The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

How difficult is The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner in English?

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner: 65.5% A1–A2 vocabulary; 17.6% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary. Vocabulary size: 1,296.

Unique vocabulary

• For A2 learners: 28.5% of unique vocabulary is above A2 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
• For B1 learners: 17.6% of unique vocabulary is above B1 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
• For B2 learners: 12.5% of unique vocabulary is above B2 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.

6.0% Unclassified. Unclassified vocabulary has no reliable level assignment.

Vocabulary weighted by word occurrences

92.8% A1–A2 vocabulary; 3.5% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary; 1.5% 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

• bloody (B2): 14 occurrences in available subtitles.

  English meaning: Covered in blood; also an informal intensifier in British English.

  Subtitle example: What a garbage dump. It looks like the bloody place they shut Monte Cristo up in.

• bastard (C1): 12 occurrences in available subtitles.

  English meaning: An insulting term for a person; historically, a child born to unmarried parents.

  Subtitle example: but they never will, the bastards.

• mate (B1): 11 occurrences in available subtitles.

  English meaning: A friend or companion; also a partner in some contexts.

  Subtitle example: I'll get out and give you a lift, mate.

• break up (B1): 9 occurrences in available subtitles.

  Subtitle example: Break it up, break it up! Come on, break it up!

• fag (rare): 8 occurrences in available subtitles.

  Subtitle example: Here's your change, Colin. - Ta. You get the fags?

Compare with titles in similar genres

• Billy Lynn s Long Halftime Walk: 17.6% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.0 percentage points more than The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner).
• Mystery Alaska: 17.6% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.0 percentage points more than The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner).
• The Program: 17.4% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.2 percentage points less than The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner).

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: 2026-10-13