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The Silence of the Lambs

  • 19911991
  • 18+18+
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
1.3M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
192
9
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
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Play trailer1:49
7 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaHorror

A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.

IMDb RATING
8.6/10
1.3M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
192
9
  • Director
    • Jonathan Demme
  • Writers
    • Thomas Harris(based on the novel by)
    • Ted Tally(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Jodie Foster
    • Anthony Hopkins
    • Lawrence A. Bonney
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jonathan Demme
  • Writers
    • Thomas Harris(based on the novel by)
    • Ted Tally(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Jodie Foster
    • Anthony Hopkins
    • Lawrence A. Bonney
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 246Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #21
    • Won 5 Oscars
      • 69 wins & 51 nominations total

    Videos7

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    Official Trailer
    The Silence of the Lambs
    Trailer 1:44
    The Silence of the Lambs
    'The Silence of the Lambs' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:35
    'The Silence of the Lambs' | Anniversary Mashup
    Watch Like a Pro: Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    Clip 3:51
    Watch Like a Pro: Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    Video 3:54
    Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    Meet Hannibal
    Video 2:58
    Meet Hannibal
    'Blockers' Movie Emoji Game
    Video 2:05
    'Blockers' Movie Emoji Game

    Photos276

    Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glenn in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glenn in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    Ted Levine in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jodie Foster
    Jodie Foster
    • Clarice Starlingas Clarice Starling
    Anthony Hopkins
    Anthony Hopkins
    • Dr. Hannibal Lecteras Dr. Hannibal Lecter
    Lawrence A. Bonney
    • FBI Instructoras FBI Instructor
    Kasi Lemmons
    Kasi Lemmons
    • Ardelia Mappas Ardelia Mapp
    Lawrence T. Wrentz
    • Agent Burroughsas Agent Burroughs
    Scott Glenn
    Scott Glenn
    • Jack Crawfordas Jack Crawford
    Anthony Heald
    Anthony Heald
    • Dr. Frederick Chiltonas Dr. Frederick Chilton
    Frankie Faison
    Frankie Faison
    • Barneyas Barney
    Don Brockett
    Don Brockett
    • Friendly Psychopathas Friendly Psychopath
    Frank Seals Jr.
    • Brooding Psychopathas Brooding Psychopath
    Stuart Rudin
    Stuart Rudin
    • Miggsas Miggs
    Maria Skorobogatov
    • Young Clariceas Young Clarice
    • (as Masha Skorobogatov)
    Jeffrie Lane
    • Clarice's Fatheras Clarice's Father
    Leib Lensky
    • Mr. Langas Mr. Lang
    George 'Red' Schwartz
    • Mr. Lang's Driveras Mr. Lang's Driver
    • (as Red Schwartz)
    Jim Roche
    • TV Evangelistas TV Evangelist
    Brooke Smith
    Brooke Smith
    • Catherine Martinas Catherine Martin
    Ted Levine
    Ted Levine
    • Jame Gumbas Jame Gumb
    • Director
      • Jonathan Demme
    • Writers
      • Thomas Harris(based on the novel by)
      • Ted Tally(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    F.B.I. trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) works hard to advance her career, while trying to hide or put behind her West Virginia roots, of which if some knew, would automatically classify her as being backward or white trash. After graduation, she aspires to work in the agency's Behavioral Science Unit under the leadership of Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn). While she is still a trainee, Crawford asks her to question Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins), a psychiatrist imprisoned, thus far, for eight years in maximum security isolation for being a serial killer who cannibalized his victims. Clarice is able to figure out the assignment is to pick Lecter's brains to help them solve another serial murder case, that of someone coined by the media as "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine), who has so far killed five victims, all located in the eastern U.S., all young women, who are slightly overweight (especially around the hips), all who were drowned in natural bodies of water, and all who were stripped of large swaths of skin. She also figures that Crawford chose her, as a woman, to be able to trigger some emotional response from Lecter. After speaking to Lecter for the first time, she realizes that everything with him will be a psychological game, with her often having to read between the very cryptic lines he provides. She has to decide how much she will play along, as his request in return for talking to him is to expose herself emotionally to him. The case takes a more dire turn when a sixth victim is discovered, this one from who they are able to retrieve a key piece of evidence, if Lecter is being forthright as to its meaning. A potential seventh victim is high profile Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith), the daughter of Senator Ruth Martin (Diane Baker), which places greater scrutiny on the case as they search for a hopefully still alive Catherine. Who may factor into what happens is Dr. Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald), the warden at the prison, an opportunist who sees the higher profile with Catherine, meaning a higher profile for himself if he can insert himself successfully into the proceedings. —Huggo
    serial killerpsycho thrillerstuck in a wellpsychopathbad guy wins306 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. - Clarice Starling, FBI. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • 18+
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jodie Foster claims that during the first meeting between Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling, Sir Anthony Hopkins's mocking of her southern accent was improvised on the spot. Foster's horrified reaction was genuine since she felt personally attacked. She later thanked Hopkins for generating such an honest reaction.
    • Goofs
      As Forensics comes to take photos of the victim's body, the "corpse" visibly blinks as hands touch its face.
    • Quotes

      Hannibal Lecter: A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

    • Crazy credits
      After the Copyright notice and MPAA logo, a logo appears with the text "A Luta Continua". This is not a production company credit; instead, it's Portuguese for "The Struggle Continues" ("To be continued").
    • Alternate versions
      The Finnish-dubbed VHS version removes:
      • Hannibal Lecter beating Pembry against the cell's bars, and spraying liquid to his eyes (along with the shots of the cuffed guard screaming "Jesus Christ!", and a shot of him trying to break loose).
      • Lecter beating a guard with a nightstick several times (reduced from 6 hits to 1!).
      • A outdrawn sequence that comes right after Lecter has whacked the guards (where he plays music and walks across the dead guard's body) is completely removed (along with Lecter's dialogue Ready when you are, sergeant Pembry).
      • Right after Buffalo Bill is shot by Clarice Starling there is a long-lasting (about 15 secs) shot of his bloody dead body, that in the cut version is not that long anymore.
    • Connections
      Edited into A-Z of Horror (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      American Girl
      Performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

      Written by Tom Petty (as T. Petty)

      Courtesy of Gone Gator Records

    User reviews1.4K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Story And A Character That You Can't Forget
    I'll never forget my first viewing of this movie at the theater and will always look back fondly on it for one reason: helping me quit smoking cigarettes.

    I read the book first, was fascinated by it, and couldn't wait for the film to come out. That was the day I picked to quit smoking and I knew this movie would take my mind off that matter. I was expecting an intense movie and I got it. Little did I realize how well-received this film would be and how it propelled Anthony Hopkins to super-stardom.

    Although entertaining, this is not always a fun movie to watch, especially with the scenes with Ted Levine who plays the killer, "Buffalo Bill." "Bill" and his kidnapped young woman are sick and profane people, respectively, and their scenes are very unpleasant. This movie is not for the squeamish with those and other scenes involving the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins). There also is some extreme crudeness in the jail/dungeon where Lecter and other inmates are held.

    Jodie Foster is excellent as the FBI agent "Clarice Starling" and Scott Glenn is low-key and effective as "Jack Crawford." A major part of the film is psychological more than violent as Lecter constantly taunts "Clarice," while she tries her best to manipulate him to help with a case. The by-play between the two is a game in itself.

    Hopkins, however, is the actor people remember best from this movie. His portrayal of the refined-yet-cannibalistic serial killer-doctor is one viewers will never forget. I've enjoyed watching him in the sequels, too. The looks on his face, his fascinating vocabulary with intelligent sarcasm and frankness, never ceases to entertain.

    "Silence Of The Lambs" has turned into a modern-day "classic." If by some odd chance you have never seen this movie, be warned it is a dark, difficult story to watch at times....but it will get your mind off other things.
    helpful•216
    77
    • ccthemovieman-1
    • Jan 17, 2007

    FAQ24

    • Why do Dr Chilton and Barney make a point of telling Clarice not to touch or approach the glass housing Dr Lecter? Wouldn't she be perfectly safe since he obviously can't reach her?
    • Why does Dr. Lecter think the guy ejaculating in his hand throwing the result in Clarice's face crosses a line while he would do much more awful things to people himself?
    • Can someone actually swallow their tongue like Miggs did?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 1991 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • filmgezegeni
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Le silence des agneaux
    • Filming locations
      • Bimini Airport, South Bimini Island, Bimini Islands, Bahamas
    • Production companies
      • Strong Heart/Demme Production
      • Orion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $130,742,922
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,766,814
      • Feb 18, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $272,742,922
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1h 58m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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