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Free Willy 3: The Rescue

Free Willy 3: The Rescue

A new friend. A new threat. A new adventure that will capture your heart.

19976.11h 26m

Overview

Willy the whale is back, this time threatened by illegal whalers making money off sushi. Jesse, now 16, has taken a job on an orca-researching ship, along with old friend Randolph and a sarcastic scientist, Drew. On the whaler's ship is captain John Wesley and his son, Max, who isn't really pleased about his father's job, but doesn't have the gut to say so. Along the way, Willy reunites with Jesse.

Directed by Sam Pillsbury
Written by Keith Walker, John Mattson
Produced by Jennie Lew Tugend
Box OfficeBudget: $35.0MRevenue: $3.4M

Top Cast

Jason James Richter

Jason James Richter

Jesse

August Schellenberg

August Schellenberg

Randolph Johnson

Annie Corley

Annie Corley

Drew Halbert

Vincent Berry

Vincent Berry

Max Wesley

Patrick Kilpatrick

Patrick Kilpatrick

John Wesley

Tasha Simms

Tasha Simms

Mary Weslay

Peter LaCroix

Peter LaCroix

Sanderson

Stephen E. Miller

Stephen E. Miller

Dineen

Ian Tracey

Ian Tracey

Kron

Matthew Walker

Matthew Walker

Captain Drake

Themes & Keywords

shipwhalefriendskiller whalewhaler

About Free Willy 3: The Rescue

Free Willy 3: The Rescue is a family, adventure film released in 1997 exploring themes of ship, whale, friends, killer whale, whaler. Directed by Sam Pillsbury, it stars Jason James Richter, August Schellenberg, Annie Corley. Willy the whale is back, this time threatened by illegal whalers making money off sushi. Jesse, now 16, has taken a job on an orca-researching ship, along with old friend Randolph and a sarcastic scientist, Drew. On the whaler's ship is captain John Wesley and his son, Max, who isn't really pleased about his father's job, but doesn't have the gut to say so. Along the way, Willy reunites with Jesse.

Movies Similar to Free Willy 3: The Rescue

Discover titles like Free Willy 3: The Rescue — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to Free Willy 3: The Rescue

If you enjoyed Free Willy 3: The Rescue, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of Free Willy 3: The Rescue.

Free Willy
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After young Kirra leaves her Australian home to summer with her grandfather in South Africa, she soon discovers a baby orca stranded in the lagoon near her grandfather’s rundown seaside amusement park. She names the lonely whale Willy--and embarks on a great quest to lead the little guy back to his anxious pod.

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Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
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Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve.

Treasure Island
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Young Jim Hawkins, while running the Benbow Inn with his mother, meets Captain Billy Bones, who dies at the inn while it is beseiged by buccaneers led by Blind Pew. Jim and his mother fight off the attackers and discover Billy Bones' treasure map for which the buccaneers had come. Jim agrees to sail on the S.S. Espaniola with Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey to find the treasure on a mysterious isiand. Upon arriving at the island, ship's cook and scaliwag Long John Silver leads a mutiny of crew members who want the treasure for themselves. Jim helps the Squire and Espaniola officers to survive the mutiny and fight back against Silver's men, who have taken over the Espaniola.

Blackfish
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Blackfish(2013)

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Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.