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Polyester

Play trailer Poster for Polyester R,  1981,  1h 26m,  Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 93% 30 Reviews Tomatometer 81% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A frustrated housewife, Francine Fishpaw (Divine), tries to maintain her sanity while taking care of her dysfunctional household. Elmer (David Samson), her husband and the owner of an adult theater, is sleeping with his secretary, and her delinquent teen son, Dexter (Ken King), and pregnant teen daughter, Lulu (Mary Garlington), aren't helping matters any. But when Francine meets dashing Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), the owner of a theater specializing in art films, her life appears rosier.
Polyester

What to Know

Critics Consensus

As proudly tacky as its titular fabric, Polyester finds writer-director John Waters moving ever so slightly into the mainstream without losing any of his subversive charm.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Sep 12, 2008
A fitfully amusing comedy of not so ordinary people. Go to Full Review
Derek Adams Time Out Feb 9, 2006
OK, so it's not The Cherry Orchard, but who could resist a film where a massive drive-in billboard proclaims 'Now showing - Three Great Marguerite Duras Hits'? Go to Full Review
Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness May 4, 2005
B
Stinks in all the right ways. Go to Full Review
Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Dec 27, 2022
Polyester isn’t one of his best; the midnight movie sensations Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, as well as later mainstream hit Hairspray, hold up better. Still, it is a lot of fun. Go to Full Review
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Aug 30, 2022
B
Not nearly as gross as Waters’ previous outings (when Francine has to puke, she does it discreetly into her purse), but still wild enough to please any Waters fan. Go to Full Review
Scott Sublett Washington Blade May 20, 2022
Polyester will be remembered for a long time. It is a well-made film, a masterpiece of comedy and an utterly original, independent vision. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Albus R Mar 12, 2019 Very mild for John Waters, yet this satire of suburb family has everything you expect from a Waters.
Feb 2, 2019 The best comedy movie ever made!
Hagrid M Dec 21, 2018 This is American life and it is hilarious!
Hagrid S Mar 12, 2018 Very funny, solid plot, good pacing, enjoyed actors' performances.
Anakin S Aug 11, 2017 Hasn't Aged Well At All. The Smell-o-Vision Is A Good Gimmick, But The RestOf It, Largely Out Of A Terrible Story, Is Just Deplorable. Not Worth It Really. See more
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Polyester

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John Waters

Director

Divine

Francine Fishpaw

Tab Hunter

Todd Tomorrow

Edith Massey

Cuddles Kovinsky

Mink Stole

Sandra Sullivan

David Samson

Elmer Fishpaw

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Polyester

Polyester (1981) Polyester (1981) Polyester (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A frustrated housewife, Francine Fishpaw (Divine), tries to maintain her sanity while taking care of her dysfunctional household. Elmer (David Samson), her husband and the owner of an adult theater, is sleeping with his secretary, and her delinquent teen son, Dexter (Ken King), and pregnant teen daughter, Lulu (Mary Garlington), aren't helping matters any. But when Francine meets dashing Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), the owner of a theater specializing in art films, her life appears rosier.
Director
John Waters
Producer
John Waters
Screenwriter
John Waters
Distributor
New Line Home Video [us], Criterion Collection, New Line Cinema
Production Co
New Line Cinema
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 29, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 18, 2010
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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