

Polyester
“It’s Scentsational!”
Blessed with a keen sense of smell and cursed with a philandering pornographer husband, a parasitic mother, and a pair of delinquent children, the long-suffering Francine Fishpaw turns to the bottle as her life falls apart -- until deliverance appears in the form of a hunk named Todd Tomorrow. Originally screened with "Odorama" scratch and sniff cards so the audience could (at their own risk) smell along with the film.
Where to watch Polyester in United States
Click a service to open Polyester there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Polyester streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Spain | Filmin | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
About Polyester
Polyester is a 1981 English-language comedy film directed by John Waters. The cast is led by Divine, Tab Hunter, Edith Massey. It has a runtime of 1h 26m. Viewers rate it 7.0/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
Polyester was produced by New Line Cinema, Dreamland, and Michael White Productions and made in United States of America. It was released on May 29, 1981, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $0 million, it went on to gross $1 million worldwide.
- Director
- John Waters
- Writers
- John Waters
- Release date
- May 29, 1981
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $0 million
- Box office
- $1 million
- Production
- New Line Cinema, Dreamland, Michael White Productions
Polyester cast & crew
Polyester was directed by John Waters and written by John Waters.
The cast features Divine as Francine Fishpaw, Tab Hunter as Todd Tomorrow, Edith Massey as Cuddles Kovinsky, David Samson as Elmer Fishpaw, Mary Garlington as Lu-Lu Fishpaw, and Ken King as Dexter Fishpaw.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Michael Kamen, cinematography is by David Insley, and it was produced by Robert Shaye and John Waters.
Is Polyester worth watching?
Polyester holds an audience score of 7.0/10 from 191 ratings, a solidly received comedy films.
At 1h 26m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy comedy, Polyester is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Polyester
Polyester isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of Polyester

Divine
Francine Fishpaw

Tab Hunter
Todd Tomorrow

Edith Massey
Cuddles Kovinsky

David Samson
Elmer Fishpaw

Mary Garlington
Lu-Lu Fishpaw

Ken King
Dexter Fishpaw

Mink Stole
Sandra Sullivan
Joni Ruth White
La Rue
Hans Kramm
Heintz
Stiv Bators
Bo-Bo Belsinger
Rick Breitenfeld
Dr. Arnold Quackenshaw

Michael Watson
Freddy Ashton
Polyester — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Polyester in United States?
Polyester is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
▸What language is Polyester in?
Polyester is originally in English, with audio tracks including Mandarin, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Polyester?
Polyester runs 1 hours 26 minutes (86 minutes).
▸What is Polyester rated?
Polyester is rated R. It holds a 7.0/10 audience score from 191 ratings.











