Free Willy 3: The Rescue | Rotten Tomatoes

Free Willy 3: The Rescue

PG

Released Aug 8, 1997

1 hr. 26 min.

Kids & Family

Adventure

List

44%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the third "Free Willy" film, Jesse (Jason James Richter) is 16 and employed aboard a research ship along with his old friend and mentor, Randolph (August Schellenberg). After Jesse meets Max (Vincent Berry), the disapproving son of a whaler hoping to catch Willy the orca for his meat, the two team with oceanographer Drew (Annie Corley) to stop the whalers before they can get to Willy and the rest of his pod, and convince them to give up their cruel and illegal practice.

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StephenPaul C

The worst 01 hour: and 26 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This one I remembered for being the best. Well it is, sort of. It has it's moment and it's acting is slightly better than the first one but it's still campy as fuck and just feels so much like a 90s movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is probably the best one but we're still talking about Free Willy. The cinematography is great and it has the most realistic dialogue but the message is kinda forced.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I admit, I was surprised by this installment. It was more down to Earth and was actually a decent story. I remember when this was announced I thought, "Not again" but then I saw it and I was a bit short-sighted. It treats humans as decidedly even, and mixes it in with a good story that's not so heavy-handed this time. Jesse seems and acts real, the science that they produce actually has some merit, and the side story with the boy and his father with a spear gun does have some debate with it. For the most part, all sides are equal. Most of the jokes are sporadic, and us as adults will like it, but I don't think kids will like it as much as the other two. Admitting, it's only an hour and twenty-five minutes and seems that it's not long enough that you are wanting more out of it. It wasn't as successful as a film, and it's vastly underrated. I would definitely put this on the list. Pretty good little movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ok no more please!! Stop making this ok ok!!!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/10/18

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Audience Member

This movie might have the best plot of the series and has a strong message about hunting. 9.0/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Sam Pillsbury

Director

Jason James Richter

Jesse

August Schellenberg

Randolph Johnson

Annie Corley

Drew Halbert

Vincent Berry

Max Wesley

Patrick Kilpatrick

John

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

There is a majesty to whales that the second Willy movie trivialized. Part three returns to some of the human elements that made the first movie so good.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Russell Smith

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

For devoted -- and young -- Willy fans only.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 15, 2010

Full Review

Susan Granger

www.susangranger.com

Rated: 2/5

Dec 21, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Sep 24, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

In the third "Free Willy" film, Jesse (Jason James Richter) is 16 and employed aboard a research ship along with his old friend and mentor, Randolph (August Schellenberg). After Jesse meets Max (Vincent Berry), the disapproving son of a whaler hoping to catch Willy the orca for his meat, the two team with oceanographer Drew (Annie Corley) to stop the whalers before they can get to Willy and the rest of his pod, and convince them to give up their cruel and illegal practice.

Director: Sam Pillsbury
Executive Producer: Richard Donner, Arnon Milchan, Lauren Shuler Donner
Screenwriter: Keith Walker, John Mattson
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Donner/Schuler-Donner, Regency Enterprises, Warner Brothers
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.5M
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

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