Oliver & Company

Oliver, a small orange kitten, is left behind when the other cats get adopted. He meets Dodger, a streetwise stray who teaches him how to survive on the city’s edge and how to nab scraps. He soon bonds with Dodger's crew including Tito, Rita, Einstein, and Francis, each with a sharp quip and a knack for getting by. Oliver ends up living with Dodger and a ragtag group of dogs led by Fagin, a crafty caretaker who owes money to a ruthless lender named Sykes. A kindhearted girl named Jenny crosses his path and offers a hopeful home, but Sykes has Oliver in his sights and schemes to use the cat as leverage to collect what he is owed today.

Directed by George Scribner, this 1988 Disney animated feature reimagines Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist as a New York City tale about a stray cat who joins a street gang, blending musical numbers with a family friendly spin on a classic tale.

Oliver & Company drew roughly 121 million worldwide, well above its 31 million budget, marking it as a successful box office entry for Disney in the late 1980s. Billy Joel voices Dodger and contributes the song Why Should I Worry.

The film is remembered for Billy Joel performing the jazzy title song Why Should I Worry, helping bridge Disney animation with Broadway style music. Its New York alley aesthetic and talking animal cast left a colorful stamp on late 80s family fare, boosting its lasting charm. Its humor still resonates.

Most critics welcomed its lively humor and memorable voice work, while noting a lightweight plot. The themes center on friendship and belonging, the appeal of a secure home, and a gentle moral about handling danger with courage and trust. Some critics noted the plot's simplicity but praised its timeless warmth.