Since his first appearance in the 1981 Thomas Harris novel, Red Dragon, Hannibal ‘the cannibal’ Lecter has been an enduring icon of horror. On the page he has terrified readers across a series of novels and on screen he has done the same over a collection of films.
Some of these films are well-known, while others are less high-profile. But how many Hannibal Lecter movies are there altogether, and what is the best order to watch them?
For all the details about the devilishly delectable Lecter collection, keep reading. It’s time to grab a fork and tuck in!
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The Hannibal Lector movies
Manhunter (1986)
OK, let’s kick things off with the first entry in the Hannibal Lecter movie series, which features Hannibal ‘Lecktor’. And no, that’s not a typo; when Hannibal Lecter made his first on-screen appearance he was called Hannibal Lecktor.
You may or may not recall, but the cannibalistic killer first cropped up in the 1986 thriller, Manhunter. The movie – an adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel, Red Dragon – was an atmospheric thriller, which featured Scottish actor Brian Cox in the role of Lecktor.
Unlike a later adaptation of Red Dragon (see below), Hannibal’s involvement in this movie was quite brief. Hannibal was not the focus of this particular project, instead he was merely a background player in a much larger narrative.
In this film, FBI Agent Will Graham is on the trail of serial killer Francis Dolarhyde, aka the Tooth Fairy. During the course of the movie, Graham calls in some assistance from imprisoned cannibal, Hannibal Lecktor, who becomes more of a hinderance than a help.
Upon release Manhunter was neither a critical or a commercial hit, and as such, it remains the only film to feature Cox in the role of Hannibal. However, over the years the movie has picked up a cult following and today it is appreciated as being a solid entry in the series. (120 mins)
In his review of Manhunter, It’s A Stampede! movie critic, Alex Wiggan, said: “With Manhunter, director Michael Mann delivers a stand-alone tale which is a twisted, psychological thriller. It is a movie with the ability to get under the skin, bolstered by an excellent sense of style.”
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Now onto more familiar ground.
For most people, if you say the name Hannibal Lecter, they will instantly connect the character with actor Anthony Hopkins, who took on the role for the 1991 thriller, The Silence of the Lambs. Hopkins’ portrayal of Lecter is how many audiences first became aware of the character, and The Silence of the Lambs is arguably the most famous entry in the movie series.
Based on the book of the same name by Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs follows the story of FBI trainee, Clarice Starling, who is put on a case to track down serial killer, ‘Buffalo’ Bill. In the movie, Bill has kidnapped Catherine Martin, the daughter of a US senator, and there is a big push to find him as soon as possible before he skins his victim.
In an attempt to catch Bill, Clarice she seeks the advice of brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. However, Lecter is a cannibal killer, who is currently locked up in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. (118 mins)
Hannibal (2001)
Upon release, The Silence of the Lambs was both a critical and commercial hit. Critics loved it, as did audiences, and the movie went on to pick up five Oscars at the Academy Awards, including the much coveted Best Picture Award – a rare win for a horror/thriller.
Due to the popularity of The Silence of the Lambs, a sequel was put into production, with Hopkins back on board. The film – simply titled Hannibal – was based on the book of the same name, and picked up the story with Hannibal on the run, having escaped from the Baltimore State Hospital.
In the film, disgraced FBI special agent Clarice Starling attempts to apprehend Lecter, but he’s proving elusive. Meanwhile, one of Lecter’s surviving victims, the disfigured Mason Verger, is also on Lecter’s trail. (132 mins)
Red Dragon (2002)
Although Hannibal was not warmly received by critics, the movie was a big hit at the box-office. As such, another entry was put into production, only this time it was designed as a prequel to The Silence of the Lambs, rather than a sequel to Hannibal.
Adapting Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon (previously adapted into Manhunter), the movie saw Anthony Hopkins reprise the role of Hannibal Lecter for a third time. The film followed more-or-less the same storyline as Manhunter, only with a new cast and a few narrative differences here and there. (124 mins)
Hannibal Rising (2007)
Following the completion of Red Dragon, Anthony Hopkins departed the role of Hannibal Lecter, paving the way for a new actor to take on the part. That new actor was Gaspard Ulliel, who played Lecter for Hannibal Rising – a horror-drama which focused on the back story of the character.
Hannibal Rising was based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, but it was not a critical or commercial success. It is the only Lecter movie to star Ulliel. (121 mins)
The order of the Hannibal Lecter movies
To date there are five Hannibal Lecter movies. If you wish to watch all of the Hannibal Lecter movies in production order, follow this list:
- Manhunter (1986)
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Hannibal (2001)
- Red Dragon (2002)
- Hannibal Rising (2007)
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Are the Hannibal Lecter movies part of the same series?
The Hannibal Lecter movies are essentially divided into three separate categories: The Brian Cox movie, the Anthony Hopkins movies, and the Gaspard Ulliel movie.
The films are as follows:
Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecktor
- Manhunter (1986)
Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter
- Red Dragon (2002)*
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Hannibal (2001)
*Please note: While The Silence of the Lambs was the first movie to be produced with Hopkins in the role of Hannibal Lecter, chronologically Red Dragon is the first entry in the timeline.
Gaspard Ulliel as Hannibal Lecter
- Hannibal Rising (2007)
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Who are the cast of the Hannibal movies and are the movies the work of the same director?
Anthony Hopkins is the most notable actor involved in the Hannibal Lecter movie series, having played the role of Lecter in three films. This included appearing in The Silence of the Lambs, which led to Hopkins picking up an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Jodie Foster is the second most notable actor in the series, despite only appearing in one movie. As with Hopkins, Foster won an Academy Award for her involvement in The Silence of the Lambs, taking Best Actress for her turn as Clarice Starling.
Outside of Hopkins and Foster, other notable actors in the Hannibal Lecter movie series include Brian Cox, William Petersen, Tom Noonan, Dennis Farina, Joan Allen, Stephen Lang, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Frankie Faison, Tracey Walter, Charles Napier, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, Ray Liotta, Giancarlo Giannini, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Duke, Azura Skye, Ellen Burstyn, Gaspard Ulliel, Dominic West, and Rhys Ifans.
In terms of the directors, the Hannibal Lecter movies are the work of the following:
- Michael Mann directed Manhunter
- Jonathan Demme directed The Silence of the Lambs
- Ridley Scott directed Hannibal
- Brett Ratner directed Red Dragon
- Peter Webber directed Hannibal Rising
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Which is the best Hannibal Lecter movie?
According to IMDb, the Hannibal Lecter movies are rated as follows:
- Manhunter (1986) – 7.2/10
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – 8.6/10
- Hannibal (2001) – 6.8/10
- Red Dragon (2002) – 7.2/10
- Hannibal Rising (2007) – 6.1/10
The ratings for the Hannibal Lecter movies on It’s A Stampede! are as follows:
- Manhunter (1986) – 4/5
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – 5/5
- Hannibal (2001) – 3/5
- Red Dragon (2002) – 3.5/5
- Hannibal Rising (2007) – 2/5
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Whether you’re new to the Hannibal Lecter movies or you’re a long-time fan, you may wish to know that the Anthony Hopkins Lecter trilogy is currently available on home video, via a Blu-ray boxset. The boxset includes The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Red Dragon, all presented in HD.
The Hannibal Lecter trilogy Blu-ray set is available to buy from all good entertainment retailers, including Amazon US and Amazon UK.
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Disclaimer: I earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
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