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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

Cape Fear (1991 film)

Cape Fear is a 1991 American psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Wesley Strick.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Cape Fear is a 1991 American psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro as a vengeful ex-convict. It remakes the 1962 film of the same name, based on John D. MacDonald's novel The Executioners.

What it is

The film follows Max Cady (Robert De Niro), a convicted rapist who stalks lawyer Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) and his family after a 14-year prison sentence. Cady blames Bowden for his conviction and uses legal knowledge to terrorize them. The cast includes Jessica Lange, Joe Don Baker, and Juliette Lewis, with cameos from Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, and Martin Balsam from the original 1962 version.

Key details

Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Wesley Strick, Cape Fear was released by Universal Pictures on November 15, 1991, with an R rating. The Bowden family attempts to escape Cady by hiding on a houseboat, but he follows them by attaching himself to their car. The film is a modern remake of the 1962 Cape Fear.

Reception and legacy

Cape Fear is commonly described as a psychological thriller and crime drama. It features a tense cat-and-mouse dynamic and is noted for De Niro's menacing performance. The cameo appearances by actors from the original film add a layer of continuity for fans of the earlier version.

In short

  • Martin Scorsese directed this 1991 remake of the 1962 film Cape Fear.
  • Robert De Niro plays Max Cady, a convicted rapist seeking revenge on his lawyer.
  • The film includes cameos by Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, and Martin Balsam from the original.
  • Rated R, released November 15, 1991, by Universal Pictures.

Quick questions

Who directed Cape Fear 1991?
Martin Scorsese directed Cape Fear (1991).
What is the plot of Cape Fear 1991?
A convicted rapist, Max Cady, stalks the family of the lawyer he blames for his 14-year prison sentence, using legal loopholes and intimidation to take revenge.
Is Cape Fear 1991 a remake?
Yes. It is a remake of the 1962 film Cape Fear, which was based on John D. MacDonald’s novel The Executioners.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Fear_(1991_film)
    Supports: Director, remake status, cast, release date, synopsis, and houseboat plot details
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1037581-cape_fear
    Supports: R rating, synopsis, director, and cast
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101540/
    Supports: Director, cast, and plot synopsis
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cape-Fear-film-by-Thompson
    Supports: Context on the original 1962 film and the 1991 remake