Thomas Harris' cannibalistic literary character Dr. Hannibal Lecter has appeared in five films to date, and here's how they stack up, worst to best. First appearing in the 1981 novel Red Dragon, Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter would go on to become iconic on both the printed page and the big screen. He eventually also managed to conquer TV via NBC's short-lived but widely acclaimed series Hannibal, starring Mads Mikkelsen as the titular serial killer.
There are many reasons fans gravitate toward Dr. Lecter, despite the fact that at the end of the day, he's an incredibly sadistic, uncompromising madman. Lecter is endlessly sophisticated, at least in most portrayals, and also abhors rudeness or disrespectful behavior. This of course clashes with his sideline of murdering people and eating them, but in Hannibal's mind, his victims deserve what they're getting, either because they wronged him or repeatedly attempted to get in the way of his ongoing work. He's also extremely stylish when not imprisoned, and has a taste for the finer things in life.
Without any further ado, it's time to look back at Hannibal Lecter's five prior big screen adventures, and rank them from worst to best. Which films are a delicious meal and which are worthy of the garbage can? Read on.
5. Hannibal Rising (2007)
Widely despised 2007 prequel Hannibal Rising seems like the obvious choice for this bottom spot, and it's the right one. French actor and model Gaspard Ulliel isn't necessarily a bad actor, but his young Hannibal just doesn't seem like he would grow up to be the Anthony Hopkins version. The movie overall goes out of its way to make Hannibal overly sympathetic as well, presenting a look into his past that nobody was really asking for, outside of producer Dino De Laurentis, who is said to have bullied Thomas Harris into writing the equally disliked book.
4. Hannibal (2001)
While Ridley Scott's 2001 Hannibal movie manages to avoid adapting the worst parts of Harris' book, it's still overall the weakest outing for Anthony Hopkins' take on Hannibal Lecter. It's interesting to see Hannibal out and about in Italy, and later interacting with Clarice Starling (a sadly miscast Julianne Moore) on more equal terms. That said, their relationship turns what was before an implied attraction into Hannibal literally being in love with Clarice, and while she doesn't reciprocate like she does in the book, it still leads the normally calculating Hannibal to make some extremely stupid and out of character choices.
3. Red Dragon (2002)
Released just one year after Hannibal's theatrical success, Red Dragon immensely benefits from adapting a much better Thomas Harris book, even if going from Ridley Scott to Brett Ratner behind the camera is a big step down. To Ratner's credit, this is easily his best made film, and as always Hopkins entertains as Lecter. The cast surrounding him is also inspired, especially Edward Norton as Lecter's original nemesis Will Graham. One aspect that does suffer is the fact that Red Dragon takes place prior to The Silence of the Lambs, yet Hopkins' Hannibal looks much, much older, and as hard as they try to disguise the fact that it's 11 years later, it does lend an odd quality to the story.
2. Manhunter (1986)
There are likely many fans who would dispute Manhunter ranking above Red Dragon, especially since director Michael Mann's film feels so disconnected from the rest, having come out before Hopkins became cemented in the Hannibal Lecter role. What sets Manhunter apart in a good way is Mann's colorful, stylish way of filmmaking, as well as a flashy synth score, which lends the film a very different feel to any of the Lecter movies that came after, and also kind of a psychedelic vibe to the scenes involving The Tooth Fairy (Tom Noonan).
1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Whereas Hannibal Rising was the obvious pick for bottom of the Hannibal movie barrel, 1991's The Silence of the Lambs is the obvious and correct top choice. Cleaning up at the Oscars in a way horror films rarely do - and make no mistake, this is indeed a horror film - Silence of the Lambs is a true masterpiece from director Jonathan Demme, featuring amazing performances from both Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, and an unforgettable turn by Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill.