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The Silence of the Lambs

Play trailer Poster for The Silence of the Lambs R 1991 1h 59m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 157 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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Steve Murray Atlanta Journal-Constitution A brilliant, unnerving work, "Lambs" proves that pop filmmaking can make both the heart and mind race. Sep 23, 2025 Full Review Wendy Ide The 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 Matt Brunson Film Frenzy One of the all-time great thrillers. Demme directs this for maximum suspense, yet the film also works as a multilayered feminist tale, with Foster's resourceful agent emerging as a beautifully conceived character. Rated: 4/4 Nov 26, 2025 Full Review Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk This film is probably the best example of the crossover between the Drama/Thriller genre and the Horror genre. The scenes with Buffalo Bill are viscerally horrific, but the psychological horror of Lecter’s interrogations of Clarice are just as disturbing. Rated: 10/10 Sep 23, 2025 Full Review Gavin Spoors FILMHOUNDS Magazine Even nicer is the spruced-up visual presentation of one of the best films of the 20th century. Rated: 5/5 Aug 20, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Grace G Masterful! This is complete movie making in the highest order. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/28/25 Full Review 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 GotRizz237 The Silence of the Lambs was AMAZING. Really great story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/02/25 Full Review Chris H. Genuinely one of the best movies I have ever seen I love eating moths Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/30/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Silence of the Lambs

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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

A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." A scene from the film "The Silence of the Lambs." View more photos

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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