Dogma

1999

Dogma

Critics Consensus

Provocative and audacious, Dogma is an uneven but thoughtful religious satire that's both respectful and irreverent.

67%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 127

85%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 362,933

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Movie Info

The latest battle in the eternal war between Good and Evil has come to New Jersey in the late, late 20th Century. In what can only be deemed a comedy parable, two renegade fallen angels attempt to jerry-rig the entire cosmological system -- unless a rag-tag group of humans can stop faith. Bethany, the heroine of DOGMA, is a woman who feels her prayers haven't been answered when, out of nowhere, a heralding angel appears in her bedroom and declares her the potential savior of humanity. This abrupt meeting sets her off on an extraordinary journey of mystery, comedy and suspense as she is transported to a fantastical world of celestial characters and spirited adventure. Along the way she will meet up with a heaven-sent messenger, an apostle with a 2,000 year old beef, a hotheaded demon, a heavenly Muse and two unlikely Prophets known as Jay and Silent Bob as they each discover the power of their own individual faith.
  • Rating:
    R (for strong language including sex-related dialogue, violence, crude humor and some drug content)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Kevin Smith
  • Written By:
    Kevin Smith
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Lions Gate

Cast

Ben Affleck
as Bartleby
Matt Damon
as Loki
Linda Fiorentino
as Bethany
Salma Hayek
as Serendipity
George Carlin
as Cardinal Glick
Jason Lee
as Azrael
Alan Rickman
as Metatron
Chris Rock
as Rufus
Alanis Morissette
as God
Bud Cort
as John Doe Jersey
Jason Mewes
as Jay
Kevin Smith
as Silent Bob
Janeane Garofalo
as Liz
Jeff Anderson
as Gun Salesman
Dwight Ewell
as Kane
Betty Aberlin
as Nun
Mark Joy
as Whitland
Barrett Hackney
as Stygian Triplet
Jared Pfennigwerth
as Stygian Triplet
Kitao Sakurai
as Stygian Triplet
Brian O'Halloran
as Reporter
Betty Amberlin
as Nun
Dan Etheridge
as Priest at St. Stephen's
Bryan Johnson
as Protestor No. 1
Walter Flanagan
as Protestor No. 2
Nancy Bach
as Mrs. Reynolds
Armando Rodriguez
as Waiter
Scott Mosier
as Married Man
Benjamin J. Cain Jr.
as Gangster No. 1
Richard Baderinwa
as Gangster No. 2
Javon Johnson
as Gangster No. 3
Derrick Sanders
as Gangster No. 4
Guinevere Turner
as Bus Station Attendant
Jonathan Gordon
as Blanket Boy on Train
Matthew Maher
as Bartender
Robert "Ratface" Holtzman
as Officer McGee
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Critic Reviews for Dogma

All Critics (127) | Top Critics (30)

  • 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.

    Mar 19, 2008

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top 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.

    Mar 19, 2008 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Dogma is more strained than funny.

    Apr 27, 2007 | Full Review…

    Andrew Sarris

    Observer
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic

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

    Mar 19, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Rick Groen

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic

  • Thou shalt not stop laughing.

    May 10, 2001 | Rating: 4.5/5

    Peter Travers

    Rolling Stone
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (127)

Audience Reviews for Dogma

  • Mar 09, 2015
    I didn't know it at the time, but watching Mallrats on VHS as a kid was my first foray into View Askew, but it wasn't until Dogma that I realised there was something bigger and better I could latch on to with Kevin Smith at the helm.
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 29, 2013
    Kevin Smith's religious epic Dogma is a fun and entertaining film that's irreverently hilarious. When two cast out angels discover a loophole that will allow them to re-enter Heaven a disillusioned Catholic is called upon to stop them. An impressive cast has been assembled, and includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Alan Rickman, George Carlin, and Chris Rock. Additionally, Smith's writing is pretty sharp, with some witty dialog and clever humor. However, his directing is still rather weak, and the editing is sloppy. Dogma is Kevin Smith's most ambition film yet, and despite the rough edges he succeeds at delivering an incredibly funny adventure.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 27, 2012
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] I love Kevin Smith correction I admire him, but this is without any doubt Kevin Smith's worst film. Dogma is overlong, very annoying and despite the usually comedic cast was just plain dull. I think the characters of Jay and Silent Bob are hilarious but the film around them just didn't work. The movie is a sucker for product placement and is essentialy a huge series of recycled jokes. Smith deserves praise for small pieces of inspired black comedy and a radical attempt at being funny without being offensive but it doesn't have any taste or any consistent tone. For about half of the movie it's got characters explaining stuff to the other characters about the plot. There's too much unfunny dialogue and consequently it's just plain boring and not funny at all. I laughed out loud once, and that was seeing Silent Bob fight for a dance at a strip club but apart from that I was very very bored.
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Jan 07, 2012
    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. And for God sake please make another Jay & Silent Bob film please!!!
    Joshua W Super Reviewer
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