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.

| Dec 27, 2022

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.

| Original Score: B | Aug 30, 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.

| May 20, 2022

Even though Polyester is watered-down Waters, it is still designed to offend... And I find Divine's portrayal of a suburban housewife truly liberating.

| May 12, 2022

Polyester stands firmly as a gateway between the gross-out films of Waters' past and the soft-hearted sentimentalist ones that were to come.

| Jun 9, 2020

This time, John Waters has outdone himself: Polyester is a double-knit delight.

| May 26, 2020

Polyester is the start of a turning point in John Waters' career, the start of this radical outsider entering the mainstream.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Oct 23, 2019

Only John Waters would think of marrying Douglas Sirk melodrama to William Castle showmanship.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 23, 2019

The story is brilliant and has an authentic sense of humor. However, it declines as it develops because of its repetitiveness. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Aug 23, 2019

Polyester is definitely one of Waters's best films, and I highly recommend attending an 'Odorama' screening for a unique night at the movies.

| Sep 1, 2014

By standards of Waters' gross-out features, this mildly amusing film is sedate, notable for the casting of fading movie star Tab Hunter and for introducing a gimmick called Odorama, scratch-and-sniff cards.

| Original Score: B- | Jun 24, 2012

A fitfully amusing comedy of not so ordinary people.

| Sep 12, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 6, 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'?

| Feb 9, 2006

Polyester may be one of the few times when Waters tried to expand his cinematic language at the expense of his usual verbal variety

| Original Score: 91/100 | Aug 22, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | May 20, 2005

Stinks in all the right ways.

| Original Score: B | May 4, 2005

The kind of send-up lends itself to loutishness, but Mr. Waters handles it brightly enough to give it distinctive wit.

| Aug 30, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Jun 3, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 14, 2004