Free Willy

Directed by Simon Wincer

One of Poledouris's most commercially successful scores and, for many listeners, their first encounter with his music. This beloved family film about a boy and a captive orca earned warm, emotionally direct orchestral writing that introduced his gifts to an entirely new generation. The score won the BMI Film Music Award. Michael Jackson's 'Will You Be There' accompanies the film's climactic jump — Poledouris's underscore surrounding it gave that moment its full weight.