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

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

Full Review

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Stephen H

This is why Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro are some of the GOAT’s.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/19/24

Full Review

Audience Member

a horror film that really stands out, even by Scorcese's standards its bloody, violent, and downright unnerving DeNiro gives such an enthusiastic performance Nick Nolte really conveys the family man determined to protect his wife and daughter from the evils of the world even from a former ex-con he once represented it takes a while for things to get moving and the score at times is just so over-the-top but the climax is worth the wait your senses will be manipulated and the suspense keeps you in the dark never knowing when 'Cady' strikes gives off a dark and foreboding message about how strong the human being is and how weak it can become to the point of making us less than human this aint for everyone so buckle up and prepare to be strangled

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

Full Review

Allen F

This movie is amazing and brings fear to its viewers because of the acting. The humanity in this film of defending your family is real. The acting really is some of DiNero’s best. Chilling film that is a great watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/19/24

Full Review

John M

I watched this movie in 1991-92 and I remember I was not very impressed. Today I tried watching it again ... way way worse. Some movies have staying power. This is not one of those.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/14/24

Full Review

NiB Y

The original is still on my watchlist and i'm sure it's great, but i think it will be hard to top this. This was one of the most thrilling and anxiety inducing movies i ever seen, specially thanks to DeNiro's IMMACULATE performance. If it was not The Silence of The Lambs coming out on the same year, you can bet he would've won the Oscar.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/06/24

Full Review

Zackary T

Lest you forget how flipping brilliant Robert De Niro is when he's got a role he can spread his wings in. Here ya go. A psychotic irredeemable sociopath and all tatted up and shredded. Brilliant performance and completely captivating.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/24

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

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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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