Kevin Smith’s Dogma remains one of the most daring and hotly debated films of the late ’90s, a sharp, provocative blend of religious satire and character-driven comedy that helped define the early View Askewniverse. Conceived during Smith’s formative years as a writer-director, the film took aim at questions of faith, institutional power, and personal belief, all while showcasing a remarkable ensemble that included Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Chris Rock, Jason Mewes, Alan Rickman, and Salma Hayek. Its November 12, 1999 release arrived amid protests and boycotts, and the film’s complicated rights issues later pushed it into semi-obscurity, which only strengthened its cult legend.
The story follows two fallen angels, Loki and Bartleby, who discover a theological loophole they believe will let them return to Heaven—an act that would unintentionally destroy all of existence. A disillusioned abortion clinic worker named Bethany is chosen for a divine mission to stop them. She’s joined by an unlikely band of allies including Jay and Silent Bob, the 13th Apostle Rufus, and the muse Serendipity. Together they race to prevent an apocalyptic paradox, navigating questions of destiny, morality, and belief through Smith’s signature mix of irreverence, heart, and philosophical humor.
Now, 25 years later, Dogma celebrates its anniversary with a new 4K UHD release from Lionsgate, loaded with an impressive amount of bonus material.
I was generously provided a screener copy that includes the 4K Ultra HD disc, a Blu-ray, and a digital download. Since I don’t own a 4K UHD player, I watched the Blu-ray version and sampled as many of the extras as I could. There’s more than enough here to keep fans satisfied.
The disc opens with a statement from Kevin Smith reflecting on how Dogma has been out of print for years and how meaningful it is to see it return in physical form rather than just disappearing into digital licensing limbo. Given the film’s long-running availability issues, it’s a moment that hits harder than expected.
The print looks very good—cleaned up without losing the natural film grain that gives it texture and character. Personally, I’m glad the grain is still there. It’s the kind of detail that digital formats can’t truly replicate, and it keeps the movie feeling like a product of the era it came from. The audio is an even bigger improvement. The track has been updated for modern home entertainment setups, and in my opinion, it’s legitimately theater-quality sound.
The Blu-ray includes plenty of extras. The two audio commentaries—one with Smith, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Scott Mosier, and Vincent Pereira, and the other a technical track with Smith, Mosier, and Pereira—are the same ones from the 2000 DVD release. They’re entertaining to revisit, though it would have been interesting to hear a new commentary looking back on the film with 25 years of hindsight.
You also get both the original theatrical trailer and the new anniversary trailer. The deleted scenes are especially notable, running a massive 1 hour and 37 minutes. Smith and Pereira introduce each one and explain why it was cut, which is something most home releases don’t bother to do. Instead of the usual out-of-context clips, you get real insight into the editing decisions behind the movie.
There’s a featurette called Judge Not: In Defense of Dogma that digs into the backlash the film received due to its subject matter. It includes cast reactions and reinforces that while Dogma takes a shot at organized religion, Smith’s criticism is aimed at institutional flaws—hypocrisy, bureaucracy, rigidity—not at personal faith. It’s a thoughtful and still-relevant piece.
Storyboards are compared to finished scenes, which is always interesting to see. The bloopers and outtakes are fun as expected. There’s a short called My Opinion by Mrs. Harriet Wise, in which a woman berates you for watching the film and assures you you’re going to Hell—classic Kevin Smith humor. Another segment, How Kevin Directs, has Smith and Jason Mewes using Jay and Silent Bob action figures to demonstrate Smith’s directing process. It’s really just the two of them goofing around, but it’s amusing nonetheless.
One of the more nostalgic extras is the original PSP introduction, reminding viewers that the Sony PlayStation Portable once supported UMD movies. Smith cleans the PSP screen “from the inside” while chatting with Scott Mosier about the handheld system. It’s a weird time capsule, but a fun one.
The 4K UHD disc contains everything from the Blu-ray and additional content I couldn’t test without a 4K player. Unfortunately, the digital download is the movie only. No extras. There’s also a limited-edition Steelbook version for collectors.
I’ll admit I’m completely biased when it comes to Kevin Smith and definitely border on being a fanboy. Dogma has always been one of my favorite films, and this anniversary release finally gives it the treatment it deserves. I’m thrilled to have it and honestly can’t wait to watch it again and again.
The Dogma 25th Anniversary edition is currently available wherever you buy movies.
Anthony Andujar Jr. 
Dan Kleiner