Most American critics did not appreciate the bait-and-switch approach the film took, calling its twist ending "implausible" and "gimmicky." Even Roger Ebert, who was one of the few admirers of Dot the I (2003), said of it: "we walk out of the theater with perplexing questions about motives, means, access and techniques." The film got an extremely limited release and only grossed about $300,000 in the United States.
Dot the I (2003) was winner of the Audience Award for Best Film at the 2003 Deauville Festival of American Film.