Ajay Naidu, Anthony Hopkins, Boyd Kestner

Hannibal returns to America and attempts to make contact with disgraced Agent Starling and survive a vengeful victim's plan.

Flixster Users

69% liked it

220,210 ratings

Critics

39% liked it

161 critics

R, 2 hrs. 10 min.

Directed by: Hans Zimmer, Ridley Scott

Release Date: February 9, 2001

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DVD Release Date: August 21, 2001

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Stats: 14,376 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (14,376)


  • September 16, 2009
    I though Hannibal was quite good. I remember it got slammed by the critics, which I always thought was quite unfair. Hopkins was on good form, Scott's direction was beautifully atmospheric and Gary Oldman's performances was brilliant. I loved the brain eating scene too! My only g...( read more)ripe is that Foster didn?t reprise her role. She?s not one of my favourite actresses but I hate it when they replace characters in film sequels, it?s a bit of a pet hate.
  • June 10, 2009
    I like this film a lot, but of course it suffers - as all sequels do - by comparison to its predecessor, in this case 'Silence of the Lambs' The main reason for having a sequel at all was to showcase again the character of Hannibal Lecter, a monstrous creation everyone wanted to ...( read more)see more of after the first film. It could have bombed badly therefore if writer and actor had let us down by failing to catch the magic again. It was after all a decade after the original was made. But they don't, and Anthony Hopkins turns in another delicious performance as the man with the evil intent cloaked in inestimable, menacing charm.

    Julianne Moore drew the short straw in having to re-create the Clarice Starling role that had been so memorably played by another actress. She does well in my opinion, but inevitably we keep thinking 'where is Jodie Foster?', and this lends her portrayal a lack of credibility which is entirely unfair. Gary Oldman's Mason Verger is suitably loathsome and manages to make Lecter seem almost like the hero in their battle of wits. If there is a weak link, Ray Liotta's Krendler seems a bit misplaced.

    The direction deserves special mention. The lush, beautiful settings are mocked by the horror of what is happening in them and the perfectly-selected atmospheric music stayed in my mind long after the film had ended.

    Once again, the film lacks realism, but as with the original, it doesn't matter. Of course things like this don't really happen - but so what? It's a film. Get over it! I was prompted after seeing it to read the books, and the right decision was made in changing the ending of this story from that written by Thomas Harris.

    We were subsequently treated to another look at Lecter in a decent prequel movie, 'Red Dragon,' but I will not be alone in hoping that some day we will see yet more of him in a further instalment. Unlikely I suspect - but not impossible.

    I´m giving a serious though in to eating your wife.

    Ta-ta
  • March 19, 2009
    Completely involved with itself, filled with innane plotting that actually puts Hannibal as the good guy and even romanticizes his relationship with Clarice. Pretty preposterous stuff, but at least it's stylishly presented and well acted.
  • February 25, 2009
    Intelligent le fou !
  • November 9, 2008
    After seeing Hannibal for a second time, many years later I can safely say it's not as disappointing as I originally thought. The first half was definitely better and the movie just didn't end up in a great place even though Julianne Moore looked amazing in that dress. Hopkins wa...( read more)s great and as unrecognizable as Gary Oldman was he was still amazing. Moore was great as Starling even if the movie seemed to suffer because Jodie Foster wouldn't come back. The hype is what ultimately killed Hannibal and got it a bad rep, but if you can watch it under circumstances that divorce a viewing from the hype (namely years later after 2 more inferior sequels have been made) you may enjoy this movie.
  • November 4, 2009
    Me cae bien Hannibal... un aplauso para Hannibal! hip hip.. hurra!
  • October 31, 2009
    scary with specific sense of humour
  • October 31, 2009
    Ridley Scott is one of my favorite movie directors and this is one of his great movies. Half of these scenes are shot very well and the other half is pure brilliance, Im not sure if it was Ridley Scott or the photographer but the camera angles combined with the music is exiting a...( read more)nd great. The acting by Anthony Hopkins is good as always and the new Agent Starling is good as well. The reason this movie is overlooked a lot of the time is the explicit violence and thats a shame because if you can look past that there is a deep story with lots of re-watch value.
  • October 22, 2009
    one of the great horror movies of all time
  • October 22, 2009
    Om man funderar på att bli vegetarian så ska man definitivt se denna, man blir ju inte skitsugen på en biff efter att ha tittat på detta!

Critic Reviews


February 12, 2001
David Edelstein, Slate

Simply a fat slab of sadism. full review

February 9, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

There are disgusting movies that are worth seeing -- Silence of the Lambs, for one -- and others that are merely disgusting. Then there's Hannibal, which exists in its own category. full review

February 9, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The underlying story lacks the fascination of Silence of the Lambs. full review

February 9, 2001
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Hannibal is weak kin to its Oscar-winning forebear.

February 8, 2001
Moira MacDonald, Film.com

Handsomely photographed.

February 6, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Riveting suspense spiced with diabolical laughs and garnished with a sprig of kinky romance add up to the tastiest dish around. full review

View more Hannibal reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • anabope2000
    September 28, 2008
    i just love anthony hopkins!!
  • halfbloodprincess931
    July 26, 2008
    I love this movie.Anthony Hopkins its fucking awsome in this movie. ta-ta
  • CrypticCyn
    June 20, 2007
    great movie. i just love how Hannibal's personality is :]
  • Deathcycle
    September 5, 2006
    lol yeah Hopkins is class. "Now you will tell me when the lambs stop crying wont you" lol
  • cassiusbrowne
    July 16, 2006
    Fucking great Anthony Hopkins was great......"hello Clarice"

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Hannibal Trivia


  • What meal does Dr. Hannibal Lector request on the night of his escape?  Answer »
  • Which actress accepted the role of Clarice Starling in the film Hannibal, after Jodie Foster (who played this character in the prequel, The Silence of the Lambs) turned it down.  Answer »
  • What was the name of Hannibal King's vampire hunters group in "Blade: Trinity"?  Answer »
  • Who wrote the books 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Hannibal' which were later made into movies starring Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter?  Answer »

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