy and to set him free when he realizes Dial intends to have him killed.

* HopeSpot: Jessie finally gets Willy to perform effectively for the park owners; they're impressed enough to give Willy his own show to help rake in new business for the park, which Jessie and his friends hope will mean giving Willy a better life in the long run. It sadly doesn't last though when the show goes awry and the tank is damaged in the confusion that follows.

* HumiliationConga: Jessie suffers a huge one when the Willy Show goes awry due to Willy refusing to perform. After having trained relentlessly and assuring Dial that they could make the show a real success (And in turn earn the money to help Willy), the whale is too agitated by the banging on his tank by the kids down below to respond to Jessie's calls. The audience then begins clapping ''not'' to applaud them, but to hurry them up. The claps turn to boos and Jesse rushes off the set in tears, and leaves the park feeling betrayed.

* IntergenerationalFriendship: Jesse and Randolph.

* LaserGuidedKarma: The crowd of kids in the observation area, who's relentless banging on the glass causes Willy a great deal of stress and ruins the show; it becomes so much that Willy ends up slamming the glass, scaring everybody out.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Dwight. He is forced to be harsh on Jessie due to his constant run-ins with the law, but he is committed to giving Jessie a sporting chance at a better life in spite of his abrasive and reckless nature.

At the time, the movie was subject to frequent parody (especially its climax). A movement to "Free Keiko", the animal actor of the movie also was brought about by it. While he did resume contact with humans and eventually die of pneumonia, he lived a much better life in the ocean and had he continued living in captivity he would definitely have died much sooner of a papilloma virus which he quickly recovered from upon release.

** Averted by the Free Keiko movement. Although Keiko continued to interact with humans post-release and eventually died of pneumonia, his life was improved and almost definitely lengthened by his release.

** Jesse initially and understandably thinks his foster parents and caseworker are this, but they're actually quite attentive.

* FriendToAllLivingThings: Jesse, as it's shown with his kindness towards Willy.

* FriendToAllLivingThings: Jesse, with his kindness towards Willy.

* FriendToAllLivingThings: Jesse, whenever he shows his kindness towards Willy.