Published: November 9, 2026 · Last updated: November 9, 2026 · 3 min read
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 crime, thriller, and drama film directed by Jonathan Demme. This guide provides information regarding the cast, plot, and runtime of the production.
Spoiler-free: this page uses only the official synopsis and public data.
The Silence of the Lambs Ratings Snapshot
| Source | Score | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| TMDB (audience votes) | 8.3/10 | 18818 |
Different sites measure different things. IMDb and TMDB scores average votes from registered users. The Rotten Tomatoes percentage is the share of critic reviews counted as positive, not an average grade. Metacritic converts reviews into a weighted average out of 100. A title can score high on one and lower on another, so look at all of them together.
The Silence of the Lambs at a Glance
| Release date | 1991-02-14 |
|---|---|
| Genres | Crime, Thriller, Drama |
| Runtime | 1 h 59 min (119 minutes) |
| Directed by | Jonathan Demme |
| Written by | Ted Tally |
| Top cast | Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine |
| US rating | R |
| Production | Orion Pictures, Strong Heart, A Luta Continua |
| Franchise | The Hannibal Lecter Collection |
| More details | IMDb page · TMDB page |
What Is The Silence of the Lambs About? (Spoiler-Free)
FBI trainee Clarice Starling is tasked by Jack Crawford to interview incarcerated psychiatrist and murderer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Crawford hopes Starling can extract information from Lecter to assist in an ongoing investigation. The interaction forces Starling to engage with a dangerous mind to solve a case.
Cast and Characters
- Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling
- Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
- Scott Glenn as Jack Crawford
- Ted Levine as Jame Gumb
- Anthony Heald as Dr. Frederick Chilton
- Brooke Smith as Catherine Martin
- Diane Baker as Senator Ruth Martin
- Kasi Lemmons as Ardelia Mapp
Behind the Camera
| Music by | Howard Shore |
|---|---|
| Cinematography | Tak Fujimoto |
| Editing | Craig McKay |
| Producers | Edward Saxon, Ron Bozman, Kenneth Utt, Gary Goetzman |
Who Should Watch The Silence of the Lambs?
It may suit you if:
- You enjoy crime and thriller films involving FBI investigations.
- You are interested in dramas featuring a cat-and-mouse psychological dynamic.
- You want to see performances by Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.
You might skip it if:
- You prefer to avoid films in the crime and thriller genres.
- You do not wish to view content rated R.
Before You Watch
This 119-minute film carries an R rating and explores themes consistent with the crime, thriller, and drama genres.
Movies Like The Silence of the Lambs
These picks come from TMDB’s audience recommendations for The Silence of the Lambs.
| Title | TMDB score | About |
|---|---|---|
| Hannibal (2001) | 6.8/10 | After having successfully eluded the authorities for years, Hannibal peacefully lives in Italy in disguise as an art scholar. |
| Kiss the Girls (1997) | 6.5/10 | Forensic psychologist and detective Alex Cross travels to North Carolina and teams with escaped kidnap victim Kate McTiernan to hunt down "Casanova,"… |
| Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) | 7.0/10 | A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy, from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, who refused to believe the truth about… |
| The Iceman (2012) | 6.6/10 | The true story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. |
| The Informer (2019) | 6.5/10 | In New York, former convict Pete Koslow, related to the Polish mafia, must deal with both Klimek the General, his ruthless boss, and the twisted… |
| Misery (1990) | 7.8/10 | After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is The Silence of the Lambs (1991)?
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) runs 1 h 59 min (119 minutes), according to TMDB.
Who directed The Silence of the Lambs?
Jonathan Demme.
Who stars in The Silence of the Lambs?
Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald.
When was The Silence of the Lambs released?
The first release date listed on TMDB is 1991-02-14.
What is the US rating of The Silence of the Lambs?
TMDB lists a US rating of R. Check the official rating body for the reasons behind it.
Data checked on November 9, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.
Related: Mutiny (2026) ratings.
About this guide. Published by Morfeli on November 9, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer) and are summarized with AI assistance. This page is a data summary, not a critic’s review or a personal opinion; nobody here claims to have rated the title. Scores and details change over time. See our Editorial Policy.
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