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Cape Fear
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Martin Scorsese. With Nick Nolte, Robert De Niro, Jessica Lange.
72.6/100
TMDB RATINGWHAT 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.
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72.6/100
TMDB RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTSam 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 w…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Cape Fear.
MoviHero lists November 13, 1991 as the release date for Cape Fear. Martin Scorsese is the listed director. The listed cast includes Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, Robert De Niro as Max Cady, Jessica Lange as Leigh Bowden, Juliette Lewis as Danielle Bowden. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateNovember 13, 1991
GenresDrama · Crime · Thriller
Runtime2h 8m
DirectorMartin Scorsese
CastNick Nolte as Sam Bowden, Robert De Niro as Max Cady, Jessica Lange as Leigh Bowden, Juliette Lewis as Danielle Bowden
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Cape Fear right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Cape Fear runs 2h 8m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 5/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
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These share a listed genre with Cape Fear. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
RATING & SOURCE
TMDB audience rating
TMDB: 72.6/100 (7.262/10) from 4,059 votes. Updated Oct 21, 2026.
External ratings are converted directly to /100. We add no popularity, metadata or Watch Profile bonuses. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from numerical ratings submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending5/10
Scary2/10
Violence8/10
Rewatchability5/10
Attention Required5/10
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Trailer
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
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SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
73.9/100
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2009·Drama · Crime · Thriller
73.9/100
TMDB RATINGA Time to Kill
1996·Drama · Crime · Thriller
73/100
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEThe Last Treatment
2026·Crime · Thriller