The Silence of the Lambs (film)
Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:23:56 PM Wikipedia source
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American psychological horror thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme and written by Ted Tally, adapted from Thomas Harris's 1988 novel. It stars Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee who is hunting a serial killer known as "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine), who skins his female victims. To catch him, she seeks the advice of the imprisoned Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial murderer. The film also features performances by Scott Glenn, Anthony Heald, and Kasi Lemmons. Released on February 14, 1991, the film was a sleeper hit, grossing $272.7 million worldwide on a $19 million budget and becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of the year. It premiered at the 41st Berlin International Film Festival, where Demme won the Silver Bear for Best Director. At the 64th Academy Awards, it became the third—and most recent—film to win the "Big Five" categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It remains the only horror film to have won Best Picture. The Silence of the Lambs is regularly cited by critics, film directors, and audiences as one of the greatest and most influential films. In 2018, Empire ranked it 48th on its list of the 500 greatest movies of all time. The American Film Institute ranked it the sixty-fifth greatest film in American cinema and the fifth-greatest thriller, while Starling and Lecter were included among the greatest film heroines and villains. The film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically" significant by the U.S. Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2011. The film has drawn criticism for its portrayal of gender identity, particularly regarding the character of Buffalo Bill, which some critics argue perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Director Jonathan Demme and others have defended the film's intentions, noting that the character is not explicitly transgender. The film launched a franchise that includes the sequel Hannibal (2001), the prequels Red Dragon (2002) and Hannibal Rising (2007), and two television adaptations.
Infobox
Directed by
Jonathan Demme
Screenplay by
Ted Tally
Based on
The Silence of the Lambsby Thomas Harris
Produced by
mw- Kenneth Utt Edward Saxon Ron Bozman
Starring
Jodie Foster Anthony Hopkins Scott Glenn Ted Levine
Cinematography
Tak Fujimoto
Edited by
Craig McKay
Music by
Howard Shore
Productioncompany
Strong Heart Productions
Distributed by
Orion Pictures
Release dates
January 30, 1991 (1991-01-30) (New York City) February 14, 1991 (1991-02-14) (United States)
Running time
118 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$19 million
Box office
$272.7 million
Tables
Professional ratings · Production › Music
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Filmtracks
Filmtracks
Review scores
Filmtracks
Review scores
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Filmtracks | |
· Release and reception › Accolades
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt, and Ron Bozman
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Year
Best Director
Award
Jonathan Demme
Category
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Year
Best Actor
Award
Anthony Hopkins
Category
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Year
Best Actress
Award
Jodie Foster
Category
Won
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Year
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award
Ted Tally
Category
Won
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Year
Best Film Editing
Award
Craig McKay
Category
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Year
Best Sound
Award
Tom Fleischman and Christopher Newman
Category
Nominated
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
American Cinema Editors
Category
Best Edited Feature Film
Nominee(s)
Craig McKay
Result
Nominated
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Ron Bozman, Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt
Result
Nominated
Best Direction
Best Direction
Year
Best Direction
Award
Jonathan Demme
Category
Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Year
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Award
Anthony Hopkins
Category
Won
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Year
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Award
Jodie Foster
Category
Won
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Year
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award
Ted Tally
Category
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Year
Best Cinematography
Award
Tak Fujimoto
Category
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Year
Best Editing
Award
Craig McKay
Category
Nominated
Best Film Music
Best Film Music
Year
Best Film Music
Award
Howard Shore
Category
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Year
Best Sound
Award
Skip Lievsay, Christopher Newman, Tom Fleischman
Category
Nominated
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
Jonathan Deeme
Result
Won
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Nominee(s)
Kenneth Utt
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Year
Best Director
Award
Jonathan Demme
Category
Nominated
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Year
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Award
Anthony Hopkins
Category
Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Year
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Jodie Foster
Category
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Year
Best Screenplay
Award
Ted Tally
Category
Nominated
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Category
Best Music Score
Nominee(s)
Howard Shore
Result
Runner-up
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
National Board of Review
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Year
Best Director
Award
Jonathan Demme
Category
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Year
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Anthony Hopkins
Category
Won
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
National Society of Film Critics
Category
Best Director
Nominee(s)
Jonathan Demme
Result
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Year
Best Actress
Award
Jodie Foster
Category
Nominated
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
New York Film Critics Circle
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Year
Best Director
Award
Jonathan Demme
Category
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Year
Best Actor
Award
Anthony Hopkins
Category
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Year
Best Actress
Award
Jodie Foster
Category
Won
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
Producers Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt, and Ronald M. Bozman
Result
Won
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
Saturn Awards
Category
Best Horror Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Year
Best Director
Award
Jonathan Demme
Category
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Year
Best Actor
Award
Anthony Hopkins
Category
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Year
Best Actress
Award
Jodie Foster
Category
Nominated
Best Writing
Best Writing
Year
Best Writing
Award
Ted Tally
Category
Won
Best Music
Best Music
Year
Best Music
Award
Howard Shore
Category
Nominated
Best Costumes
Best Costumes
Year
Best Costumes
Award
Colleen Atwood
Category
Nominated
Best Make-up
Best Make-up
Year
Best Make-up
Award
Carl Fullerton and Neal Martz
Category
Won
1991
1991
Year
1991
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards
Category
Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Nominee(s)
Ted Tally
Result
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 1991 | Academy Awards | Best Picture | Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt, and Ron Bozman | Won | |
| Best Director | Jonathan Demme | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Anthony Hopkins | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Jodie Foster | Won | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Ted Tally | Won | |||
| Best Film Editing | Craig McKay | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound | Tom Fleischman and Christopher Newman | Nominated | |||
| 1991 | American Cinema Editors | Best Edited Feature Film | Craig McKay | Nominated | |
| 1991 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Ron Bozman, Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt | Nominated | |
| Best Direction | Jonathan Demme | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Anthony Hopkins | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Jodie Foster | Won | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Ted Tally | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Tak Fujimoto | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Craig McKay | Nominated | |||
| Best Film Music | Howard Shore | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound | Skip Lievsay, Christopher Newman, Tom Fleischman | Nominated | |||
| 1991 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Jonathan Deeme | Won | |
| 1991 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Kenneth Utt | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Jonathan Demme | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Anthony Hopkins | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Jodie Foster | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay | Ted Tally | Nominated | |||
| 1991 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Music Score | Howard Shore | Runner-up | |
| 1991 | National Board of Review | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Jonathan Demme | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Anthony Hopkins | Won | |||
| 1991 | National Society of Film Critics | Best Director | Jonathan Demme | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Jodie Foster | Nominated | |||
| 1991 | New York Film Critics Circle | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Jonathan Demme | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Anthony Hopkins | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Jodie Foster | Won | |||
| 1991 | Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt, and Ronald M. Bozman | Won | |
| 1991 | Saturn Awards | Best Horror Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Jonathan Demme | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Anthony Hopkins | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Jodie Foster | Nominated | |||
| Best Writing | Ted Tally | Won | |||
| Best Music | Howard Shore | Nominated | |||
| Best Costumes | Colleen Atwood | Nominated | |||
| Best Make-up | Carl Fullerton and Neal Martz | Won | |||
| 1991 | Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium | Ted Tally | Won | |
References
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