Dogma (1999)

Dogma is a 1999 American fantasy comedy film written, co-edited, and directed by Kevin Smith. The film stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Alan Rickman, and Chris Rock. It is the fourth film in the View Askewniverse.

The story revolves around two fallen angels who plan to employ an alleged loophole in Catholic dogma to return to Heaven after being cast out by God, but as existence is founded on the principle that God is infallible, their success would prove God wrong, thus undoing all creation. The last descendant of Jesus Christ and two prophets are sent by the angel Metatron to stop them.

Dogma screened out of competition at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 1999, and was released in the United States on November 12 by Lions Gate Films. The film's irreverent treatment of Catholicism and the Catholic Church triggered considerable controversy, even before its opening. The Catholic League denounced it as blasphemy. Organized protests delayed its release in many countries and led to at least two death threats against Smith. Despite this, Dogma received generally positive reviews from critics, and grossed $45 million against its $10 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing film in the View Askewniverse series to date. The film was distributed by Miramax, run at the time by Harvey Weinstein.