Filmium Back to search
Movie Backdrop

The Silence of the Lambs streaming

1991 Movie United States Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime 119 min Ages 16+
By: Jonathan Demme With: Anthony Hopkins, Diane Baker, Jodie Foster, Brooke Smith, Scott Glenn

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.

Filmium rating
90%

Festival Achievements

Festival de Cannes 2018
Selections:
Cinéma de la Plage
Berlin International Film Festival 1991
Awards:
International Jury 1991
Nominations:
Competition 1991

Mood

Dark
Psychological
Suspenseful
Thrilling

Cast & Crew

Jonathan Demme
Thomas Harris
Ted Tally
Anthony Hopkins
Jodie Foster
Scott Glenn
Brooke Smith
Ted Levine
Diane Baker
Anthony Heald

Adaptation

Based On Novel

Budget

Financially Successful
High-Quality Production
Mid-Budget

Cinematic Technique

Character Psychology
Claustrophobic Framing
Close-Up Shots
Close-Ups
Dark Lighting
Tension-Building

Narrative Structure

Character-Driven
Intertwined Narratives
Linear
Nonlinear Elements
Psychological Thriller

Pace

Deliberate
Methodical
Slow-Paced
Tension-Building

Runtime

Long Runtime

Soundtrack

Ambient Music
Atmospheric
Cult Songs
Haunting Score
Integrated Music
Score By Howard Shore

Style

Cinematic
Psychological Horror
Psychological Thriller
Stylized
Thriller

Time-Period

Early 1990S

Central Conflict

Catching Buffalo Bill
Moral Dilemmas
Personal Trauma
Psychological Manipulation
Pursuit Of A Killer

Characters

Cannibalistic Serial Killer
Fbi Trainee
Psychologist
Psychopath
Serial Killer

Ending

Ambiguous
Chilling
Heroine'S Success
Lecter'S Escape
Open-Ended
Villain Killed

Historical Context

Early 1990S

Key Plot Points

Climactic Confrontation
Identity Revelation
Interview With Lecter
Interviews With Lecter
Moth Clue
Rescue Of Catherine

Plot

Fbi Investigation
Psychological Profiling
Psychological Thriller
Serial Killer

Setting

Baltimore
Baltimore State Hospital
Buffalo Bill'S Home
Fbi Academy
Memphis
Ohio

Shooting Location

Pittsburgh
Washington D.C.
West Virginia

Theme

Good Vs Evil
Human Psychology
Identity
Morality
Nature Of Evil
Self-Identity

Genre

Crime
Crime Drama
Psychological Horror
Thriller

Audiences

Adults
Crime Genre Enthusiasts
Horror Enthusiasts
Psychological Thriller Fans
Thriller Fans

Titles

Das Schweigen der Lämmer
De schreeuw van het lam
El silencio de los corderos
El Silencio de los Inocentes
Hitsujitachi no Chinmoku
Kravta dumili
Le Silence des agneaux
Milczenie Owiec
O Silêncio dos Inocentes
The Silence of the Lambs
양들의 침묵
한니발 1

Awards

Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Director
Best Picture

Box Office Success

$273 Million Worldwide

Critical Reception

95% Rotten Tomatoes
Cult Status
Positive Reviews

Festivals

Berlin International Film Festival

Popularity

Iconic
Influential

Ratings

A− Cinemascore

Reception

Award-Winning
Box Office Success
Critical Acclaim
Cult Classic
Oscar-Winning

Production Countries

United States

Release Year

1991
mowizz ID: 3cdc7b7b-5130-4f04-b5af-d3340817a99b
Imprint
Privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
About us
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Supported by:
KtBE
BAK
EGS
Suissimage
Swissperform
© 2026 Filmium GmbH - all external content remains the property of the rightful owner
Version: v1.2.61 (frontend) | (backend)