Explore Movie Vocabulary
Learn English with movies. Discover how much of a movie’s vocabulary you already know and review unfamiliar words before watching.
The Towering Inferno
Unique vocabulary and phrases by level
How difficult is The Towering Inferno in English?
The Towering Inferno: 63.2% A1–A2 vocabulary; 17.9% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary. Vocabulary size: 1,368.
Unique vocabulary
- For A2 learners: 28.3% of unique vocabulary is above A2 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
- For B1 learners: 17.9% of unique vocabulary is above B1 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
- For B2 learners: 12.3% of unique vocabulary is above B2 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
8.5% Unclassified. Unclassified vocabulary has no reliable level assignment.
Vocabulary weighted by word occurrences
91.0% A1–A2 vocabulary; 4.5% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary; 2.0% 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
- elevator (B1): 24 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
All right. And you're sure these elevators are programmed for emergency service?
- whimpering (rare): 14 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Put her legs down. [Whimpering]
- system (B1): 12 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
We've got to get these electrical systems back on the beam.
- fireman (C1): 11 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
[Fireman] Grab it! Grab it! Take it back and secure it!
- chopper (rare): 9 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
I want some rescue squads here, and I also want choppers.
Compare with titles in similar genres
- In the Grey: 18.1% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.3 percentage points more than The Towering Inferno).
- Canary Black: 18.2% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.4 percentage points more than The Towering Inferno).
- Outbreak: 18.3% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.5 percentage points more than The Towering Inferno).
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: