Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn

An ambitious FBI agent enlists the aid of a criminally insane ex-psychiatrist to help track down a vicious serial killer.

Flixster Users

93% liked it

745,150 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

52 critics

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Demme

Release Date: February 13, 1991

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DVD Release Date: July 1, 1998

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Stats: 39,063 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (39,063)


  • September 16, 2009
    A great thriller from the early 90's. It's now regarded as a classic but on repeat viewing, it does feel a little dated. Still, a great film!
  • September 14, 2009
    Jonathan Demme's frightening masterpiece, The Silence of the Lambs is worth the hype... yes, it took me almost 20 years to see it, not sure how that happened but anyway...

    This is the role that defined Anthony Hopkins to the American audience, and rightfully so: he's so normal...( read more) that imaging him as a psychotic killer is the most terrifying part, as a Best Actor Oscar for a mere 16 minutes of screen time might suggest.

    The magic of this portrayal is in the script, however, as we are scared of Dr. Lechter well before we actually meet him. In true Hitchcock-ian fashion, we have to imagine the horror, and therefore come to fear someone who is to all appearances perfectly in control: the pure psycopath.

    Great plot, consistent action, strong characterization, I could go on... great film.
  • September 12, 2009
    Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Dr Hannibal Lecter is amazing. He is one of the great villains in movies. I watched it for the third time eleven years after it was made, and the movie still keeps you riveted to your seat.

    What is weird is that even though Lecter is a serial kill...( read more)er, the movie goes to great lengths to show us the similarities between Starling and Lecter, and we don't hate Lecter, but we hate 'Buffalo Bill'. And the line at the end of the movie - Lecter is having Dr. Chilton over for dinner.
  • June 10, 2009
    The Silence of the Lambs runs two hours.Anthony Hopkins appears for little more than sixteen minutes, yet during those minutes he hasn't bored you for a second, not even after the tenth or eleventh viewing. Such is the power of his performance, it's absolutely impossible to forge...( read more)t him.His character, Dr.Hannibal"The Cannibal" Lecter, is a brutal killer with revolting methods and habits, but he's also very intelligent, charismatic and with good taste(you can interpret that as you like).A clichè by now, but who cares? He still is one of the key elements in this wonderful thriller, which sees Jodie Foster's Clarice Starling asking for Lecter's help to catch another killer.The result is a dangerous yet fascinating relationship between the young, unexperienced FBI-agent and the convicted,but basically omnipotent, psychiatrist.He's a step ahead of everyone all the time, and makes sure everyone notices, with his witty, unforgettable one-liners.If there had to be only one reason to worship this movie, then it would have to be the chemistry between the two leading actors.Never before has a non-sexual man/woman connection been more thrilling.Never before has a film's ending been more unsettling and brilliant and left us asking for more.

    Best watched with a nice Chianti...

    P.S. dear film-buffs, have the lambs stopped screaming?
  • June 3, 2009
    Foster and Hopkins give star performances. Levine is creepy as Buffalo Bill. But, this movie simply did not impress me as much as the other two movies to hold the honor of winning the Oscar big five awards. The movie didn't give me a sense of release, a sense of "Oh Wow" when ...( read more)Foster finds her way to Buffalo Bill's house independent of her boss at the FBI. I didn't understand the prevalence of close up shots of the actors' faces. There are a lot of foreheads half cut off in this movie. I guess it heighten the suspense a bit to see the sweat and muscle twitches in the characters' faces. But for a thriller it didn't have any amazing twists that really make you appreciate the writing. At least I didn't think so. The lambs, the moths, the sewing, the cannibalism were all supposed to be mysterious elements that suggest a creative and disturbing story, but it didn't all add together to something greater than the parts. Dr. Hannibal Lecter making his escape was probably the most fascinating, terrifying, and shocking part.
  • November 19, 2009
    This is an amazing movie! Hannibal Lector is one of my favourite movie villains and he is brilliantly portrayed by Anthony Hopkins
  • November 18, 2009
    Super actuacion de Anthony Hopkins. Paso a la historia con este personaje.
    Y la rola de Good bye Horses muy buena tambien.
  • November 18, 2009
    This was when I realized there are some very sick individuals in this society
  • November 18, 2009
    Saw this the other day....for the 50th time.
  • November 17, 2009
    terrifyingly intriguing

Critic Reviews


May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

For all the unbridled savagery on display, what is shrewd, significant and finally hopeful about Silence of the Lambs is the way it proves that a movie can be mercilessly scary and mercifully humane a... full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The popularity of Jonathan Demme's movie is likely to last as long as there is a market for being scared. full review

View more The Silence of the Lambs reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Marilynstates
    March 6, 2009
    Does anyone else find this movie so funny!
    haha, I think it is.
  • makavellitwo
    October 23, 2007
    قحبة نتاع خميسات
  • madcat612
    October 8, 2007
    IS SHE A BIG FAT PERSON OR SOMETHING?!?!
  • ottmanit
    August 30, 2007
    this is imazing movie
  • VilaVila
    August 16, 2007
    Perfect. Beyond any other thriller, or drama, Silence of the Lambs shows us a masterminded man,that, being in a cage for the rest of his life, pretends to play with the minds of any other creature on his path. Its amazing how he uses it inteligence to reach his goals. Simply amazing how he explores the human mind. One of the Best Thriller, if not the best.
  • papadontplaydat
    July 10, 2007
    WHAT CAN I SAY BRILLIANT, A CLASSIC, 1 OF THE BEST HORROR FLIX U WILL EVA SEE.. THE REAL WONDER ABOUT THIS THRILLER IS, IT NOT 2 FAR FETCHED, IT COULD VERY WELL BE REAL... AND WHAT CAN U SAY ABOUT JODI FOSTER & ANTHONY HOPKINS (BRAVO)...
  • jesslovesu2
    June 25, 2007
    This movie is fantastic. It is very cleverly made and the actors well Anthony Hopkins shines in it, I couldnt help but like Hannibal. This movie is a great thriller and will make you think.
  • laguacologa
    April 24, 2007
    the best picture for me...
  • LiTTLeJuS
    March 31, 2007
    a smart people movie but also a SHOCKING movie......
  • fredtj999
    March 14, 2007
    Does anyone question flixter as a reliable source for reviews when 'High School' musical is given a higher rating than this classic?

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Silence of the Lambs Trivia


  • Anthony Hopkins delivers this line at the end of what movie? "I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye."  Answer »
  • In What film does Jodie Foster enlist the help of a cannibal to catch a psychopath.  Answer »
  • A rookie FBI agent is enlisted to befriend a brilliant but dangerous psychopath, the infamous 'Hannibal the Cannibal' notorious for eating his victims, in the hope he may respond to her homely innocence and give her the insight to catch a vicious likeminded serial killer ???  Answer »
  • Which movie starring Anthony Hopkins won five oscars in 1992?  Answer »

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