The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
0.2268Canon Score · ranked #83 all time
Aggregated from 13 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
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.
Why it ranks #83
Every list on which The Silence of the Lambs appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| THR Hollywood's 100 Favorite (2014) | Critics' canon | #22 / 100 |
| Variety 100 Greatest (2022) | Critics' canon | #35 / 100 |
| DGA 80 Greatest Directorial (2016) | Critics' canon | #53 / 78 |
| WGA 101 Greatest Screenplays (2006) | Critics' canon | #61 / 101 |
| Entertainment Weekly 100 (2013) | Editorial list | #61 / 87 |
| Empire 100 Best (2025) | Editorial list | #75 / 100 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #124 / 500 |
| Empire 500 Greatest (2008) | Editorial list | #124 / 500 |
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #748 / 1041 |
| Ebert Great Movies (I–IV) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| NYT Best 1000 Movies (2004) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| Academy Award Best Picture winners | Award | Winner |