The Silence of the Lambs

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The Silence of the Lambs

R

1991

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

161 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.

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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Jim Murphy

The Age (Australia)

Jan 21

Gruesome but riveting.

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Steve Murray

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sep 23

A brilliant, unnerving work, "Lambs" proves that pop filmmaking can make both the heart and mind race.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

08/02/2023

The crux of this excellent thriller is the battle of intellect and wills between them [Clarice Starling and Dr Hannibal Lecter].

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Connor Petrey

Pop Culture Leftovers

May 16

In reality, there is no such thing as a timeless classic. Things change too much and too often for anything to stay 100% at the top, but The Silence of the Lambs is one of the closest things you’ll ever find to that terminology.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Apr 24

An outstanding film. Very impressed. I let a literal gasp at moments

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

Feb 28

5/5

The gathering tear in Lecter's eye after Clarice's confession is the brilliant pinpoint of light that ultimately redeems the blackness of this dark fairy tale.

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Eric

May 29

Beautiful to see this movie in the theaters! The acting is superb. Classic early 90s vibe, def see the inlfuence this would have had on Scully/X-Files. :)

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Todd

May 19

Classic blockbuster that deserves the biggest screen experience possible. Well worth the cost of Imax

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Santeria R

May 4

Person next to us wouldn’t shut up and kept quoting the movie

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Richard W

May 3

1st I had read the book, but I never had the chance to see this movie on the Big Screen. Sure I have a very nice big screen in my home and have watched this DVD more than once, seeing this on the Big Screen and in a very nice seat and sound system.....This is a must see, it will remind you why it received all the rewards...

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Jill W

May 2

It was amazing to see this incredible film on the big screen for the first time! I got to see it with my (young adult) son - it was his first time seeing it! We had a great time talking about it afterwards, too !

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Reymund S

Apr 30

Talk about and experience that I will never forget. The moments of the entire film on that screen is spellbinding bound words!!!!!

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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

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - It Rubs the Lotion

1:44

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Screaming Lambs

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The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Buffalo Bill

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The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Quid Pro Quo

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The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Love Your Suit

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The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - What Does He Do, This Man You Seek?

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The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Pitch Black

2:13

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Closer!

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The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti

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The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - You Ate Yours

1:39

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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, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 13, 1991, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 26, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $130.7M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)