If you had told me back in June 1999, when I first read the Dogma screenplay from a .txt file on Script-o-Rama, that I’d be attending a 25th-anniversary screening introduced by Kevin Smith himself, I would’ve thought you were as crazy as Bartleby and Loki on a redemption mission. But there I was, in Seattle, watching one of my all-time favorite films on the big screen again, and it felt like a spiritual homecoming.
Kevin Smith, ever the engaging storyteller, took the stage to introduce the film. During the post-screening Q&A, I seized the opportunity to ask about the long-rumored “316 Cut”—a supposed 3-hour and 16-minute version of Dogma that fans speculated about, perhaps inspired by the biblical reference of John 3:16. Kevin clarified that such a cut never officially existed; the theatrical release is his director’s cut. He acknowledged the extensive deleted scenes from the original DVD but emphasized that while fan edits might exist, there’s no sanctioned extended version. He did, however, humorously mention a scene where Silent Bob performs the Fat Albert theme song in a strip club, joking that his mom would’ve loved it because it featured a “good, clean comedian” like Bill Cosby—a jest that landed with the audience.
The real revelation of the night was the announcement of a forthcoming 4K steelbook release of Dogma. Kevin confirmed that the film has been remastered in 4K and will be touring theaters starting June 5, 2025, as part of its 25th-anniversary celebration. While he didn’t disclose the distributor, he assured fans that the physical release is imminent and will include the original DVD’s bonus content, along with some new features possibly tied to a Dogma art exhibit planned for New York and Los Angeles. He mentioned the venue during the Q&A, but the name escapes me—blame the adrenaline of the night.
And the truth is, this release has been a long time coming. Dogma has been out of print since 2009, buried under one of the messiest rights disputes in modern film history. The reason you haven’t seen it on streaming platforms? Harvey Weinstein. The disgraced mogul personally owned the rights to the film and, for years, refused to sell them—even after his fall from grace and eventual imprisonment. Kevin Smith has talked publicly about trying to buy Dogma back multiple times, only to be stonewalled. For over a decade, the film’s absence from both physical and digital shelves turned it into a kind of holy grail for collectors. If you go digging on eBay, the original Blu-ray easily fetches anywhere from $30 to $300 depending on the condition and seller. It’s wild.
Now that the rights have finally been pried away from Weinstein’s clutches—thanks to a mid-2024 acquisition by Iconic Events—we’re finally getting a chance to bring Dogma back into the light. Iconic is known for event-style theatrical releases, not necessarily home video, so it’s unclear who will ultimately handle the physical distribution. Past projects like Terrifier 2 and Screamboat have seen physical releases handled by third parties like DeskPop Entertainment or Cinedigm, not Iconic directly. That’s raised some eyebrows among collectors who want assurance this release won’t be delayed or mishandled.
Kevin didn’t mention Arrow Video or Criterion Collection, but both are natural guesses. Arrow put out Mallrats, and Criterion once handled Chasing Amy, so there’s history there. But again, no confirmation. The only thing we know is that Smith is deeply involved, and that’s usually a good sign for fans.
For me, Dogma isn’t just a film; it’s a cornerstone of my cinematic journey. I read the script before I saw the movie. I memorized the lines. I bought the official script book and picked up the special edition DVD when it hit shelves. Watching it again last night in a packed theater—with the crowd laughing, clapping, and reacting like it was 1999 all over again—was more than just nostalgic. It was cathartic.
In an age where physical media is becoming a niche hobby, the return of Dogma in a 4K steelbook feels like a small miracle. It’s not just about resolution or packaging—it’s about reclaiming something that was taken from fans for far too long. And when this thing finally hits shelves later in 2025? Yeah. I’m buying it. Probably twice. Because I love Kevin Smith, I love this movie, and I believe in keeping cinema tangible—even if it means paying thirty bucks for a film I already own three times over.
My review is can be watched here:
Hollywood After Dark 