Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
0.1718Canon Score · ranked #128 all time
Aggregated from 11 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
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.
Why it ranks #128
Every list on which Sweet Smell of Success appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #18 / 1041 |
| WGA 101 Greatest Screenplays (2006) | Critics' canon | #34 / 101 |
| Total Film 100 Greatest (2005) | Editorial list | #57 / 100 |
| Time Out 100 Best (2026 ed.) | Critics' canon | #95 / 99 |
| Entertainment Weekly 100 (2013) | Editorial list | #100 / 87 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #250 / 500 |
| Empire 500 Greatest (2008) | Editorial list | #314 / 500 |
| Ebert Great Movies (I–IV) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| NYT Best 1000 Movies (2004) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| TIME All-TIME 100 (2005) | Editorial list | Selected |