Where to Watch The Silence of the Lambs (1991) in the US

What it's about

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.

Cast and crew

Director

Jonathan Demme

Writer

Thomas Harris, Ted Tally

Starring

Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn

Details

Release date

Feb 14, 1991

Language

English, Latin

Country

United States

Box office

$130,742,922

Awards

Won 5 Oscars. 71 wins & 50 nominations total

Where to Watch The Silence of the Lambs (1991) in the US — common questions

Where to watch The Silence of the Lambs in the United States?

The Silence of the Lambs is available with a subscription, free with ads, free with a participating library card, or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on MGM+ (HD), Peacock (HD), and Prime Video (HD). Watch the movie free with ads on Prime Video (HD) and Tubi TV. Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Fawesome (HD), hoopla, and Kanopy (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I stream The Silence of the Lambs or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Watch the movie with a subscription on MGM+ (HD), Peacock (HD), and Prime Video (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I watch The Silence of the Lambs for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with ads on Prime Video (HD) and Tubi TV. Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Fawesome (HD), hoopla, and Kanopy (HD).