Oliver!

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1:40

Oliver!

G

Released Sep 26, 1968

2h 26m

Musical

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Popcornmeter

90%

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78 Reviews

81%

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50,000+ Ratings

In this award-winning adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the Charles Dickens novel, 9-year-old orphan Oliver Twist (Mark Lester) falls in with a group of street-urchin pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and masterminded by the criminal Fagin (Ron Moody). When Oliver's intended mark, Mr. Brownlow (Joseph O'Conor), takes pity on the lad and offers him a home, Fagin's henchman Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) plots to kidnap the boy to keep him from talking.

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Critics Consensus

Oliver! transforms Charles Dickens' muckraking novel into a jaunty musical Victorian fairytale, buoyed by Ron Moody's charming star turn and Onna White's rapturous choreography.

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

Carol Reed has just made the kind of movie they don’t make anymore, and it’s as good as ever -- maybe better, coming when it’s more difficult to do.

Jul 6, 2022

Full Review

Joe Morgenstern

Newsweek

The most important thing about [Oliver!] is pleasure, the sheer delight of a movie that can change the lives of kids who see it -- for the better, for the better -- and serve as a public bath for adults to luxuriate in, sing in, get cleansed in.

Jul 6, 2022

Full Review

John Russell Taylor

Times (UK)

In the constant seesaw of realism/fantasy it is hard for anyone to keep one clear thread continuously in mind, and most of the performances are as muddled and indecisive as you might expect.

Mar 3, 2022

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Oliver! is a fine and entertaining family favorite filled with fantastic musical numbers.

Jun 27, 2023

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Zita Short

InSession Film

It will inevitably win you over with its elegance and delicate approach to storytelling.

Feb 2, 2023

Full Review

James Wegg

JWR

There must have been something in the water. In the same year that Oliver! was nominated, while Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey didn’t even come into contention, this trite musical took home Oscar’s Best Picture gold.

Rated: 3/5

May 8, 2022

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Yusuf N

I absolutely Adore this movie i love all the characters and actors its a must-see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/04/24

Full Review

Emily B

Hey kids! Have you ever wanted to feel such PAIN and SUFFERING that you CRAVE to have Peppa Pig toddle along and hold your head underwater for hours just to put an end to the TORTURE? Then why don't you watch "Oliver!"? Seriously - the pain I felt while watching this garbage was the worst I have EVER felt in my whole life, ESPECIALLY when Fagin🤮 was on screen. And he was on screen for AGES (probably more than the TITLE CHARACTER) and basically all he did in the whole movie was 1) Waddle up and down in front of the camera making ugly faces and weird noises which are apparently supposed to be his voice but they sound more like DEMONIC GARGLES and 2) Randomly break into the most absurd song you have ever heard and stomp around the floor saying things like "Iwuhawaysweepaclarrages arunthefeetacarraiges" (I still have NO IDEA what the actual lyrics are and I have literally replayed that part over 50 times). And the worst part is in Dickens' original book which this movie seems to be loosely based on, Fagin🤮 actually DIED, which totally serves him right, but in this movie they had to just go and RUIN THE WHOLE THING by giving him a HAPPY ENDING. I'm sorry, but WHAT?????? I just wasted 2 WHOLE HOURS on this movie thinking that at the end of it it would all finally pay off by Fagin🤮 dying. And GUESS WHAT? I JUST GET TO SEE FAGIN🤮 AND THE ARTFUL DODGER JOYFULLY DANCING OFF INTO THE SUNSET (or sunrise, I don't care) AFTER PROUDLY DECLARING THAT THEY WOULD BE TOGETHER UNTIL THEIR DYING DAY. Ew. So, in conclusion, I BEG YOU not to waste your time on this. If you want to see what Oliver Twist is, please just read the book. At least Fagin🤮 is actually a well written character in that.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Tony M

A timeless classic. Great story, great acting and great memorable songs. By far the best version of Oliver Twist.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

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Josiah

Grew up watching this. Nostalgic fantastic classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

Full Review

Simon T

The last of the great big screen musicals, with brilliant production design, characteristically strong direction by Carol (The Third Man) Reed, a wonderful score and lyrics by Lionel Bart, and marvellous choreography by Onna White. Ron Moody and Shani Wallis take the acting honours, and Mark Lester is a winsome Oliver. Only Oliver Reed's pantomime villain Bill Sikes let's the side down: about as menacing as a haddock.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

Full Review

Joshua H

Fun catchy, songs, solid cast and a great story making this a great musical and a classic watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/23

Full Review

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Carol Reed

Director

Ron Moody

Fagin

Oliver Reed

Bill Sikes

Mark Lester

Oliver Twist

Shani Wallis

Nancy

Harry Secombe

Mr. Bumble

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Oliver!: Official Clip - You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two

3:45

Oliver!: Official Clip - Food, Glorious Food

2:32

Oliver!: Official Clip - As Long As He Needs Me

3:58

Oliver!: Official Clip - Oom-Pah-Pah

3:18

Oliver!: Official Clip - Caught Stealing

2:54

Oliver!: Official Clip - Where Is Love?

2:34

Oliver!: Official Clip - I'd Do Anything

3:52

Oliver!: Official Clip - Consider Yourself

4:11

Oliver!: Official Clip - Please Sir, I Want Some More

3:10

Oliver!: Official Clip - Bill Sikes Hangs

2:51

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Oliver!: Trailer 1

1:40

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Synopsis

In this award-winning adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the Charles Dickens novel, 9-year-old orphan Oliver Twist (Mark Lester) falls in with a group of street-urchin pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and masterminded by the criminal Fagin (Ron Moody). When Oliver's intended mark, Mr. Brownlow (Joseph O'Conor), takes pity on the lad and offers him a home, Fagin's henchman Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) plots to kidnap the boy to keep him from talking.

Director: Carol Reed
Producer: John Woolf
Screenwriter: Vernon Harris
Production Co: Romulus Films Ltd., Warwick Film Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 1968, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1968
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Runtime: 2h 26m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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