Dogma (film)

This article is about the 1999 film. For the avant-garde filmmaking movement, see Dogme 95.
Dogma
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKevin Smith
Written byKevin Smith
Produced byScott Mosier
Starring
CinematographyRobert Yeoman
Edited by
  • Kevin Smith
  • Scott Mosier
Music byHoward Shore
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 21, 1999 (1999-05-21) (Cannes)
  • November 12, 1999 (1999-11-12) (United States)
Running time
128 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10 million[1]
Box office$43.9 million[2]

Dogma is a 1999 American fantasy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also stars with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, George Carlin, Linda Fiorentino, Janeane Garofalo, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Salma Hayek, Bud Cort, Alan Rickman, Alanis Morissette in her feature film debut, and Jason Mewes. It is the fourth film in Smith's View Askewniverse series. Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson, stars of the first Askewniverse film Clerks, appear in the film, as do Smith regulars Scott Mosier, Dwight Ewell, Walt Flanagan, and Bryan Johnson.

The story revolves around two fallen angels who plan to employ an alleged loophole in Catholic dogma to return to Heaven after being cast out by God, but as existence is founded on the principle that God is infallible, their success would prove God wrong, thus undoing all creation. The last scion and two prophets are sent by the seraph Metatron to stop them.

The film's irreverent treatment of Catholicism and the Catholic Church triggered considerable controversy, even before its opening. The Catholic League denounced it as blasphemy. Organized protests delayed its release in many countries and led to at least two death threats against Smith.[3][4] Despite this, Dogma was well received by critics, and grossed $43 million against its $10 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing film in the View Askewniverse series to date.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mojo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Dogma (1999) - Financial Information".
  3. ^ Jones, Kimberley (August 10, 2001). "Mr. Smith Goes to Austin". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  4. ^ Seiler, Andy (October 24, 2001). "Kevin Smith is seldom 'Silent'". USA Today. Retrieved July 19, 2010.