The Silence of the Lambs
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.
Directed by Jonathan Demme · Crime · Drama · Horror · 118 min · 1991
Trailer
Director
Jonathan Demme
Studio
Strong Heart Productions
Release
14 Feb 1991
Runtime
118 min
Genres
Crime, Drama, Horror
Full Plot
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.
Cast & Characters
Clarice Starling
Jodie Foster
Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Anthony Hopkins
Jack Crawford
Scott Glenn
young Clarice
Masha Skorobogatov
Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb
Ted Levine
Dr. Frederick Chilton
Anthony Heald
Catherine Martin
Brooke Smith
U.S. Senator Ruth Martin
Diane Baker
Ardelia Mapp
Kasi Lemmons
Lt. Bill Boyle
Charles Napier
Lamar
Tracey Walter
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $19.0M, The Silence of the Lambs has grossed $272.7M worldwide — about 14.4x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The Silence of the Lambs is part of TMDb's "The Hannibal Lecter Collection."
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The Silence of the Lambs was released on February 14, 1991, grossing almost $14 million from 1,497 theaters over the 4-day Presidents' Day weekend, placing at number one at the US box office.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
The Silence of the Lambs holds 8.6/10 on IMDb (1,718,588 votes), 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 2, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.6/10 on IMDb (1,718,588 votes), 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Silence of the Lambs's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Silence of the Lambs holds a 95% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Silence of the Lambs's IMDb rating?+
The Silence of the Lambs has a 8.6/10 rating on IMDb from 1,718,588 votes.
What is The Silence of the Lambs's Metacritic score?+
The Silence of the Lambs has a Metascore of 86/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Silence of the Lambs good? What are critics saying?+
The Silence of the Lambs holds 8.6/10 on IMDb (1,718,588 votes), 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Silence of the Lambs?+
The Silence of the Lambs has a runtime of 118 min.
Who directed The Silence of the Lambs?+
The Silence of the Lambs was directed by Jonathan Demme.
Where can I watch The Silence of the Lambs?+
The Silence of the Lambs is available to stream, rent, or buy on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Criterion Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex, MGM Plus Amazon Channel, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Some viewers find "The Silence of the Lambs" to be a childhood favorite due to its impact on them from an early age, while others who put off reviewing it years ago consider it a classic that deserves praise. The film has received widespread critical acclaim for its performances, screenplay, and direction, with many praising its ability to portray law enforcement professionals and serial killers in a realistic manner. Reviewers also appreciate the trailer's effective creation of tension and hints at the plot without revealing too much.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Unlike a lot of viewers, I first saw _The Silence of the Lambs_ at five years old. So, for me, _The Silence of the Lambs_ is a childhood favorite. Some would say I had an unusual childhood, in this age where some people actually **avoid** R-rated movies like the plague. The fact…
Ted Fraraccio · 10/10This is one of a few movies I put off reviewing for years, because I honestly don't know what to say about a film this classic. So I'll be brief in my actual review, knowing that it comes from a place where I honestly believe that this is a movie that deserves its praise: Even if…
Gimly · 8/10It kind of reminds me of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, because Frank and Jame are drag queens who kill.
As a genre fan, there's a certain amount of satisfaction when a film is recognized by mainstream audiences. That's what it was like for me in 1992 when <i>Silence of the Lambs</i> swept the Oscar's (Best Picture, Director, Actor and Actress). And boy did the movie deserve it. Jon…
Repo Jack · 10/10**Absolute Classic Film! I read the book before watching this thriller/horror classic film by Jonathan Demme. The film works on so many levels and at times feels very realistic in how it portraits law enforcers and the perverse criminals they pursue. Outstanding performances by A…
This is a brilliant screen adaptation of the Thomas Harris book with a cast impossible to improve upon. Anthony Hopkins plays "Hannibal Lecter", a murderous sophisticate with a penchant for eating the evidence and Jodie Foster as the novice FBI agent sent to try and elicit his he…
CinemaSerf · 8/10The Silence of the Lambs is one of those movies that isn’t just great—it’s iconic. From the moment it starts, there’s an unsettling tension that never lets up. The plot is masterfully structured, pulling you into a psychological game of cat and mouse that keeps you engaged the en…
RalphRahal · 10/10
From the trailer's comments
This is how you make a trailer: create a huge amount of tension and don't give the plot away. Just little hints.
@tintinsnowyful · 50 likesThe best crime mystery thriller of all time.
@joeygonzo · 8 likesA great movie. I love this film
@massimomasini5016 · 12 likesI thought this was a remake for a second and almost had a heart attack...... But sweet.
@kayleighbrown459 · 3 likesThis is how you make trailer. Directors take the note
@saifalam2030 · 1 likesGreat trailer....one of the icons in cinema history and a proud moment for Hollywood, the late director Demme and British actors
@RC19786 · 1 likesYES. FINALLY THEY RESTORED IT
@asylumnitejohn9300 · 0 likesWas the handcuff scene filmed in reverse? Brilliant scene
@tyronebunne2220 · 0 likes
