Upon release, “Dogma” was a financial success, grossing over $43 million, making it one of Kevin Smith’s largest showings at the box office. Its financial receipts are especially pronounced as it only received a limited release, debuting in some 1,200 domestic theaters. The movie also got solid reviews, as “Dogma” boasts a decent 68% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Veteran film critic Roger Ebert particularly enjoyed “Dogma,” giving it a 3-and-half-star rating. “[Smith] has positioned his comedy on the balance line between theological rigidity and secular reality […] He deals with eternal questions in terms of flawed characters who live now, today, in an imperfect world,” Ebert wrote, positively labeling the pic as both a solid spiritual and comedic effort.
Over on Letterboxd, the film-centric social media site, users gave the release a 3.5 average score, based on nearly 90,000 ratings. “Dogma is Smith writing at his best, with great jokes and ideas merged with a unique take on religion. It doesn’t transcend Smith’s many limitations, but it is a very fun watch,” wrote user Darren Carver-Balsiger in a four-star review.
It’s disappointing that, despite being one of Smith’s better films, “Dogma” isn’t available for most to watch. Aside from the aforementioned performers, the film also features Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, and the legendary George Carlin in pivotal roles. In the mood for a film similar to “Dogma”? Check out Looper’s ranking of every Kevin Smith film ranked from worst to first.
