Kevin Smith Says Harvey Weinstein Cried WatchingChasing Amy, Laments He 'Can't Undo' Career Being 'Tied Up with' Him

Mar. 15, 2025

Kevin Smithis reflecting on working withHarvey Weinsteinon his 1997 sleeper hitChasing Amy— and the complicated feelings he now has about their association.Speaking about the disgraced film producer inSav Rodgers' documentaryChasing Chasing Amy, Smith recalls screening the movie for Weinstein, 72, and feeling overjoyed at his reaction.“He’s crying, Harvey,” say Smith, 54, in the documentary. “And he goes, ‘That’s a Miramax movie.’ Which Ilovedat the time. Loved hearing that.““You know, I thought he was who I thought he was,” the filmmaker continues. “Now, put through the filter of what we know, tough to f—ing feel sentimental about it.““Maybe that’s how I do feel sentimental — I go, ‘How sweet.’ Like, that naive, 26-, 27-year-old, he just believed everything he was presented,” Smith adds of his past self.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams inChasing Amy(1997).Miramax/Kobal/ShutterstockWhenChasing Amypremiered at theSundance Film Festivalin January 1997, Weinstein — who is currently serving a23-year prison sentencefor rape and sexual assault — “had dollar signs in his eyes,” Smith recalls in the documentary.“Everybody was happy. And it would’ve been great if it stayed that way,” he continues. “This is Sundance ‘97. So if you follow the Harvey Weinstein case… that’s the year withRose McGowan.““All of this was happening while we’re doingChasing Amy —showing this movie to the world that’s very feminist and kind of forward-thinking,” Smith says.He goes on to lament having worked with Weinstein on a number of films, including his 1993 directorial debut,Clerks. “I can’t erase the past,” he says. “I can’t go back and take his name off the f—ing movies. I don’t even own the movies.““I can’t undo the fact that my career’s tied up with him,” Smith adds.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!The poster forChasing Chasing Amy(2023).Courtesy Level 33 EntertainmentJoey Lauren Adams, who starred inChasing Amyas Alyssa Jones oppositeBen Affleckas Holden McNeil, also took part in the documentary and discussed her own experience with Weinstein — saying that he “treated me like s—.““I was a young actress in Hollywood going through all those stories that you’ve heard,” says Adams, now 56, who also appeared in Smith’sMallrats(1995) and, most recently,Jay and Silent Bob Reboot(2019).“Sundance for me was like, ‘Oh, Harvey doesn’t wanna f— me.’ There was that energy there.““I mean, we all knew who Harvey was,” she continues. “You’d be in a room with him, and you could feel it.““I don’t wish we were back doingChasing Amy,” adds Adams, who, in her documentary interview, also opens up about some of the difficult parts ofher romantic relationship with Smithduring the period. “That was not the best time in my life.“Chasing Chasing Amy,which premiered at the 2023Tribeca Film Festival, is in select theaters now.

Kevin Smithis reflecting on working withHarvey Weinsteinon his 1997 sleeper hitChasing Amy— and the complicated feelings he now has about their association.

Speaking about the disgraced film producer inSav Rodgers’ documentaryChasing Chasing Amy, Smith recalls screening the movie for Weinstein, 72, and feeling overjoyed at his reaction.

“He’s crying, Harvey,” say Smith, 54, in the documentary. “And he goes, ‘That’s a Miramax movie.’ Which Ilovedat the time. Loved hearing that.”

“You know, I thought he was who I thought he was,” the filmmaker continues. “Now, put through the filter of what we know, tough to f—ing feel sentimental about it.”

“Maybe that’s how I do feel sentimental — I go, ‘How sweet.’ Like, that naive, 26-, 27-year-old, he just believed everything he was presented,” Smith adds of his past self.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams inChasing Amy(1997).Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock

WhenChasing Amypremiered at theSundance Film Festivalin January 1997, Weinstein — who is currently serving a23-year prison sentencefor rape and sexual assault — “had dollar signs in his eyes,” Smith recalls in the documentary.

“Everybody was happy. And it would’ve been great if it stayed that way,” he continues. “This is Sundance ‘97. So if you follow the Harvey Weinstein case… that’s the year withRose McGowan.”

“All of this was happening while we’re doingChasing Amy —showing this movie to the world that’s very feminist and kind of forward-thinking,” Smith says.

He goes on to lament having worked with Weinstein on a number of films, including his 1993 directorial debut,Clerks. “I can’t erase the past,” he says. “I can’t go back and take his name off the f—ing movies. I don’t even own the movies.”

“I can’t undo the fact that my career’s tied up with him,” Smith adds.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The poster forChasing Chasing Amy(2023).Courtesy Level 33 Entertainment

Courtesy Level 33 Entertainment

Joey Lauren Adams, who starred inChasing Amyas Alyssa Jones oppositeBen Affleckas Holden McNeil, also took part in the documentary and discussed her own experience with Weinstein — saying that he “treated me like s—.”

“I was a young actress in Hollywood going through all those stories that you’ve heard,” says Adams, now 56, who also appeared in Smith’sMallrats(1995) and, most recently,Jay and Silent Bob Reboot(2019).“Sundance for me was like, ‘Oh, Harvey doesn’t wanna f— me.’ There was that energy there.”

“I mean, we all knew who Harvey was,” she continues. “You’d be in a room with him, and you could feel it.”

“I don’t wish we were back doingChasing Amy,” adds Adams, who, in her documentary interview, also opens up about some of the difficult parts ofher romantic relationship with Smithduring the period. “That was not the best time in my life.”

Chasing Chasing Amy,which premiered at the 2023Tribeca Film Festival, is in select theaters now.

source: people.com