Box office Smashed premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2012.
Sony Pictures Classics bought the film's distribution rights after its premiere at Sundance and gave it a limited release on October 12, 2012.
Critical response The film received generally positive reviews from critics. On
Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating of 83% based on 107 reviews with an average score of 6.8 out of 10. The site's critical consensus reads, "
Smashed resists the temptation to play up its serious subject matter for high theatrics, opting instead to let its gentle tone and Mary Elizabeth Winstead's marvelous performance carry the day."
Metacritic gave the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 32 reviews.
Variety critic Justin Chang commended
Smashed for its "sheer emotional generosity" and Ponsoldt and Burke for their optimistic and sympathetic approach to the story.
Stephen Holden of
The New York Times praised the film's neutral and unsentimental tone and its "refus[al] to indulge a voyeuristic taste for ... sordid details". Similarly,
Empire magazine's James White commended the film for avoiding clichés and condescension "by combining a light, frank, comic touch with real emotion and weighty, human performances by all those involved", and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. In a review for
The Hollywood Reporter,
Todd McCarthy praised
Smashed for its emotional intimacy and realism. Michael O'Sullivan, writing for
The Washington Post gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, likening it to "a dramatic public service announcement" rather than an insightful narrative.
Slant Magazine Chris Cabin also opined that the story was underdeveloped and that the film "offers a cheap and easy sort of inspiration in lieu of genuine inquiry" into the recovery process of alcoholics. Marjorie Baumgarten of
The Austin Chronicle did not find the film to be insightful, writing that the filmmakers were "preaching to the choir" with their portrayal of alcoholism and recovery. Winstead received critical acclaim for her role. Film critic
Roger Ebert, who gave the film 3.5 stars out of 4, wrote that she "is sort of wonderful in this movie, worn and warm" and commended her decision not to portray the character as a victim.
Rolling Stone Peter Travers described Winstead's performance as "unmissable and unforgettable", praising the comedy and intellect she simultaneously brought to the role.
Mick LaSalle of the
San Francisco Chronicle felt that Winstead was striking as Kate and speculated that
Smashed would prove to be "the doorway to great things" in her career. Joe Williams from
St. Louis Post-Dispatch gave the film 3 out of 4 stars and stated "There will never be another
Marilyn Monroe or
Elizabeth Taylor, but Hollywood may have found a new
Lee Remick in Mary Elizabeth Winstead."
Accolades When
Smashed premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Ponsoldt was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the Dramatic category, while producers Andrea Sperling and Jonathan Schwartz received a nomination for the Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing. Octavia Spencer received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress at the
Black Reel Awards. For their work on the film, casting directors Avy Kaufman and Kim Coleman were nominated for a
Casting Society of America Artios Award for a Low Budget Feature in the Comedy or Drama category. ==Soundtrack==