Beloved 1993 Family Movie About a Captive Orca To Stream on Prime Video

With the holiday season here, streaming platforms are ready with an exciting lineup of films and TV shows to release throughout December. The season calls for timeless classics, Hollywood blockbusters, romance-dramas and wholesome family films, and Prime Video seems to have understood the assignment. One of the most beloved adventure dramas from the 90s, Free Willy, will come out on the streaming service this month.

Free Willy begins streaming on Prime Video in December

Along with a thrilling roster of films, Prime Video users will get access to a classic family drama from the 90s, Free Willy, starting December 30, 2025 (via ComicBook.com). The film, directed by Simon Wincer, follows the story of a young boy Jesse who befriends a whale at the park he works at.

When the whale refuses to cooperate with its trainer, the authorities try to cause harm to it, and Jesse comes to the rescue. Released by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 16, 1993, the film continues to serve as a beloved family favorite during the holiday season.

Free Willy stars Jason James Richter in the lead as Jesse, August Schellenberg as Randolph Johnson, Michael Madsen as Glen Greenwood, Lori Petty as Rae Lindley, and Jayne Atkinson as Annie Greenwood, among others.

Additionally, Keiko, the whale who played Willy in the film, reportedly performed in a marine entertainment park in Mexico City after the film, in poor conditions. When the public raised their voice about the same, Keiko eventually made it to Iceland in 1998, after the U.S. government transported him to the icy waters from Oregon, in a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III.

Along with Free Willy, other rom-coms, family-dramas and action classics will also make it to the platform. The Prime Video release roster for December 30 includes rom-coms like Music & Lyrics, He’s Just Not That Into You, A Cinderella Story and The Great Gatsby.

Families can enjoy a cozy New Year’s watch with In the Heart of the Sea, The Legend of Tarzan and Ready Player One. The list also includes action titles like Blade (1998), Blade II and Wrath of the Titans.