Cape Fear
Now he had only one weapon left—murder!
1962 • 106 min • Thriller · Drama · Crime
Synopsis
Sam Bowden witnesses a rape committed by Max Cady and testifies against him. When released after 8 years in prison, Cady begins stalking Bowden and his family but is always clever enough not to violate the law.
Our family guide
Best from age 16- 100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
- 75 Audience · 651 · 49%
After serving time for a brutal crime, Max Cady stalks the lawyer who put him away and terrorizes his family. Cady’s meticulous harassment pushes the Bowdens to their limits, forcing them to confront a terrifying threat that always seems to stay just within the bounds of the law.
- Violence & peril
- 7/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 4/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 5/10
- Scary moments
- 8/10
Heads up
- Intense and prolonged psychological terror
- Scenes of implied sexual assault and harassment
- Brief, strong violence, including a dog being harmed
What it models well
- Justice and consequences
- Family protection
- Resilience in crisis
Talk about it after
- The justice system and its limitations
- How far would you go to protect your family?
- The nature of fear and psychological manipulation
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Cape Fear. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Stream
- AMC Plus Apple TV Channel
- AMC+
- Criterion Channel
- AMC
AMC Plus Apple TV Channel 
AMC+
Criterion Channel
AMCRent
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
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Top billed cast
Director: J. Lee Thompson • Crew: James R. Webb
Trailers & clips
Cape Fear (1962) Official Trailer Gregory Peck Movie HD
Rod Lurie on CAPE FEAR
Reviewer notes
RecommendedTrusted family reviewers**A good thriller with a lot of suspense and tension, which deserved to be reviewed and re-fished for new audiences.** There are films that are unfairly forgotten after the release of their respective contemporary remakes, and I have no doubt that this one can be included in that list.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersMax Cady isn't a man who makes idle threats. Max Cady is fresh out of prison and down in Florida looking for someone in particular. That person is lawyer Sam Bowden, the man who Cady holds responsible for his years of incarceration.…
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.5/10 (651)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $35,000,000
- Box office
- $103,000,000
- IMDb
- tt0055824