Cape Fear (1991): cast, story & where to watch
1991 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1991, Cape Fear is a thriller, drama and crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, running about 128 minutes. “There is nothing in the dark that isn't there in the light. Except fear.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Sam Bowden is a small-town corporate attorney. Max Cady is a tattooed, cigar-smoking, Bible-quoting, psychotic rapist. What do they have in common? 14 years ago, Sam was a public defender assigned to Max Cady's rape trial, and he made a serious error: he hid a document from his illiterate client that could have gotten him acquitted. Now, the cagey Cady has been released, and he intends to teach Sam Bowden and his family a thing or two about loss.
Who’s in it. Cape Fear stars Robert De Niro as Max Cady, Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, Jessica Lange as Leigh Bowden and Juliette Lewis as Danielle Bowden, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Cape Fear has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $182.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Cape Fear page.
If you liked it. Fans of Cape Fear tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Cape Fear (1991)?
- In US, Cape Fear is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Cape Fear worth watching?
- Cape Fear holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Cape Fear?
- Cape Fear stars Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis and Joe Don Baker.
- When was Cape Fear released?
- Cape Fear was released in 1991, with a runtime of about 128 minutes.