Primal Fear
“Sooner or later, a man who wears two faces forgets which one is real.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-05-23
Top Cast
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Richard Gere
Martin Vail
Laura Linney
Janet Venable
Edward Norton
Aaron Stampler / Roy
John Mahoney
Shaughnessy
Alfre Woodard
Shoat
Frances McDormand
Molly
Terry O'Quinn
Yancy
Andre Braugher
Goodman
Steven Bauer
Pinero
Joe Spano
Stenner
Tony Plana
Martinez
Stanley Anderson
Rushman
Maura Tierney
Naomi
Jon Seda
Alex
Reg Rogers
Connerman
Kenneth Tigar
Weil
Brian Reddy
Woodside
Christopher Carroll
M.C.
Release History & Theatrical Window
Los Angeles, California
Festival / Special Debut
April 3, 1996
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 2, 1997
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$30M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$102.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.42x
+$72.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Gregory Hoblit
- Screenplay & Story
- Steve Shagan, Ann Biderman
- Original Score
- James Newton Howard
- Original Title
- Primal Fear
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Production Budget
- $30M
- Worldwide Gross
- $102.6M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures, Rysher Entertainment
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Gregory Hoblit
Steve Shagan, Ann Biderman, William Diehl
James Newton Howard
Michael Chapman
David Rosenbloom
Hawk Koch, Gary Lucchesi
Department Leadership Roster
David Rosenbloom
Editor
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Gregory Hoblit
Director
Steve Shagan
Screenplay
Ann Biderman
Screenplay
Michael Chapman
Director of Photography
Betsy Cox
Costume Design
Rob Burton
Visual Effects Supervisor
Ernie F. Orsatti
Stunt Coordinator
Jeannine Oppewall
Production Design
Gary Lucchesi
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Primal Fear.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Primal Fear
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Primal Fear about?
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.
Who directed Primal Fear?
Primal Fear was directed by Gregory Hoblit.
Who stars in Primal Fear?
The principal cast of Primal Fear includes Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard.
When was Primal Fear released and how long is it?
Primal Fear was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 2h 10m.
What was the box office and production budget of Primal Fear?
Primal Fear had a reported production budget of $30M and grossed $102.6M at the worldwide box office (3.42 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Primal Fear?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Primal Fear was composed by James Newton Howard.
Is Primal Fear based on a book or true story?
Primal Fear is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "William Diehl".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Primal Fear?
Primal Fear holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).