Cape Fear (1991)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $79,091,969 | Details |
| International Box Office | $103,200,000 | Details |
| Worldwide Box Office | $182,291,969 | |
| OpusData ID: 5990100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $10,261,025 (13.0% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 7.71 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 43.4% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $35,000,000 (worldwide box office is 5.2 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 924 opening theaters/1,707 max. theaters, 5.3 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $212,477,464 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 15th, 1991 (Wide) by Universal |
| International Releases: | March 27th, 1992 (Wide) (New Zealand)
November 13th, 2025 (Limited) (New Zealand) |
| Video Release: | February 3rd, 1993 by Universal Home Entertainment |
| MPA Rating: | R for strong violence, and for language. |
| Running Time: | 128 minutes |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Remake |
| Plot point: | Illiteracy / Learning to Read, Lawyers, Revenge, Sex Crimes |
| Social setting: | Film Noir |
| Subgenre: | Psychological Thriller |
| Time period setting: | 1970s |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Thriller/Suspense |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Tribeca Film, Amblin Entertainment |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 1991 | 1 | $10,261,025 | 924 | $11,105 | $10,261,025 | 1 | |
| Nov 22, 1991 | 2 | $10,033,295 | -2% | 1,702 | $5,895 | $24,251,112 | 2 |
| Nov 29, 1991 | 4 | $9,260,475 | -8% | 1,707 | $5,425 | $39,156,382 | 3 |
| Dec 6, 1991 | 5 | $4,856,355 | -48% | 1,701 | $2,855 | $46,044,067 | 4 |
| Dec 13, 1991 | 7 | $2,944,725 | -39% | 1,659 | $1,775 | $50,405,747 | 5 |
| Dec 20, 1991 | 10 | $2,116,700 | -28% | 1,388 | $1,525 | $54,462,805 | 6 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 1991 | 1 | $14,217,817 | 924 | $15,387 | $14,217,817 | 1 | |
| Nov 22, 1991 | 2 | $15,678,090 | +10% | 1,702 | $9,212 | $29,895,907 | 2 |
| Nov 29, 1991 | 4 | $11,291,805 | -28% | 1,707 | $6,615 | $41,187,712 | 3 |
| Dec 6, 1991 | 5 | $6,273,310 | -44% | 1,701 | $3,688 | $47,461,022 | 4 |
| Dec 13, 1991 | 7 | $4,885,083 | -22% | 1,659 | $2,945 | $52,346,105 | 5 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 3/27/1992 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | $67 | 4/6/2026 | |||
| Rest of World | $103,199,933 | |||||||||
| International Total | $103,200,000 | 4/6/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Robert De Niro | Max Cady | |
| Nick Nolte | Sam Bowden | |
| Jessica Lange | Leigh Bowden |
Supporting
| Joe Don Baker | Claude Kersek | |
| Robert Mitchum | Lieutenant Elgart | |
| Gregory Peck | Lee Heller |
Leading
| Juliette Lewis | Danielle Bowden |
Supporting
| Martin Balsam | Judge | |
| Fred Dalton Thompson | Tom Broadbent | |
| Illeana Douglas | Lori Davis | |
| Zully Montero | Graciela | |
| Craig Henne | Prisoner | |
| Forest Burton | Prisoner | |
| Edgar Allan Poe IV | Prisoner | |
| Rod Ball | Prisoner | |
| W. Paul Bodie | Prisoner | |
| Joel Kolker | Correction Officer | |
| Tamara Jones | Ice Cream Cashier | |
| Roger Pretto | Racquetball Colleague | |
| Parris Buckner | Racquetball Colleague | |
| Margot Moreland | Secretary | |
| Will Knickerbocker | Detective | |
| Robert L. Gerlach | Arresting Officer | |
| Bruce E. Holdstein | Arresting Officer | |
| Richard Wasserman | Parade Watcher | |
| Paul Nagel Jr. | Parade Watcher | |
| Paul Froehler | Parade Watcher | |
| Mary Ellen O'Brien | Parade Watcher | |
| Jody Wilson | Parade Watcher | |
| Kate Colburn | Waitress | |
| Domenica Cameron Scorsese | Danny's Girlfriend | |
| Gar Stephen | Big Man | |
| Billy Lucas | Big Man | |
| Ken Collins | Big Man | |
| Linda Perri | Ticket Agent | |
| Elizabeth Moyer | Ticket Agent | |
| Catherine Scorsese | Fruit Stand Customers | |
| Charles Scorsese | Fruit Stand Customers | |
| Jackie Davis | Jimmy the Dockmaster |
Production and Technical Credits
| Martin Scorsese | Director | |
| Barbara De Fina | Producer | |
| Wesley Strick | Screenwriter | |
| Kathleen Kennedy | Executive Producer | |
| Frank Marshall | Executive Producer | |
| Freddie Francis | Director of Photography | |
| Henry Bumstead | Production Designer | |
| Thelma Schoonmaker | Editor | |
| Elmer Bernstein | Composer | |
| Joseph Reidy | Assistant Director | |
| Deborah Lee | Second Unit Director | |
| Deborah Lee | Unit Production Manager | |
| Jack G. Taylor, Jr | Art Director | |
| Alan Hicks | Set Decorator | |
| Pete Romano | Underwater Photography | |
| Rita Ryack | Costume Designer | |
| Linda Hamilton | Costume Supervisor | |
| Vivian J. Cocheo | Costume Designer | |
| Tod A. Maitland | Sound Mixer | |
| Tom Fleischman | Re-recording Mixer | |
| Skip Lievsay | Supervising Sound Editor | |
| Philip Stockton | Supervising | |
| Marissa Littlefield | Dialogue Editor | |
| Kathy Durning | Music Editor | |
| Bernard Herrmann | Original Score | |
| James R. Webb | Based on the Screenplay | |
| John D. MacDonald | Story Creator | |
| Ellen Lewis | Casting Director | |
| Leon Delaney | Stunt Coordinator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $10,261,025 (13.0% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 7.71 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 43.4% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $35,000,000 (worldwide box office is 5.2 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 924 opening theaters/1,707 max. theaters, 5.3 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $212,477,464 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 15th, 1991 (Wide) by Universal |
| International Releases: | March 27th, 1992 (Wide) (New Zealand)
November 13th, 2025 (Limited) (New Zealand) |
| Video Release: | February 3rd, 1993 by Universal Home Entertainment |
| MPA Rating: | R for strong violence, and for language. |
| Running Time: | 128 minutes |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Remake |
| Plot point: | Illiteracy / Learning to Read, Lawyers, Revenge, Sex Crimes |
| Social setting: | Film Noir |
| Subgenre: | Psychological Thriller |
| Time period setting: | 1970s |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Thriller/Suspense |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Tribeca Film, Amblin Entertainment |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 1991 | 1 | $10,261,025 | 924 | $11,105 | $10,261,025 | 1 | |
| Nov 22, 1991 | 2 | $10,033,295 | -2% | 1,702 | $5,895 | $24,251,112 | 2 |
| Nov 29, 1991 | 4 | $9,260,475 | -8% | 1,707 | $5,425 | $39,156,382 | 3 |
| Dec 6, 1991 | 5 | $4,856,355 | -48% | 1,701 | $2,855 | $46,044,067 | 4 |
| Dec 13, 1991 | 7 | $2,944,725 | -39% | 1,659 | $1,775 | $50,405,747 | 5 |
| Dec 20, 1991 | 10 | $2,116,700 | -28% | 1,388 | $1,525 | $54,462,805 | 6 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 1991 | 1 | $14,217,817 | 924 | $15,387 | $14,217,817 | 1 | |
| Nov 22, 1991 | 2 | $15,678,090 | +10% | 1,702 | $9,212 | $29,895,907 | 2 |
| Nov 29, 1991 | 4 | $11,291,805 | -28% | 1,707 | $6,615 | $41,187,712 | 3 |
| Dec 6, 1991 | 5 | $6,273,310 | -44% | 1,701 | $3,688 | $47,461,022 | 4 |
| Dec 13, 1991 | 7 | $4,885,083 | -22% | 1,659 | $2,945 | $52,346,105 | 5 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 3/27/1992 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | $67 | 4/6/2026 | |||
| Rest of World | $103,199,933 | |||||||||
| International Total | $103,200,000 | 4/6/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Robert De Niro | Max Cady | |
| Nick Nolte | Sam Bowden | |
| Jessica Lange | Leigh Bowden |
Supporting
| Joe Don Baker | Claude Kersek | |
| Robert Mitchum | Lieutenant Elgart | |
| Gregory Peck | Lee Heller |
Leading
| Juliette Lewis | Danielle Bowden |
Supporting
| Martin Balsam | Judge | |
| Fred Dalton Thompson | Tom Broadbent | |
| Illeana Douglas | Lori Davis | |
| Zully Montero | Graciela | |
| Craig Henne | Prisoner | |
| Forest Burton | Prisoner | |
| Edgar Allan Poe IV | Prisoner | |
| Rod Ball | Prisoner | |
| W. Paul Bodie | Prisoner | |
| Joel Kolker | Correction Officer | |
| Tamara Jones | Ice Cream Cashier | |
| Roger Pretto | Racquetball Colleague | |
| Parris Buckner | Racquetball Colleague | |
| Margot Moreland | Secretary | |
| Will Knickerbocker | Detective | |
| Robert L. Gerlach | Arresting Officer | |
| Bruce E. Holdstein | Arresting Officer | |
| Richard Wasserman | Parade Watcher | |
| Paul Nagel Jr. | Parade Watcher | |
| Paul Froehler | Parade Watcher | |
| Mary Ellen O'Brien | Parade Watcher | |
| Jody Wilson | Parade Watcher | |
| Kate Colburn | Waitress | |
| Domenica Cameron Scorsese | Danny's Girlfriend | |
| Gar Stephen | Big Man | |
| Billy Lucas | Big Man | |
| Ken Collins | Big Man | |
| Linda Perri | Ticket Agent | |
| Elizabeth Moyer | Ticket Agent | |
| Catherine Scorsese | Fruit Stand Customers | |
| Charles Scorsese | Fruit Stand Customers | |
| Jackie Davis | Jimmy the Dockmaster |
Production and Technical Credits
| Martin Scorsese | Director | |
| Barbara De Fina | Producer | |
| Wesley Strick | Screenwriter | |
| Kathleen Kennedy | Executive Producer | |
| Frank Marshall | Executive Producer | |
| Freddie Francis | Director of Photography | |
| Henry Bumstead | Production Designer | |
| Thelma Schoonmaker | Editor | |
| Elmer Bernstein | Composer | |
| Joseph Reidy | Assistant Director | |
| Deborah Lee | Second Unit Director | |
| Deborah Lee | Unit Production Manager | |
| Jack G. Taylor, Jr | Art Director | |
| Alan Hicks | Set Decorator | |
| Pete Romano | Underwater Photography | |
| Rita Ryack | Costume Designer | |
| Linda Hamilton | Costume Supervisor | |
| Vivian J. Cocheo | Costume Designer | |
| Tod A. Maitland | Sound Mixer | |
| Tom Fleischman | Re-recording Mixer | |
| Skip Lievsay | Supervising Sound Editor | |
| Philip Stockton | Supervising | |
| Marissa Littlefield | Dialogue Editor | |
| Kathy Durning | Music Editor | |
| Bernard Herrmann | Original Score | |
| James R. Webb | Based on the Screenplay | |
| John D. MacDonald | Story Creator | |
| Ellen Lewis | Casting Director | |
| Leon Delaney | Stunt Coordinator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.