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The Silence of the Lambs

R Released Feb 13, 1991 1h 59m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama List
95% Tomatometer 153 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

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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 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 Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) Most books, plays or films never give us even this much. Yet The Silence of the Lambs gives us so much that it's a shame the film doesn't find ways to deepen its concentration on the colossal aberrance of the minds of its complementary terrors. May 9, 2023 Full Review Erick Estrada Cinegarage The transformation between the two protagonists is truly outstanding. [Full review in Spanish] Apr 12, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jinnifer F It's one of the best horror films to win oscars. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/11/24 Full Review KerryWhite's S Rating: 7/10. 74/100 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/09/24 Full Review Steve M Masterfully crafted, with two of the best performances in a psychological thriller ever committed to film. Demme's sly and engrossing directorial choices add true chills, including cinematographer Taki Fujimoto's brilliant use of shifting camera perspective that pull the viewer into the film in a way that feels expressly personal. With as monstrous and massive as Hopkins' iconic performance is as Lecter, Foster could easily have been dwarfed by comparison, yet succeeds in delivering a standout performance as the fledgling Agent Starling that is both incisively sharp-witted and vulnerable. Suffice it to say, there's a reason this film won every Oscar under the sun after its release. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/24 Full Review Julian S The performances are outstanding, especially Hopkins, Foster, and Levine’s Buffalo Bill, but Demme’s direction is what truly chills—keeping the scariest moments off-screen, only hinted at through the characters’ reactions. It amplifies the dread brilliantly. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review e6e 6 This is a fantastic thriller. Despite only 20 minutes of screen time, Hannibal Lecter still manages to be the best character in the film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Audience Member As a person that enjoy pretty much only Thriller & Horror movies, this is one of my must-see films that I recommend to anyone new to the genres who wants to get a taste for suspense rather than scares. The pacing of this movie is immaculate, the dialogue is well-done, but what stands out most to me is the framing and cinematography; consistent and eye-catching without being overwhelming or cheesy. Plus, who doesn't love Sir Anthony Hopkins? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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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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