Even if you're not a fan of musicals, you just might be surprised by how many songs in Oliver! you recognize. If it was all about the music, you'd have half a recommendation, but thankfully this 1968 film has plenty more going on. And it's not just my opinion; it was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, and won 5 of them!

Based on the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver! follows the misadventures of the titular orphan (Mark Lester), who begins the story in a bleak workhouse, one forlorn child among many, and eventually winds up somewhere very different, via quite a few musical numbers. Along the way, he runs into the Artful Dodger (Jack Wild), the compassionate Nancy (Shani Wallis), the loutish Bill (Oliver Reed), and the complicated Fagin (Ron Moody). Each has an outsized impact on Oliver's trajectory and ultimate fate, reminding you that, yes, this is definitely Dickens.

The production design is one of the best attributes of Carol Reed's film, while the songs have strong melodies and fantastic staging. This is one of those musicals that doesn't feel like it's on a backlot or soundstage, even when it is. With colorful and energetic choreography, the admittedly long runtime makes great use of the sets and performances. Also of note is that this musical is kind of the end of an era. Though it won those handful of Oscars (it's also the only G-rated film to win a Best Director award), this kind of production was declining in popularity overall, and a musical wouldn't win Best Picture again until Chicago in 2002. Whether you've never seen it, or it's just been too long since the last time, consider getting swept up in Oliver's story.