Keiko: The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy

2013 • 75 minutes

About this movie

Torn from his family at the tender age of two, Keiko spent 14 years in captivity as a performing tourist attraction before Hollywood discovered him for the title role in the 1993 blockbuster movie "Free Willy." When his millions of new fans around the globe, most of them children, realized that Keiko was not free like his on-screen character, a crusade was launched to save him. This historic quest changed his life forever and created a heated controversy that continues to this day regarding the release of captive orcas back to their native waters. "Keiko The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy" is the first in-depth look at the life and legend of the 'Free Willy' star. In this compelling documentary the filmmaker takes the audience behind the scenes with never before seen footage of Keiko in the wild. Visually and through first hand accounts by those directly in charge of Keiko’s care, Keiko The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy documents how Keiko thrived in his post-captivity period for more than five years, mixed it up with wild orcas, and became the second longest lived male captive orca in history.

Ratings and reviews

Kieko your life may still live with mine i'm ten years old but it does not mean that I can't watch your movies here on if I die in the future well see you in heaven I will die for you i'm one of your fans I was born after your death but I will see you in heaven

sad but uplifting that when the Keiko foundation found away to free him he lived 5yrs after he was freed that's what we need to do is free these beautiful creatures

Keiko, may you get to heaven