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It's nigh impossible to get your hands on a copy of Kevin Smith's movie Dogma. It's entirely absent on streaming services and Blu-ray and DVD copies can fetch over $100.
Why?
As Smith revealed in a recent interview, it's because Harvey Weinstein has the rights to it.
And he isn't letting go any time soon.
“He’s holding it hostage. My movie about angels is owned by the devil himself."
Weinstein as recently as 2017 proposed a sequel to Smith's movie, but then only a week later became embroiled in the scandal that changed Hollywood then other industries and environments for good.
A bombshell expose and investigation into Weinstein's decades-long string of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations revitalized the #MeToo movement and empowered survivors to speak out.
Smith was, reasonably, quick to drop the entire idea of working with Weinstein.
Now he just wants his movie back.
“My movie about heaven is in limbo."
Reactions to the story have been mixed.
On the one hand, many people really loved Dogma and want it to be available for purchase either in hard copy or to join the rest of Smith's corpus of work on streaming services.
\u201c@screenrant No wonder is impossible to even find this movie on Blu-ray \n\nSmh\u201d— Screen Rant (@Screen Rant) 1663383064
Others were gleefully sharing they don't have a problem as they have the film from its original release.
\u201cWas very lucky to get a Blu-ray in a secondhand shop a few years back, but it really sucks this has happened. It really is Kevin Smith\u2019s best movie.\u201d— Mara Rhodus \ud83e\udd8b\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@Mara Rhodus \ud83e\udd8b\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1663654210
\u201cDidn't realize it was out of print. Makes me feel better about having the OG release and the anniversary editions...\u201d— Tom Armbruster (@Tom Armbruster) 1663647691
\u201cWho knew the Dogma DVD I purchased in 2010 with my HMV discount would become a rare treasure\u201d— Amy Bowman (@Amy Bowman) 1663639683
\u201cMuhahahahaha\u201d— Dyslexic zombies need Brians\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 (@Dyslexic zombies need Brians\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6) 1663686199
One person commented on Smith's assertion Weinstein is "the devil himself."
\u201c@screenrant No need to insult the devil like that.\u201d— Screen Rant (@Screen Rant) 1663383064
On the other hand, some people noted it's interesting Smith is so salty about Weinstein having the rights these days.
Weinstein and Smith, they assert, were artistically more collaborative than Smith's current complaint implies.
\u201c@screenrant Kinda weird considering he owes his career to this devil. It was Weinstein specifically who liked Clerks and picked it up\u201d— Screen Rant (@Screen Rant) 1663383064
Others put it more succinctly.
\u201c@screenrant Well, you worked with the devil so\u2026.\u201d— Screen Rant (@Screen Rant) 1663383064
\u201c@EW Oh, now he's the Devil? Sure man.\u201d— Entertainment Weekly (@Entertainment Weekly) 1663617004
However, as people pointed out, Smith probably has enough fans of specifically Dogma to be able to buy the rights back, if Weinstein will part with them.
And Smith seems willing to make that deal, ironically, with the Devil.
“I’ll work on a ‘Dogma’ anything, as long as he has no more ties to it,” Smith told his lawyers, according to the interview with The Wrap.
Smith and his lawyers reached out about buying back the rights “which we felt very dirty about because we didn’t want to give him money.”
“But at the same time, it’s like my movie and he’s got it...And if there’s only one way out of this, maybe we could buy it away.”
Or maybe the fans could if they could stomach a similar Faustian bargain.
\u201cI\u2019ve long since held the belief that @ThatKevinSmith could literally crowdfund enough money to buy the rights back from his fans. \n\nIt\u2019s a travesty this movie isn\u2019t available today. Harvey should do the right thing for once in his life.\u201d— Paul Sanchez (@Paul Sanchez) 1663626757
Maybe sometime in the next few years you'll be able to switch on a streaming service and show Dogma to younger generations.
Or maybe not.