Kevin Smith in 1999's Dogma; Catholic protestors at movie's premiere on Nov. 4, 1999.
Kevin Smith’s 1999 film Dogma once stirred up a whirlwind of controversy, with Catholic protests marking its debut on November 4, 1999. Now, as the film prepares for a 25th-anniversary re-release, the director is still bewildered by the uproar it caused. “I hated when there were protests,” Smith recounts to PEOPLE, reflecting on his film’s premiere quarter of a century ago. “I’m no agent provocateur. I never meant Dogma to disrespect anyone’s beliefs. This was my expression of faith,” declares Smith. The film returns to theaters nationwide on June 5, featuring a star-studded cast including Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
As Smith revisits the chaos of its initial release, he’s amazed by how much it provoked Catholic communities after its 1999 debut. During an interview with PEOPLE, Smith, 54, shared his disdain for the protests that erupted during the premieres of his movie, “So far, we have not had the experience that we had in 1999, which has been absolutely wonderful,” Smith notes as he reflects on the current reception of the film’s nationwide tour ahead of its June re-release. “I didn’t make Dogma to turn anyone’s faith on its head; it was a personal faith narrative. A believer’s take, directed by someone who shared those beliefs.”
At the time of making Dogma, Smith was committed to Catholicism himself. The film, which showcases Damon and Affleck as rogue angels plotting their redemption, features an eclectic cast with George Carlin, Jason Mewes, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Alan Rickman, and Janeane Garofalo. It offers a fresh, if irreverent, take on Catholic tenets and Christian themes altogether. Smith recalls, “Back in ’99, when opposition came, it came hard. The Catholic League threw itself at us; we faced 400,000 hate letters and three death threats. It was nonsensical, given that it’s a movie with a rubber poop monster.”
Even with these recollections, Smith admits that his bond with the Catholic Church dissolved long ago. Still, he insists, “Dogma is actually a pretty reverent film,” recalling heightened security at Cannes that year and substantial protests at the New York Film Festival. “There were probably about a thousand people there, rosaries in hand. It was intense,” Smith reflects. “This year? Quiet. It’s perfect, really.”
Two and a half decades and multiple films away from Dogma, Smith shares with PEOPLE that he’s “entertained thoughts of a sequel these last six months,” a story drawn from a non-believer’s standpoint. Yet, in giving Dogma another turn on the big screen, Smith finally sees audiences react in the way he always hoped.
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Looking back at the protests, Smith comments on Dogma‘s approach to Christian motifs, “The kid who made this film was showing his faith’s vibe. It’s like, what if church was fun instead of dreary?” “It was designed to be a bash, a celebration, not just gloomy ritual,” he adds. “Today, the 2025 audience embraces it as ceremonial joy, the screen lit up by howling responses, humor, and a middle-aged cheer! It’s like ultimate fanfare, but no eggs thrown.”
Allowing Dogma to grace cinemas again on June 5, Smith presents a film as lively and provocative as when it first challenged its audience.
