Kevin Smith’s ‘Red State’ Gets a Home Release Date

Today, Kevin Smith and Lionsgate announced a deal that sees Lionsgate gain home distribution rights for Kevin Smith’s Red State. Smith and his SModcast Pictures will retain theatrical rights to the movie, while Lionsgate will take control of VOD, DVD/Blu-ray and TV distribution rights for the movie.

The two have devised a multi-tier release strategy unlike any other independent film to date. Lionsgate will release Red State on VOD in September. More specifically, it will hit On-Demand and Digital Download on Labor Day weekend. This will be followed up by a DVD and Blu-ray release on October 18th.

“Before we decided to release Red State ourselves, Lionsgate was the ONLY distributor we hoped would buy the flick at Sundance,” said Smith. “They understood The Harvey Boys commitment to a non-traditional theatrical release, and now embrace Red State like it is their own. And we’ve embraced the Gate as essential partners who’ll run Red State on Video-On-Demand and Blu-Ray. This company crushed it with Dogma back in ’99 and ever since, they’ve been able to punch through always-crowded cineplexes with the most responsible marketing budgets in the industry. My flick is my art and my art is like my child; and I feel safe letting Lionsgate babysit my kid.”

Red State tells the story of a group of teens in Middle America who receive an online invitation for sex, but soon encounter fundamentalists with a much more sinister agenda. The movie is written and directed by Kevin Smith. It stars Michael Parks, Melissa Leo, John Goodman, Michael Angarano and Nicholas Braun.