Free Willy 4: Escape From Pirate's Cove (2009)

46% of users liked it
(1,043 ratings)

Bindi Irwin (daughter of late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin) makes her feature film debut in this heartwarming tale of a little girl who befriends a stranded baby orca. Nature-loving Australian Kirra (Irwin) is spending the summer with her grandfather (Beau Bridges) in South Africa when she… More Bindi Irwin (daughter of late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin) makes her feature film debut in this heartwarming tale of a little girl who befriends a stranded baby orca. Nature-loving Australian Kirra (Irwin) is spending the summer with her grandfather (Beau Bridges) in South Africa when she makes a remarkable discovery. Swimming in a small lagoon next to her grandfather's dilapidated ocean-side amusement park is a baby orca that seems to have lost its way. Determined to help her new friend get back to his pod, Kirra names the orca Willy and makes it her mission to reunite him with his family. Meanwhile, her grandfather's nemesis - the owner of a popular theme park - has his own plans for Willy. Should Kirra fail to get the wandering killer whale back in the ocean quickly, he'll be put on display instead of set free. But Kirra isn't about to let her new friend down, and before this trip is over she'll truly understand what it means to fight with all you've got for what you really believe in. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Will Geiger
Written By: Will Geiger, Cindy McCreery
Genres: Action & Adventure, Kids & Family

On DVD: Mar 23, 2010
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Mild orca-tainment with adorable Bindi Irwin.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I'm sure kids would enjoy it for its color, locations, animals, music, and love between its main character and the orca. (Blu-ray Edition)
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
Perhaps the feature isn't an overwhelming display of scholastic integrity, but the little ideas add up here and there, hopefully instilling younger viewers with an appreciation for animal behavior.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It's hard to beat a little girl and a killer whale in any movie.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Fascade F

As usual, truly a loveable and enjoyable movie of a little lady that takes a trip to South Africa against her wishes to see her down and out Grandfather. Miles away from her normal terrain, she becomes friends with a "killer" whale that too is miles away and lost from his… More
As usual, truly a loveable and enjoyable movie of a little lady that takes a trip to South Africa against her wishes to see her down and out Grandfather. Miles away from her normal terrain, she becomes friends with a "killer" whale that too is miles away and lost from his family. The two of them form an alliance that will eave a lasting memory in your mind of the importance being a part of family happiness.
Jim W

Bindi Irwin stars as a girl who's sent to live with her grandfather (Beau Bridges) after her father injures himself and is stuck in a hospital bed for a few weeks. Her grandfather owns a rundown little amusement park and when Bindi befriends a killer whale, he uses it as a… More
Bindi Irwin stars as a girl who's sent to live with her grandfather (Beau Bridges) after her father injures himself and is stuck in a hospital bed for a few weeks. Her grandfather owns a rundown little amusement park and when Bindi befriends a killer whale, he uses it as a feature attraction at his park. The movie is cute and harmless and actually better than the other Free Willy sequels. The film has a lot of the same storyline as the first movie. While I find it silly that a different person just happened to give the whale the same name that the whale had in the previous films. The movie is good for the whole family though. I also think Bindi could have a career in movies, since she's actually a better actor than a lot of the young stars these days.