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The Silence of the Lambs

Play trailer Poster for The Silence of the Lambs R Released Feb 13, 1991 1h 59m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 154 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.
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The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs

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Critics Consensus

Director Jonathan Demme's smart, taut thriller teeters on the edge between psychological study and all-out horror, and benefits greatly from stellar performances by Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Times (UK) The crux of this excellent thriller is the battle of intellect and wills between them [Clarice Starling and Dr Hannibal Lecter]. Aug 2, 2023 Full Review Jay Scott Globe and Mail A failure that is a function of its success. Dec 7, 2022 Full Review Kathy Huffhines Detroit Free Press Throughout the movie, Demme gets across more terror than a dozen Friday the 13ths by showing not the horrifying thing itself but the faces of people looking at horror. Rated: 8/10 Mar 23, 2022 Full Review Megan Fisher Loud and Clear Reviews Demme is not interested in blood and guts for the sake of shocking the viewer, but rather the character’s emotional and psychological reaction to the violence. [...] It is this emotional investment that makes Demme’s film so frightening. Rated: 5/5 Apr 25, 2025 Full Review Nadir Samara Screen Rant Its impact on movies is still being felt today, and it includes arguably the best performances of both Foster and Hopkins' careers. Rated: 9/10 Nov 10, 2024 Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily Suspenseful and shrewd, Hopkins’ Lecter is one of the most fascinating villains in film (despite less than 20 min of screen time). In spite of his contemptible reproach and steely demeanor, there’s just something about Lecter that makes us root for him. Jun 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Julian First time watching it completely through and was pleasantly surprised at how great this movie was. And fantastic performance by Hopkins Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/04/25 Full Review eric Always a good movie....sound so much bettrr at the movies Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Color A true classic, amazing to see in theaters Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Jaxon H Hopkins absolutely nails the creepy, calculating Hannibal, making his performance unforgettable. Foster’s portrayal of Clarice balances strength and vulnerability, adding a real human element to the tension. The soundtrack is used perfectly, amplifying the suspense and making the already intense scenes even more nerve-racking. The cinematography may feel a bit dated at times, but there are moments where it pulls you right into the psychological game between these two characters. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review James B The silence of the lambs is too good and it's wonderful to watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review ra r The Silence Of The Lambs is one of the most popular films among crime films. The grade is 8.5/10 or 4.5/5 A psychopath kidnaps and kills young women all over the American Midwest. The FBI, confident that all the crimes were committed by the same person, instructs Agent Clarissa Sterling to meet with a maniac prisoner who could explain to the investigation the psychological motives of the serial killer and thereby lead to his trail. This movie is deserved your time!! I definitely recommend this movie for an evening watch, as well as the other Hannibal Lecter series. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Jonathan Demme

Director

Jodie Foster

Clarice Starling

Anthony Hopkins

Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Scott Glenn

Jack Crawford

Ted Levine

Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb

Anthony Heald

Dr. Frederick Chilton

Movie Clips

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The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - It Rubs the Lotion The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - It Rubs the Lotion 1:44 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Screaming Lambs The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Screaming Lambs 2:13 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Buffalo Bill The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Buffalo Bill 2:50 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Quid Pro Quo The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Quid Pro Quo 2:07 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Love Your Suit The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Love Your Suit 2:06 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - What Does He Do, This Man You Seek? The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - What Does He Do, This Man You Seek? 2:10 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Pitch Black The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Pitch Black 2:13 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Closer! The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Closer! 2:09 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti 2:00 The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - You Ate Yours The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - You Ate Yours 1:39 View more videos

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The Silence of the Lambs

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.
Director
Jonathan Demme
Producer
Ronald M. Bozman, Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt
Screenwriter
Thomas Harris, Ted Tally
Distributor
Orion Pictures
Production Co
Orion Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 13, 1991, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$130.7M
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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