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Dogma (1999)

tomatometer

67

Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 126
Fresh: 85 | Rotten: 41

Provocative and audacious, Dogma entertains without overtly offending.

50

Average Rating: 5.8/10
Critic Reviews: 28
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 14

Provocative and audacious, Dogma entertains without overtly offending.

audience

84

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 336,276

My Rating

Movie Info

Would you believe that the last living descendent of Jesus Christ is a woman working at an abortion clinic in Illinois? And that she's been sent on a holy mission with two minor characters from Clerks and Mallrats as her guides? Prepare to suspend any and all disbelief as you watch the religious satire Dogma, the fourth film from writer/director Kevin Smith. Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) has been disappointed in life and has found her faith severely tested after her husband leaves her when she

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Comedy

Kevin Smith

May 2, 2000

Lions Gate

Cast

All Critics (126) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (91) | Rotten (44) | DVD (37)

A very vulgar pro-faith comedy rather than a sacrilegious goof, Dogma is an extraordinarily uneven film that significant cutting might be able to transform into a playable one.

March 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comments (4)
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

I couldn't care less whether Smith's metaphysical conceits about the war between Good and Evil are those of a devout believer or an atheist. The bottom line is that they're puerile.

March 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (2)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Dogma is more strained than funny.

April 27, 2007 Full Review Source: New York Observer | Comment
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A fresh premise gradually turns stale, and jokes that start out lively end up pooped.

March 19, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Thou shalt not stop laughing.

May 10, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Deliriously funny!

January 1, 2000 Comment
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This movie takes a dare that shows why Kevin Smith is loved: he dares to take a risk and questions religion.

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | Comment
Cinema Crazed

It's too bad Smith's trademark humor got in the way, because while the film definitely has its flaws, there's no denying that it also had the ability to serve as an intelligent debate about religion.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Bullz-Eye.com | Comment
Bullz-Eye.com

The true target of the film is not religion but religious dogma ...

July 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Cinefantastique | Comment
Cinefantastique

A lighthearted, determinedly independent romp.

March 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Make no mistake, Kevin Smith's talky, farcical comedy of cosmic errors is clever. But it's clever in a deeply juvenile way.

March 19, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

For irreverent religious satire, Monty Python's Life of Brian still takes the prize, but Dogma is a respectable runner-up. And in Blu-ray it's even more enjoyable.

March 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Controversial comedy is irreverent and bloody.

November 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

What you hear throughout Dogma, liberally peppered with the usual prankish profanities, is Kevin Smith having a conversation with himself about his faith.

July 30, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

Writer-Director Kevin Smith keeps getting better.

July 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | Comment
Big Picture Big Sound

It's push-the-envelope coarse, thematically ambitious, and -- most dangerously -- self-consciously respectful and thoughtful on matters of faith and religion.

April 6, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com | Comment
DVDJournal.com

Informal and good-natured, Smith is openly communicative and accessible to his fans ... and this DVD is clearly aimed at maintaining that relationship.

April 6, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com | Comment
DVDJournal.com

Too talky, too fond of in-jokes, too caught up (especially during the dismally weak climax) in its crass comic-strip ethos, and not, finally, as funny, subversive or thought-provoking as it would like to be.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

At their best, his verbal exercises are pyrotechnical, at worst, logorrheic.

July 16, 2005 Full Review Source: Boston Herald | Comment
Boston Herald

It is thoughtful and funny but less than satisfying. Smith took on a bit too much, but I laud the effort.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | Comment
Reeling Reviews
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Dogma

It's really hard to satire religion yet stay respectful of the religion. But this film does it. Kevin Smith is one of my favorite comedic writter/directors of our time and this film is a perfect example of his art. This is one of the only films I can stand Ben Affleck. Matt Damon should do more comedies like these.

January 7, 2012
Joshua Wilburn

Super Reviewer

What an amazing cast! Seriously if you don't see this for any other reason, you will still enjoy it. Who would have thought this group of people would ever work together? Only Kevin Smith can pull it off so seamlessly. I love this movie, although I don't promote its ideas of religion, it doesn't matter, this movie

September 6, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

    1. Silent Bob: [after throwing Bartleby and Loki off a train; a la Indiana Jones] No Ticket.
    – Submitted by Francis L (6 days ago)
    1. Bartleby: [to Officer McGee] Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
    – Submitted by sean b (3 months ago)
    1. Metatron: She can rebuild you. She has the technology.
    – Submitted by sean b (3 months ago)
    1. Jay: I feel like I'm Han Solo, and you're Chewie, and she's Ben Kenobi, and we're in that fucked-up bar.
    – Submitted by John P (4 months ago)
    1. Woman-God: [pokes Bethany's nose] Nweep.
    – Submitted by Alyssa B (5 months ago)

Latest News for Dogma

June 23, 2008:
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January 17, 2008:
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