Kevin Smith Got Death Threats forDogma: 'Imagine Getting That Irate Over a Movie with a Rubber Poop Monster'

Mar. 15, 2025

Kevin Smith.Photo:Unique Nicole/WireImage; Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

Unique Nicole/WireImage; Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

Kevin Smithis having a laugh about the controversy surrounding his 1999 movieDogma.

Speaking toEntertainment Weeklyin acareer retrospectivepublished Friday, Sept. 13, the writer-director-actor, 54, remembered receiving “400,000 pieces of hate mail and three bona-fide death threats” upon the release of his film starringMatt Damon,Ben Affleckand Linda Fiorentino.

Damon and Affleck, regular collaborators with Smith who had previously appeared in his 1997 filmChasing Amy, ledDogmaas fallen angels trying to get to New Jersey and back into heaven. Fiorentino plays an abortion clinic counselor who must stop them in order to prevent the implosion of all of existence.

“The movie had a rubber poop monster in it," Smith pointed out toEW. “Can you imagine getting that irate over a movie with a rubber poop monster?”

Kevin Smith on July 27, 2024.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

“I hope whoever wrote that, that missive, found peace,” said Smith.

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The movie costarsChris Rock, Janeane Garofalo, Jason Lee,Salma Hayek Pinault, the late George Carlin and the lateAlan Rickman. Playing God wasAlanis Morissette. Smith appeared as Silent Bob alongside Jason Mewes as Jay, their characters from 1994 breakoutClerks, who would go on to appear in several installments of Smith’s “View Askewniverse.”

Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith in “Dogma” (1999).Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

Soon afterDogma’s release in 1999, the filmmaker called attention to another piece of feedback. “Comparing me to Hitler is quite a stretch,” Smith quipped then, according to anEWreport.

Smith’s latest project,The 4:30 Movie, is in theaters now.

source: people.com