When talking with Kevin Smith about his latest film, The 4:30 Movie, I had to ask about the progress of my favorite film, Dogma. So, the film is a satirical fantasy that follows two fallen angels, Bartleby and Loki. The duo seeks to exploit a loophole in Catholic doctrine to return to Heaven. Sadly, the film has been trapped in legal hell by the “devil himself”.
Dogma is currently unavailable for streaming or digital purchase. The Blu-ray edition is out of print. Dogma achieved a box office gross of $44 million against a production budget of only $10 million. So, why is the film not readily available for the masses?
DOGMA’S LEGAL BATTLE
Back in 2022, Smith shared with The Wrap “…to tell the story unfortunately, I’m gonna have to say the name that nobody wants to hear anymore. But of course, Harvey Weinstein figures into the story.” Lionsgate was responsible for the theatrical release of Dogma, while Columbia/TriStar obtained the home video rights for a limited duration. However, according to Smith, those rights eventually expired.
When Kevin Smith discovered that Weinstein was attempting to sell the rights for $5 million, Smith and his legal team made efforts to repurchase them. Smith expressed discomfort with this decision, stating, “We felt very dirty about it because we didn’t want to give him money.” However, Weinstein dismissed their various offers, leading Smith to remark, “He’s holding it hostage. My movie about angels is owned by the devil himself.”
When recently speaking with Kevin Smith I had to ask if there was any update. It turns out, “The only thing that can save us is a little bit of faith.”
KEVIN SMITH DOGMA UPDATE!
MORE ABOUT DOGMA
Dogma was released in 1999. It was written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is a satirical comedy that explores themes of religion, faith, and the nature of God through a unique narrative. The story follows two fallen angels, Bartleby and Loki, played by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who seek to exploit a loophole in Catholic doctrine that would allow them to return to Heaven. Their plan, however, could have catastrophic consequences for existence.
The film features an incredible cast, including Linda Fiorentino as Bethany Sloane, a woman chosen to stop the angels, and notable appearances by Jason Mewes and Smith himself as Jay and Silent Bob. The film also stars Salma Hayek and Chris Rock, as well as the late George Carlin and Alan Rickman.
