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Cape Fear

  • 1991
  • K-15/13
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
216K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
985
111
Robert De Niro, Juliette Lewis, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange in Cape Fear (1991)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:34
4 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeThriller

A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.

  • Director
    • Martin Scorsese
  • Writers
    • John D. MacDonald
    • James R. Webb
    • Wesley Strick
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Nick Nolte
    • Jessica Lange
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    216K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    985
    111
    • Director
      • Martin Scorsese
    • Writers
      • John D. MacDonald
      • James R. Webb
      • Wesley Strick
    • Stars
      • Robert De Niro
      • Nick Nolte
      • Jessica Lange
    • 431User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 21 nominations total

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Watch Official Trailer
    Cape Fear
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Cape Fear
    Justin Theroux Reveals His Watchlist
    Clip 3:55
    Watch Justin Theroux Reveals His Watchlist
    25 Movies That Almost Starred Robert De Niro
    Video 3:08
    Watch 25 Movies That Almost Starred Robert De Niro

    Photos195

    Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991)
    Juliette Lewis and Jessica Lange in Cape Fear (1991)
    Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991)
    Juliette Lewis, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange in Cape Fear (1991)
    Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991)
    Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991)
    Gregory Peck and Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991)
    Martin Scorsese in Cape Fear (1991)
    Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear (1991)
    Gregory Peck in Cape Fear (1991)
    Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991)
    Illeana Douglas in Cape Fear (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert De Niro
    Robert De Niro
    • Max Cady
    Nick Nolte
    Nick Nolte
    • Sam Bowden
    Jessica Lange
    Jessica Lange
    • Leigh Bowden
    Juliette Lewis
    Juliette Lewis
    • Danielle Bowden
    Joe Don Baker
    Joe Don Baker
    • Claude Kersek
    Robert Mitchum
    Robert Mitchum
    • Lieutenant Elgart
    Gregory Peck
    Gregory Peck
    • Lee Heller
    Martin Balsam
    Martin Balsam
    • Judge
    Illeana Douglas
    Illeana Douglas
    • Lori Davis
    Fred Thompson
    Fred Thompson
    • Tom Broadbent
    • (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
    Zully Montero
    • Graciella
    Craig Henne
    • Prisoner
    Forest Burton
    • Prisoner
    Edgar Allan Poe IV
    • Prisoner
    Rod Ball
    • Prisoner
    W. Paul Bodie
    • Prisoner
    Joel Kolker
    • Corrections Officer
    Antoni Corone
    Antoni Corone
    • Corrections Officer
    • Director
      • Martin Scorsese
    • Writers
      • John D. MacDonald
      • James R. Webb
      • Wesley Strick
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    What Scorsese Film Ranks Highest on IMDb?

    What Scorsese Film Ranks Highest on IMDb?

    Cinema legend Martin Scorsese has directed some of the most acclaimed films of all time. See how IMDb users rank all of his feature films as director.
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    Production art
    List

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The thick accent Robert De Niro used to play Max Cady reportedly gave Martin Scorsese the creeps. As a joke, De Niro would call Scorsese's house, leaving voicemails as Cady.
    • Goofs
      At the parade, Dani talks to her father but her lips are not moving.
    • Quotes

      Max Cady: I ain't no white trash piece of shit. I'm better than you all! I can out-learn you. I can out-read you. I can out-think you. And I can out-philosophize you. And I'm gonna outlast you. You think a couple whacks to my guts is gonna get me down? It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than that, Counselor, to prove you're better than me!

    • Crazy credits
      Later half of the credits are played to the sound of nighttime crickets.
    • Alternate versions
      SPOILER: When the movie was originally shown on network television, the blood left by Kersek's killing was optically removed by censors and replaced by a clean tile floor.
    • Connections
      Edited into Cape Fear: Deleted Scenes (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Tipitina
      Written by Alice Byrd

      Performed by Professor Longhair

      Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews431

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Another classic in the bag for Scorsese and De Niro.
    I haven't seen the original "Cape fear" with Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck yet, but it's got to be pretty good to be better than this one. Although the end is somewhat a little farfetched, the rest of the movie is absolutely riveting. De Niro got a very well-deserved nomination for his role as crazy Max Cady but fell on a bad year because it was pretty hard to beat Hopkin's performance in "The silence of the lambs".

    After 14 years in jail, Max Cady is released and goes back to New Essex to seek revenge on Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte), his attorney at the public defendor's office back then when he was convicted. Now, I can't tell you why he seeks revenge on Bowden without spoiling the plot of the movie. However, I can tell you that De Niro is excellent and that Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, and surprisingly enough, Joe Don Baker, are very good as well. The final scene at Cape fear is incredibly tense. Although a little gory for one or two scenes, "Cape fear" is well worth a watch.
    helpful•32
    8
    • Chuck-149
    • Sep 7, 1999

    Top picks

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    The Movies of Martin Scorsese

    The Movies of Martin Scorsese

    From Taxi Driver to Killers of the Flower Moon, see some of our favorite stills from Martin Scorsese's films
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    FAQ9

    • Is "Cape Fear" based on a book?
    • What is "Cape Fear" about?
    • What does the title mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 28, 1992 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mũi Sợ Hãi
    • Filming locations
      • Savannah, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Amblin Entertainment
      • Cappa Films
      • Tribeca Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $79,091,969
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,261,025
      • Nov 17, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $182,291,969
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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