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The Silence of the Lambs

Play trailer Poster for The Silence of the Lambs R 1991 1h 58m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 160 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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Jim Murphy The Age (Australia) Jan 21
Gruesome but riveting. Go to Full Review
Steve Murray Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sep 23
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) 08/02/2023
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
Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) 3d
An outstanding film. Very impressed. I let a literal gasp at moments Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 26
4/4
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Alex 21h This is one of my favorite movies! It was such a different and intense experience seeing it on the big screen! See more Byron B 21h Absolutely incredible.!! See more Monica 1d Still amazing 35 years later See more Cody S 1d The Silence of the Lambs is psychologically scary movie. Youll be kept on the edge of your seat up to the very end See more Christian 1d All-time classic. Whatever it lacks in technical realism is more than made up for with the brilliant acting and overall story line. See more xcjb9 1d creepy --- but holds your attention ! See more Read all reviews
The Silence of the Lambs

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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, 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)