Cape Fear (1991)

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Videos & Photos

  • Trailer 1

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Producer:

Barbara De Fina

Writer:

John D. MacDonald, James R. Webb, Wesley Strick

Release Date:

Nov 13, 1991

Runtime:

2hr 8m

Synopsis

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

Cast

  • Robert De Niro
  • Nick Nolte
  • Jessica Lange
  • Juliette Lewis
  • Joe Don Baker
  • Robert Mitchum
  • Gregory Peck
  • Martin Balsam
  • Illeana Douglas
  • Fred Thompson

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.7
575.8K
119.4K
140.0K
RATINGS 1.6K FANS
3.7
  • Mar 18, 2022

    by far the most inappropriate film to be nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss

    4.9K Likes
    liam f
    liam f
    Nov 23, 2019

    The anxiety this gave me! This is a damn good thriller and I can’t look at Deniro the same way.

    4.1K Likes
    Karsten
    Karsten
    Nov 2, 2019

    scorsese sure knows how to make money over the fact that robert de niro is hot

    3.3K Likes
    Muriel
    Muriel
  •
    Oct 14, 2020

    It’s Scorsese doing De Palma doing Hitchcock. What’s not to love??

    3.1K Likes
    Ethan Colburn
    Ethan Colburn
    Sep 8, 2021

    drinking game: take a shot every time robert de niro says "counselor"

    1.8K Likes
    alor
    alor
    May 8, 2020

    Came here for Martin Scorsese, stayed for Alfred Hitchcock.

    1.6K Likes
    Lochlan Ashton
    Lochlan Ashton
  •
    Apr 9, 2020

    am i allowed to say robert de niro was extremely hot in this like is that allowed to say

    1.4K Likes
    amanda
    amanda
    Aug 18, 2017

    Who did it better?  Scorsese or the Simpsons

    1.4K Likes
    Matt Blake
    Matt Blake
    Oct 9, 2024

    Most people behave like Max Cady in movie theaters now

    1.4K Likes
    brendan o'hare
    brendan o'hare
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

88%
Community 3,478
❤️ LOVE
25%
👍 LIKE
63%
😐 MEH
9%
👎 DISLIKE
2%
Top Reviews
  • Henry
    Henry liked
    Cape Fear

    A disturbingly unsettling thriller, driven by stellar performances and a raw, intense atmosphere that makes you feel the tension. The film's gritty realism keeps you on edge, though the ending slightly weakens its impact, dimming its otherwise powerful presence. Rating: H- 8/10

    🔥 3 2Y
    EDB
    EDB liked
    Cape Fear

    Dani might have an IQ of around 75

    🔥 😂 3 1Y
    Randy
    Randy is "meh" on
    Cape Fear

    Come on Robert

    3 3Y
  • RayRay
    RayRay liked
    Cape Fear

    DeNiro absolutely saved this film, he was superb. Maybe my favorite performance of his. Otherwise the story lacked texture, characters weren’t fleshed out and there were so many contrived and cliche moments (especially the end). Not a great movie—but very tense & engaging

    1 🔥 1 22D
    Mike T.
    Mike T. loved
    Cape Fear

    Grade A 90’s EdgeKino. Loved the dynamic lighting/water effects; This really is Irreversible done better, Scorsese is just that good at lighting (Scorsese does it to show tension, Noé does it to give the audience a headache). I miss old Robert De Niro. Plot details in pt2

    1 1Y
    Emma
    Emma liked
    Cape Fear

    Joe Goldberg’s “The Killer” staring Robert DeNiro’s Mole

    👀 1 2M
  • PeeJay Taylor
    PeeJay Taylor liked
    Cape Fear

    They don’t make thrillers like this anymore

    👀 1 3Y
    Richie Birks
    Richie Birks liked
    Cape Fear

    Bob carried the movie

    1 2Y
    Kevin
    Kevin loved
    Cape Fear

    Another amazing film by Martin Scorsese. This film captured my attention from the very beginning. It doesn’t wait long to start things off, and I love when directors do that. There’s no waiting around or any unnecessary plot filling, just straight to the point. De Niro is A+.

    1Y
View More Popular Cape Fear Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

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Metacritic

73
metacritic
Based on 9 Critics
8.4

USER SCORE (336)

Universal acclaim based on 336 Reviews
90

Martin Scorsese brings honor back to the remake. He shines up this reprise of the original with original brilliance

View full review
Metacritic review by Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
75

Impressive moviemaking, showing Scorsese as a master of a traditional Hollywood genre.

View full review
Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cape Fear (1991) (1991) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is Cape Fear (1991) (1991)?
The movie is 2hr 8min long.
What's Cape Fear (1991) (1991) about?
A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.
Who's the cast of Cape Fear (1991) (1991)?
  • Robert De Niro as Max Cady
  • Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden
  • Jessica Lange as Leigh Bowden
  • Juliette Lewis as Danielle Bowden
  • Joe Don Baker as Claude Kersek
  • Robert Mitchum as Lieutenant Elgart
  • Gregory Peck as Lee Heller
  • Martin Balsam as Judge
  • Illeana Douglas as Lori Davis
  • Fred Thompson as Tom Broadbent
Who's the director behind Cape Fear (1991) (1991)?
Martin Scorsese directed Cape Fear (1991) (1991).
Who produced Cape Fear (1991) (1991)?
Barbara De Fina produced Cape Fear (1991) (1991).