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Trailer

Sweet Smell of Success

1957Movie1 h 37 min

Drama
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Metacritic1007.6Rotten Tomatoes98%91%

A relentlessly bleak, tense drama movie about show business and everyday modern life, with standout performances and cinematography.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, uplift or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!

New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.

Feels like

  • Caustic Dialogue
  • Film Noir
  • Power & Corruption
  • Cynical Masterpiece
  • New York City Noir
  • Psychological Drama
  • Journalism & PR
  • Stunning Cinematography
  • Moral Decay

Cast

24 of 40

Crew

Directed by
Alexander Mackendrick
Written by
Ernest Lehman, Clifford Odets
Produced by
James Hill
Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 4, 1957 · 1 h 37 min · Drama

Released
July 4, 1957
Runtime
1 h 37 min
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$3 million
Available in
114 countries

Tropes

Sugary Malice, Revenge Before Reason, But Liquor Is Quicker +9

  • Sugary Malice
  • Revenge Before Reason
  • But Liquor Is Quicker
  • Dirty Old Man
  • Death by Adaptation
  • Morality Pet
  • Blackmail Backfire
  • Dirty Communists
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Bitch in Sheep's Clothing
  • Is That a Threat?
  • Did You Think I Can't Feel?

12 of 68 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Sweet Smell of Success?"

Questions about Sweet Smell of Success

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Sweet Smell of Success?

PrimefuboTVMGM+PhiloKanopyHooplaYouTube TVTubi TV

In the United States, Sweet Smell of Success streams on Prime, fuboTV, MGM+, Philo, and YouTube TV, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 7 other countries.

Is Sweet Smell of Success worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 8, Rotten Tomatoes 98%, and Metacritic 100). Critics rate it higher (99 out of 100) than audiences (82).

Will I feel good after watching Sweet Smell of Success?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 0 for hopefulness.

Is Sweet Smell of Success plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (10 of 10) and character depth (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Sweet Smell of Success a box office flop?

Budget$3 million
Box office$3 million

Yes: it cost about $3 million to make and earned $3 million worldwide, 74% of its budget.

What tropes does Sweet Smell of Success use?

Sugary MaliceRevenge Before ReasonBut Liquor Is QuickerDirty Old ManDeath by AdaptationMorality PetBlackmail BackfireDirty CommunistsBittersweet EndingBitch in Sheep's ClothingIs That a Threat?Did You Think I Can't Feel?and 56 more

TV Tropes lists 68 tropes for it, including Sugary Malice, Revenge Before Reason, and But Liquor Is Quicker.