The Silence of the Lambs

Play trailer

The Silence of the Lambs

R

1991

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Jim Murphy

The Age (Australia)

Jan 21, 2026

Gruesome but riveting.

Go to Full Review

Steve Murray

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sep 23, 2025

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

Go to Full Review

Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Aug 2, 2023

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

Go to Full Review

Connor Petrey

Pop Culture Leftovers

May 16, 2026

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.

Go to Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Apr 24, 2026

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

Go to Full Review

Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

Feb 28, 2026

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Jackson

5 days ago

one of my favorite movies

See more

Marc milinovich M

Jul 3, 2026

This movie deserves the Oscars it won with the superior acting from Jody foster and the perfect performance from who would be Sir Anthony Hopkins.

See more

Eric

May 29, 2026

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. :)

See more

Todd

May 19, 2026

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

See more

Santeria R

May 4, 2026

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

See more

Richard W

May 3, 2026

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...

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

Now Playing

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Screaming Lambs

2:13

Now Playing

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Buffalo Bill

2:50

Now Playing

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

2:07

Now Playing

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

2:06

Now Playing

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

2:10

Now Playing

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Pitch Black

2:13

Now Playing

The Silence of the Lambs: Official Clip - Closer!

2:09

Now Playing

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

2:00

Now Playing

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

1:39

Now Playing

View more videos

Mississippi Burning

79%

90%

Mississippi Burning

Watchlist

No Man's Land

50%

61%

No Man's Land

Watchlist

Seven

84%

95%

Seven

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Seven

China Moon

40%

41%

China Moon

Watchlist

Manhunter

82%

77%

Manhunter

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

The 29 Scariest Horror Movie Scenes of All Time

87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us

View more photos

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)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings