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Hannibal (2001)

tomatometer

39

Average Rating: 5.1/10
Reviews Counted: 164
Fresh: 64 | Rotten: 100

While superbly acted and stylishly filmed, Hannibal lacks the character interaction between the two leads which made the first movie so engrossing.

38

Average Rating: 4.8/10
Critic Reviews: 37
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 23

While superbly acted and stylishly filmed, Hannibal lacks the character interaction between the two leads which made the first movie so engrossing.

audience

69

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 375,795

My Rating

Movie Info

Based on the controversial sequel novel of the same name, Hannibal is the much-anticipated follow-up to the Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Anthony Hopkins returns as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, one of the world's most cunning and feared serial killers, who resurfaces after a decade in hiding to toy with FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore). As Starling's career flounders thanks to a drug bust gone wrong, Lecter attempts to elude a greedy Italian police detective (Giancarlo

R, 2 hr. 11 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

,

David Mamet, Steven Zaillian

Aug 21, 2001

$163.9M

MGM/UA

Cast

All Critics (171) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (101) | DVD (42)

Hannibal Lecter is the ostensible cannibal of this franchise, but the real cannibals are his creators. I wouldn't be surprised if the next time, they have him endorsing his favorite Chianti.

September 26, 2002 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Hannibal definitely grabs at the emotions, but not the one it's after. You come in hoping to have the wits scared out of you and leave with your temper barely in check.

March 19, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Simply a fat slab of sadism.

February 12, 2001 Full Review Source: Slate | Comment
Slate
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Hopkins, who is electrifying in almost anything he does, reprises the mastery he brought to Silence of the Lambs. Even in a movie as patchworky as this, he's always compelling.

February 9, 2001 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It is not bad on its own terms, and it is certainly engrossing, but it comes nowhere near the power and sordid glory of the original.

February 9, 2001 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Hannibal won't even be a footnote when the year's best movies are grabbing the ink in December.

February 9, 2001 Full Review Source: USA Today | Comment
USA Today
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Thoroughly distasteful. Not for kids.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comments (5)
Common Sense Media

Doesn't work as its own individual, self-contained cinematic entity.

February 11, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
TheMovieReport.com

A dark and complexly entertaining ride, highly generous to multiple viewings.

September 17, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

The near-impossible taks and insurmountable problems have been handled by Scott in a proficient if unexciting way. Aware that he can't possibly meet viewers' expectations, Scott has made a different film, more florid, baroque, and tongue-in-cheek.

October 10, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Scott's elegant, shadowy atmosphere and deliberate pacing make the film a delightfully spooky experience.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

The weight-watchers script sensibly dispenses with several characters to serve a brew that's enjoyably spicy but low on substance.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

There are moments of a good movie buried amongst this over the top thriller. But these moments are all too rare.

September 30, 2005 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | Comment
Three Movie Buffs

Pork chops get even!

January 1, 2005 Full Review Source: StaciWilson.com | Comment
StaciWilson.com

Hannibal doesn't grip the audience with the macabre wit and pervasive sense of impending evil of its predecessor

June 25, 2004 Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | Comment

Where the book kept you wondering and marvelling at the intricacies of the human mind and heart, the film has a sour, smart-alecky conclusion which highlights (what else?) the gore.

May 20, 2003 Comment
Palo Alto Weekly

There are several interludes here that rival anything found in Silence for pure adrenaline...

April 19, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

Perhaps Scott should have rented out Se7en before he yelled 'action' - the best horror is often what you don't see.

March 5, 2003 Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) | Comment

Director Scott has used his considerable talent to dress up this film into an artful, visually impressive affair.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | Comment
Film Quips Online

Minus all the mystique of Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal has a few interesting scenes, but fails in equal portion.

January 29, 2003 Comment
Oscar Guy

Hannibal is not quite what I'd call a 'good' movie, but it could so easily have been worse in countless ways that I'm more than satisfied by the way it turned out.

January 10, 2003 Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | Comment
Nick's Flick Picks
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Hannibal

Ridley Scott had no chance in competing with The Silcence of the Lambs....so he did something different....And I think he did it good. Anthony Hopkins is cold as ice. And Julianne Moore is okay. It would have been great with Jodie Foster

December 20, 2007
TheGame90
Martin Sahlin

Super Reviewer

Crap compared to the incredible Silence of the Lambs

March 3, 2011
DreamExtractor
Brad Wright

Super Reviewer

    1. Mason Verger (uncredited): I have immunity from the Justice Department, and I have immunity from the Risen Jesus. And nobody beats the Riz!
    – Submitted by Joel L (2 months ago)
    1. Dr. Hannibal Lecter: [in a letter to Clarice] Your job is to craft my doom, so I am not sure how well I should wish you. But I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun. Ta-ta, 'H.'
    – Submitted by Joel L (2 months ago)
    1. Dr. Hannibal Lecter: Mason Verger doesn't want to kill me any more than I want to kill him. He just wants to see me suffer in some unimaginable way. He is rather twisted, you know.
    – Submitted by Joel L (2 months ago)
    1. Dr. Hannibal Lecter: Bowels in or bowels out?
    – Submitted by Joel L (2 months ago)
    1. Clarice Starling: This is from the Guinness Book of World Records, congratulating me on being the female FBI Agent who has shot and killed the most people.
    – Submitted by Joel L (2 months ago)

Latest News for Hannibal

February 8, 2007:
Box Office Guru Preview: Comedy vs. Cannibals at the Multiplexes
Moviegoers get to choose between a master comic taking on three roles or a diabolical screen villain...

October 20, 2006:
Early Test Screener Digs the New "Hannibal" Flick
It's time once again for another installment of "Early & Enthusiastic Amateur Film...

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