Movie · 1988 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 14m · G · English
Curator score: 1.8/10 (58.2K ratings)
The first Disney movie with attitude.
Overview
Putting its own 'twist' on the story of Oliver Twist, the orange runt of a litter of kittens must fight for survival on the rough streets on New York City, finding unlikely friends in the dogs owned by a down-on-his luck man named Fagin. Soon, Oliver and his new band of comrades must fight for survival when Fagin is unable to pay his debts.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.8/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 52%
Metacritic: 58
TMDB: 6.7/10
Director
George Scribner
Production
Walt Disney Pictures, Silver Screen Partners III, Walt Disney Feature Animation
Cast
Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin, Richard Mulligan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Bette Midler, Dom DeLuise, Taurean Blacque, Carl Weintraub, Robert Loggia, Natalie Gregory, William Glover, Deborah Gates, Charles Bartlett, Jonathan Brandis, Kal David, Marcia Del Mar, Victor DiMattia, Judi Durand
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A lively, uneven Disney oddity with strong New York atmosphere, catchy Billy Joel songs, and a scrappy street-level energy that gives it personality beyond the usual studio formula. It’s charming and memorable in bursts, but the story is loose, the emotional beats are thin, and the adaptation feels more like a vibe than a fully satisfying narrative.
Best for
Disney animation fans curious about the late-1980s studio era
Viewers who like musical family films with urban settings
Fans of scrappy underdog stories and found-family ensembles
Nostalgic rewatchers looking for an easy comfort movie
Skip if
You want a tight, faithful adaptation of Oliver Twist
You prefer the strongest Disney Renaissance-era storytelling
You’re looking for a film with deep character development or emotional complexity
You dislike broad comedy and a lightweight plot
Overview
Oliver & Company is one of Disney’s more unusual animated features: a loose Dickens remix set in a bustling, neon New York City. That setting gives the movie a distinct identity, and the soundtrack, especially Billy Joel’s contributions, does a lot of heavy lifting in making it feel breezy and memorable.
Worth noting
The film works best as a mood piece. The streetwise animal gang, the city energy, and the warm, sketchy charm of the animation make it easy to enjoy even when the plot is moving on rails or skipping over important emotional beats. It has the feel of a studio experiment that landed enough personality to become a cult comfort watch.
Bottom line
At the same time, it’s not one of Disney’s most polished stories. The adaptation is very loose, the stakes can feel simplified, and some viewers will find the comedy and sentiment a little thin. If you want a charming, music-forward family movie with a bit of grit, it’s worth a look; if you want a definitive Oliver Twist adaptation, this is not the one.
Top Letterboxd reviews
vi (5★) · 1001 likes
billy joel................. love that bitch
James (Schaffrillas) (2★) · 854 likes
After reviewing the situation, I've come to the conclusion that I cannot stand the Oliver Twist story no matter how it's adapted
Joel Duscher (3.5★) · 749 likes
Back when Disney didn’t give a shit about toning things down for children.
80s Disney will kill a man with a train on screen they don’t care. This is real life kids, sometimes people smoke cigars and get obliterated by a train as an act of revenge instigated by a ragtag team of dogs.
Grow up and deal with it.