The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Kernel Score: 89% · 17,652 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Released: 1991-02-14
Runtime: 119 minutes
Is The Silence of the Lambs worth watching?
Must-watch. A young FBI trainee has to get help from an imprisoned killer to catch another, and the two lead performances are chilling and precise. It is dark and violent but tightly made, and still a model for the genre.
Watch it if you
- like psychological crime thrillers
- enjoy cat-and-mouse dialogue scenes
- want strong acting from Hopkins and Foster
Skip it if you
- can't handle disturbing violence
- dislike serial-killer stories
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Silence of the Lambs
- Stream: Prime Video, Peacock, MGM+
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Prime Video (free with ads), Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.
The Silence of the Lambs parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Silence of the Lambs is an intense R-rated thriller featuring a serial killer, cannibalism, and disturbing psychological content.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Graphic content involving a serial killer, cannibalism, kidnapping, and murder throughout.
- Language: Some — Contains strong language consistent with its R rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Silence of the Lambs
If you liked The Silence of the Lambs, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Usual Suspects (1995) — 91%: Twisty crime thriller with a memorable villain
- The Departed (2006) — 96%: Tense cat-and-mouse crime drama
- Red Dragon (2002) — 80%: Prequel story featuring the same killer
- Manhunter (1986) — 78%: The earlier film about the same killer
- Misery (1990) — 86%: Tense two-person thriller of captivity
- M (1931) — 90%: Early classic of the serial-killer thriller
Director
Cast
- 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
- Frankie Faison as Barney
- Tracey Walter as Lamar
The Silence of the Lambs FAQ
Is The Silence of the Lambs worth watching?
Must-watch. A young FBI trainee has to get help from an imprisoned killer to catch another, and the two lead performances are chilling and precise. It is dark and violent but tightly made, and still a model for the genre.
Where can I watch The Silence of the Lambs?
In the US you can stream The Silence of the Lambs on Prime Video, Peacock and MGM+, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Prime Video (free with ads) and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Silence of the Lambs OK for kids?
The Silence of the Lambs is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Silence of the Lambs is an intense R-rated thriller featuring a serial killer, cannibalism, and disturbing psychological content.
What movies are like The Silence of the Lambs?
If you liked The Silence of the Lambs, try The Usual Suspects, The Departed, Red Dragon and Manhunter.