The Smell of Success Poster

The Smell of Success 2011

★ 5.625 votes96 min📅 2011-08-19

"Don't hold your breath!"

Michael Polish's 2011 comedy *The Smell of Success* pivots on a pungent premise when the accidental demise of Mr. Rose—the inventive force behind Rose's Manure Company—leaves his loyal sales crew facing career extinction.

Director: Michael Polish

Cast

Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Patrick
Téa Leoni
Téa Leoni
Rosemary Rose
Mark Polish
Mark Polish
Thaddeus Young
Ed Helms
Ed Helms
Chet Pigford
Kyle MacLachlan
Kyle MacLachlan
Jimmy St. James
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Cleveland Clod
Frances Conroy
Frances Conroy
Agnes May
Jon Gries
Jon Gries
Early Dunchamp
Richard Edson
Richard Edson
Nelly the Nose
D.W. Moffett
D.W. Moffett
Agent Chestnut

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Smell of Success (2011) about?

When the accidental death of Mr. Rose threatens his manure company, estranged daughter Rosemary steps in to run the malodorous business while battling a takeover-minded rival. Unexpectedly, she discovers that turning fertilizer into fortune might require more than a polished résumé.

Who directed The Smell of Success?

The film was directed by Michael Polish, known for blending offbeat comedy with sharp character studies.

Who stars in The Smell of Success?

The main roles are played by Billy Bob Thornton, Téa Leoni, Mark Polish, Ed Helms, and Kyle MacLachlan.

Is The Smell of Success (2011) worth watching?

Though unrated, the film's genre-typical blend of satire and lowbrow humor offers plenty of laughs for fans of quirky comedies. Its inventive premise and strong lead performances make it a curious oddity worth sampling.

How long is The Smell of Success?

The film runs approximately 96 minutes.

🎥 Trailer

About The Smell of Success (2011) — Comedy where manure meets million-dollar ambition

Michael Polish's 2011 comedy *The Smell of Success* pivots on a pungent premise when the accidental demise of Mr. Rose—the inventive force behind Rose's Manure Company—leaves his loyal sales crew facing career extinction. Rosemary Rose, the CEO's high-end-cosmetics-slinging daughter, reluctantly trades perfume samples for fertilizer samples and steps into the malodorous fray, determined to transmute manure into money. Yet beneath the barnyard humor lurks a slick corporate predator angling to seize the company's stinky empire. With a cast led by Billy Bob Thornton and Téa Leoni, the film balances offbeat whimsy against cutthroat ambition, wrapping moral lessons in a nostril-twitching package of dark laughs and unexpected heart.

Set against a backdrop of small-town rivalries and cutthroat commerce, *The Smell of Success (2011)* revels in the clash between family legacy and mercenary motives, where every pitch stinks just a little and every profit smells like victory. Polish's direction keeps the tone snappy and the stakes fresh, turning an unglamorous industry into a fertile playground for satire and sincerity alike.