Explore Movie Vocabulary
Learn English with movies. Discover how much of a movie’s vocabulary you already know and review unfamiliar words before watching.
Sweet Smell of Success
Unique vocabulary and phrases by level
How difficult is Sweet Smell of Success in English?
Sweet Smell of Success: 62.9% A1–A2 vocabulary; 18.7% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary. Vocabulary size: 1,532.
Unique vocabulary
- For A2 learners: 29.5% of unique vocabulary is above A2 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
- For B1 learners: 18.7% of unique vocabulary is above B1 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
- For B2 learners: 13.4% of unique vocabulary is above B2 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
7.6% Unclassified. Unclassified vocabulary has no reliable level assignment.
Vocabulary weighted by word occurrences
91.6% A1–A2 vocabulary; 4.0% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary; 1.7% Unclassified.
This counts repeated eligible words. Phrases are excluded from this calculation to avoid counting their component words twice.
Recurring words and phrases to preview
- column (B1): 27 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Want a hot item on Hunsecker's column? Two rolls got fresh with the baker!
- item (B1): 19 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Don't you help columnists by furnishing them with items?
- agent (B2): 12 occurrences in available subtitles.
English meaning: Someone who acts for another person or organization.
Subtitle example:
Mr Temple don't believe in press agents. Does that answer ya something?
- favour (B2): 12 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Don't begrudge it to me, JJ. I owe him a lot of favours.
- smear (rare): 12 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
I still think he's behind the smears.
Compare with titles in similar genres
- The Maltese Falcon: 18.1% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.6 percentage points less than Sweet Smell of Success).
- The Big Clock: 17.8% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.9 percentage points less than Sweet Smell of Success).
- Sunset Boulevard: 17.7% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (1.0 percentage points less than Sweet Smell of Success).
These percentages describe vocabulary, not the proportion of dialogue you will understand. CEFR labels are estimates, not official film ratings. Accent, speed, songs, context, and your own vocabulary also affect comprehension. Repeated occurrences may include repeated dialogue or lyrics.
How we estimate vocabulary difficulty · Evidence generated: