Editing Citizen Ruth (section)

== Release==
The film premiered at the 1996 [[Sundance Film Festival]]. Its initial title was ''The Devil Inside'', but [[Miramax]] insisted on changing it because they felt it sounded too much like a [[horror film]] title.{{sfn|Biskind|2004|pp=223-224}} It was then changed to ''Meet Ruth Stoops'', then finally ''Citizen Ruth''.{{sfn|Biskind|2004|pp=223-224}}<ref name=":0" />

Though the film had a positive reception at Sundance, it was not theatrically released until the end of the year on December 13, 1996, reportedly because of controversy surrounding the film ''[[Priest (1994 film)|Priest]]'' and condemnation from Catholic organizations in the United States.<ref name="Vulture" /> Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor expressed that Miramax did not make good on a promise to support the film and to campaign Dern for an [[Academy Award]] nomination, instead focusing their promotional efforts on ''[[Sling Blade]]'' for that Oscars season.<ref name="Vulture" />{{sfn|Biskind|2004|pp=241-242}}