Polyester
New Line Cinema | Release Date: May 29, 1981 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
Entertainment WeeklyGlenn Kenny
Polyester is a liberatingly crude satire of suburban mores. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklySteve Simels
Long before Mel Brooks, trash aesthete John Waters was making movies dedicated to the proposition that life stinks. Read full review
80
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Polyester is not Mr. Waters's ordinary movie. It's a very funny one, with a hip, stylized humor that extends beyond the usual limitations of his outlook. Read full review
80
NewsweekDavid Ansen
A rancidly hilarious slice of Americana. [01 Jun 1981, p.91]
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jay Scott
Waters uses the tawdry in satirical celebration of itself - he's the red satin tassled plush pillow of filmmaking. [17 Sep 1981]
75
Miami HeraldBill Cosford
Though Polyester is mild for John Waters, it remains a film not for everyone. But it is a satire of an energy and breadth rarely seen on today's screens. It is recommended, but only for the strong. [03 Dec 1982, p.D1]
70
Los Angeles TimesMark Chalon Smith
Polyester isn’t quite up to the low standards of Pink Flamingos, but it’s still a worthy effort by Waters. Read full review
70
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Polyester splits the difference between Waters’ earlier cult movies and his later mainstream work. A melodrama that touches on everything from punk rock to abortion to pornography. Read full review
63
Washington PostGary Arnold
The new film, a fitfully amusing and perfectly harmless spoof of the morbid and masochistic cliches that sustain the typical soap opera, represents a mellow, spruced-up turn toward the mainstream. [06 Jul 1981, p.C3]
60
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
Likely to be criticised for being less than murky Waters, even with its 'Odorama' card to scratch for olfactory pleasures/displeasures; but then it's clear from an opening helicopter shot that bad taste has found the budget to go middle of the road. Read full review
60
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
A fitfully amusing comedy of not so ordinary people. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
The biting satire and absurd situations in Waters' movies always dwell self-consciously on how media images and stereotypes affect viewers' notions of reality. Polyester is much more cliche-ridden than his other films, however, and so is less successful as satire. Read full review
More From This Movie

72 Critic Reviews

tbd User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL