Oliver Company – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Oliver Company

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1988

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Disney's 1988 Oliver Twist-with-kittens is sweet but painfully dated—your kids will probably ask to watch something else within 20 minutes.

6.6/10

52%

6.7

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Oliver Company

movie

G, 1988

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Disney's 1988 Oliver Twist-with-kittens is sweet but painfully dated—your kids will probably ask to watch something else within 20 minutes.

6.6

52%

6.7

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6.6/10

52%

6.7

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the truth: Oliver & Company is perfectly harmless and has some sweet messages about friendship and belonging, but it's also painfully dated. The 1988 animation looks rough compared to what kids see today, the pacing feels slow, and the 80s New York aesthetic is more 'historical artifact' than 'timeless classic.'

If you loved this as a kid, you might be tempted to share it, but prepare for disappointment when your kid asks if you have 'something else' 15 minutes in. The TMDB score of 6.7 tells the story—it's fine, not great. The villain is legitimately scary for little ones, and the kidnapping plot adds tension that pushes it past pure comfort viewing.

This sits in that awkward middle ground: not bad enough to avoid, not good enough to actively recommend when you have literally thousands of better options. It's the movie equivalent of finding an old toy in the attic—sweet memory, but probably staying in the attic.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-9, though even within that range you're rolling the dice on whether they'll actually stay engaged. Kids who love classic Disney or have a thing for animal movies might stick with it; most modern kids will be reaching for the remote.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Disney's Oliver & Company shows themes of friendship, loyalty, and finding family in unexpected places. Oliver's journey from abandoned kitten to loved pet models resilience. The dog pack demonstrates cooperation despite their rough edges. However, the film includes some darker elements: Fagin is a sympathetic character in debt to a genuinely menacing loan shark (Sykes), there's mild peril when Jenny is kidnapped for ransom, and the street-dog lifestyle glamorizes minor theft and scamming. The tone balances heartwarming moments with some edge that may feel slightly intense for very young viewers.

Imaginative

A creative reimagining of Oliver Twist set in 1980s New York City with animals is conceptually clever. The urban setting with anthropomorphized street dogs offers visual interest and some memorable musical numbers (including Billy Joel as Dodger). However, the execution is fairly conventional Disney formula without particularly innovative storytelling or world-building that invites deeper creative thinking. It's entertaining but doesn't push boundaries or inspire much beyond passive viewing.

Safe

Generally safe for family viewing with typical Disney-level conflict. The villain Sykes is threatening and there's a climactic chase scene with some peril (he falls to his death off-screen on subway tracks, which could be startling). Jenny's kidnapping creates tension but resolves safely. Some mild cartoon violence and scary moments with Sykes' dobermans. No gore, sexual content, or inappropriate language. The debt/loan shark storyline might confuse younger kids but isn't graphic. A few jump scares and tense moments prevent this from being completely worry-free for the most sensitive viewers.

Enriching

Offers some valuable lessons about loyalty, found family, and class differences (wealthy Jenny vs. street dogs). The adaptation of Dickens provides a gentle introduction to classic literature themes. However, the film doesn't deeply explore its social commentary and opts for straightforward entertainment. Limited skill-building or cognitive challenge beyond following the plot. The music is catchy but not particularly educational. Emotional growth potential exists in discussions about homelessness, poverty, and what makes a family, but the film itself doesn't dig very deep.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Classic Disney themes of found family and loyalty that still resonate
Introduces Dickens' Oliver Twist concepts in an accessible, animal-based format
Billy Joel voices Dodger and the soundtrack has some genuinely catchy 80s bops
Short runtime (74 minutes) means it won't overstay its welcome if they do engage
Nostalgia factor if you loved it as a kid and want to share that memory

⚠

What to Watch For

The villain Sykes is genuinely menacing and dies in a climactic scene that might frighten sensitive kids under 6
Jenny's kidnapping creates real tension—she's held for ransom which could be scary
The animation quality is noticeably dated and may not hold attention spans raised on Pixar and modern CGI
Some mild peril with dobermans chasing characters and subway train sequences

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Fagin kept the dogs even though he was so poor? What does that tell us about him?"
"Oliver had to choose between his new family with Dodger and living with Jenny. Have you ever had to make a hard choice between two good things?"
"The dogs had to steal food to survive. When might breaking rules be okay, and when is it not?"
"What do you think makes a family? Is it just the people (or animals) you live with?"

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