Cape Fear

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Cape Fear

R

Released Nov 13, 1991

2h 8m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When attorney Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) knowingly withholds evidence that would acquit violent sex offender Max Cady (Robert De Niro) of rape charges, Max spends 14 years in prison. But after Max's release, knowing about Sam's deceit, he devotes his life to stalking and destroying the Bowden family. When practical attempts to stop Max fail, Sam realizes that he must act outside the law to protect his wife and daughter in Martin Scorsese's remake of the classic 1962 thriller.

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Critics Consensus

Smart and stylish, Cape Fear is a gleefully mainstream shocker from Martin Scorsese, with a terrifying Robert De Niro performance.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Yet the grubby story is elevated by a superior cast in both the original and this grimly bloodthirsty remake.

Aug 14, 2023

Full Review

Victoria Luxford

BBC.com

(De Niro) had played a tough guy before, but never quite like this: a very sinister, very jagged, very dangerous character… put that together with Martin Scorsese at possibly the peak of his powers, and it’s a delightful if slightly scary film.

May 6, 2022

Full Review

Adam Nayman

The Ringer

Martin Scorsese wasn't supposed to remake the 1962 thriller, but when he did, he brought along his longtime muse and infused the story with an overwhelming amount of trademark chaos...

Nov 20, 2021

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

The picture's missteps are more than numerous.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 8, 2023

Full Review

Peter Keough

Boston Phoenix

Ever shot reminds you that a consummate artist is having a great time remaking a kinky minor classic.

Apr 21, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Everything is relatively dirty, and no one is truly good, except for this film, it's phenomenal. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 4, 2023

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L J.

Creepy and haunting. Cast is great and Deniro’s acting is superb

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

Full Review

Bruno V

Filme que coloca pressão na sua mente, mas enrola para uma barbaridade qiase sem fim.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

Full Review

Gage H

The casting in this was phenomenal. I’ve never seen Robert DiNiro so jacked in my life. Other than that, this movie wasn’t my cup of tea. Nothings scarier than not being able to protect your loved ones.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

Full Review

Esra Y

It's very Hitchcockian in camera language and sound desing. Performances are powerful Robert De Niro and Jessica Lange stand out. Script is rough. Watched it many years ago and couldn't remember a thing about it, now that i watched again i can see why.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

Full Review

Ray C

probably the worst work of Scorsese

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

Zane T

De Niro puts on one of the best performances ever on screen. Nolte does his best too. Though weirdly Nolte did not get nominated for lead actor at the Oscars neither did Lange. Overall the movie is great. And it's not only an acting best movie but also in directing. It's an underrated Martin Scorsese film. Since many talk about his previous or later works. This one is basically in the middle and goes heavily unrecognized. It's only ever talked about a few times and only ever about the villain Max Cady.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

Full Review

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Martin Scorsese

Director

Robert De Niro

Max Cady

Nick Nolte

Sam Bowden

Jessica Lange

Leigh Bowden

Juliette Lewis

Danielle Bowden

Joe Don Baker

Claude Kersek

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Cady Kills Kersek

2:43

Cape Fear: Official Clip - More Than Human

2:34

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Cady Drowns

2:22

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Leigh Offers Herself

2:17

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Sucking Cady's Thumb

2:58

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Strip Search

2:35

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

2:58

Cape Fear: Official Clip - The People vs. Samuel Bowden

3:03

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Cady's Release

1:18

Cape Fear: Official Clip - Smoking and Cackling

2:23

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Synopsis

When attorney Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) knowingly withholds evidence that would acquit violent sex offender Max Cady (Robert De Niro) of rape charges, Max spends 14 years in prison. But after Max's release, knowing about Sam's deceit, he devotes his life to stalking and destroying the Bowden family. When practical attempts to stop Max fail, Sam realizes that he must act outside the law to protect his wife and daughter in Martin Scorsese's remake of the classic 1962 thriller.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Robert De Niro, Barbara De Fina
Screenwriter: John D. MacDonald, James R. Webb, Wesley Strick
Distributor: Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Home Entertainment
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Tribeca Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $76.4M
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Surround

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