Primal Fear
“Sooner or later, a man who wears two faces forgets which one is real.”
Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.
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Cast
48 people
Richard Gere
Martin Vail
Known for
Hachi: A Dog's Tale
Pretty Woman
Laura Linney
Janet Venable
Known for
The Truman Show
Ozark
Edward Norton
Aaron Stampler / Roy
Known for
The Incredible Hulk
American History X
John Mahoney
Shaughnessy
Known for
Frasier
Atlantis: Milo's Return
Alfre Woodard
Shoat
Known for
See
Marvel's Luke Cage
Frances McDormand
Molly
Known for
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Fargo
Terry O'Quinn
Yancy
Known for
Lost
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
Andre Braugher
Goodman
Known for
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Mist
Steven Bauer
Pinero
Known for
Scarface
Ray Donovan
Joe Spano
Stenner
Known for
NCIS
Hill Street Blues
Tony Plana
Martinez
Known for
Marvel's The Punisher
Goal!
Stanley Anderson
Rushman
Known for
Spider-Man
The Shining
Gregory Hoblit Director · Steve Shagan Screenplay Ann Biderman Screenplay
Worldwide gross $103M · Budget $30M · United States release April 3, 1996
Box office
Budget
$30,000,000
Worldwide gross
$102,616,183
Gross vs. budget
3.4×
Production
Paramount Pictures
Production · Studio
Rysher Entertainment
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Spanish
Release dates
United States · April 1, 1996
Premiere · Los Angeles, California
United States · April 3, 1996
Theatrical
Argentina
May 9, 1996 · Theatrical
Australia
May 16, 1996 · Theatrical
Brazil
May 31, 1996 · Theatrical
Czechia
July 18, 1996 · Theatrical
Denmark
July 5, 1996 · Theatrical
Finland
May 24, 1996 · Theatrical
France
June 5, 1996 · Theatrical
October 2, 1997 · Physical · VHS
January 30, 2000 · TV · TF1 (Ciné Dimanche)
July 5, 2001 · Physical · DVD
January 1, 2006 · Digital · VOD
July 7, 2021 · Physical · Blu-Ray
October 1, 2022 · Digital · Netflix
Germany
May 23, 1996 · Theatrical
Greece
November 2, 1996 · Theatrical
Hungary
July 25, 1996 · Theatrical
Ireland
May 24, 1996 · Theatrical
Italy
May 17, 1996 · Theatrical
Japan
November 2, 1996 · Theatrical
Netherlands
May 23, 1996 · Theatrical
April 27, 2002 · TV · Net 5
November 20, 2013 · Physical · Blu ray
Philippines
July 10, 1996 · Theatrical
Poland
August 9, 1996 · Theatrical
Portugal
May 24, 1996 · Theatrical
Slovenia
July 11, 1996 · Theatrical
South Africa
June 7, 1996 · Theatrical
South Korea
May 24, 1996 · Theatrical
Spain
April 26, 1996 · Theatrical
Sweden
July 12, 1996 · Theatrical
Türkiye
November 29, 1996 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
May 24, 1996 · Theatrical
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