When it comes to Hannibal Lecter, two stories are typically brought up - Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs. These are the two original Hannibal Lecter stories, written by Thomas Harris. And while Hannibal has its fans (the movie, not the show), it is often considered wildly inferior to its predecessors. The less said about Hannibal Rising, the better.
Both Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs received terrific movie adaptations, and while Silence is obviously the more respected and famous movie, Red Dragon has more than enough qualities to make it a worthwhile investment.
Silence: The Dialogue
Part of what makes Silence of the Lambs so endlessly compelling is the dialogue. Much of it was lifted verbatim from the novel, but screenwriter Ted Tally tidied it up and gave it a more streamlined, screen-friendly approach.
The scenes everyone remembers are the ones consisting of Hannibal and Clarice. And in these scenes, it's nothing but two characters speaking to each other through a cell wall. This would come across as incredibly dry in the wrong hands, but the dialogue proves so captivating and interesting that eyes are glued to the screen.
Dragon: A More "Modern" & Welcoming Cast
When it comes to Silence of the Lambs, most people remember Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. Maybe Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill. But for the most part, the cast is relatively restrained and unimportant. Compare that to Red Dragon, which contains a far more "cinematic" cast.
Newcomers to the franchise include Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Those who prefer more star-studded casts can't go wrong with the one found in Red Dragon.
Silence: Clarice Starling
As great as Will Graham is as protagonist, Clarice Starling remains one step above. Clarice is an interesting character for three main reasons - Jodie Foster's acting, her chemistry with Hannibal Lecter, and her role within the story's themes.
Red Dragon is primarily an intense work of mystery/horror fiction. And while Silence of the Lambs is that as well, it is also a feminist story about Clarice's life, career, and her place within a male-dominated sphere. She is one of the great feminist characters, and she will forever remain more impactful than Will Graham.
Dragon: A More Vicious Hannibal
Silence of the Lambs is horrifying, but it (arguably) made a mistake in Hannibal Lecter. In both The Silence of the Lambs book and other Hannibal-related stories, Hannibal is portrayed as a stone cold psychopath. And while he certainly has his violent tendencies in Silence, Anthony Hopkins may prove a little too charming and charismatic for the character's own good.
He imbues Hannibal with a sense of friendliness and likeability that maybe shouldn't be there. Red Dragon more accurately portrays the tone of Hannibal's literary character, and it makes for a far more terrifying villain.
Silence: Buffalo Bill
It's telling that people remember Ted Levine for his portrayal of Buffalo Bill, considering he was greatly upstaged by both Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.
When it came for the Academy Awards, the Academy recognized both Hopkins and Foster and ignored Levine's contributions to the movie. It's a shame, because he makes for a fantastic villain. As great as The Tooth Fairy/Francis Dolarhyde is, Buffalo Bill makes for the more memorable and terrifying villain. His "lotion" quote alone has become an iconic piece of movie history.
Dragon: The Atmosphere
Red Dragon is an arguably scarier story than The Silence of the Lambs. Unlike Silence, there is very little warmth or "feel good" moments to be found within Red Dragon. It's cold, it's violent, it's depraved, and it is unrelentingly suspenseful.
While The Silence of the Lambs is considered a masterpiece, debate still rages when considering its classification. Can it be considered a horror movie? This debate isn't present with Red Dragon. It is undoubtedly a horror movie, and its atmosphere is far more threatening than the one found in Silence.
Silence: Prime Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins is one of the greatest actors of all time, and his talent is on full display throughout The Silence of the Lambs. While he's certainly good in Red Dragon as well, that performance seemed to be missing a key ingredient. He won the Academy Award for The Silence of the Lambs; he wasn't even nominated for Red Dragon.
In fact, some critics criticized his performance for being overblown and campy.
Dragon: Ralph Fiennes
Buffalo Bill may make for the more intriguing villain, but Ralph Fiennes proves a more compelling actor than Ted Levine. Fiennes is one of the greatest and most popular actors in recent memory, and he gives one of his all-time greatest performances as Francis Dolarhyde.
Nothing against Levine, as his performance as Buffalo Bill is extraordinary. It's simply difficult to compete with the commanding presence of Ralph Fiennes. In fact, Fiennes may prove the greatest part of Red Dragon, even upstaging the likes of Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton.
Silence: Hannibal's Escape
As action packed as Red Dragon is, it doesn't have Hannibal's iconic escape sequence. When it comes to The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal's character, many people recall and remember the absolutely terrifying sequence in which Hannibal makes his prison escape.
He kills two guards, disembowels and strings one up on his cell, and then wears the others' face to conceal his own and make his escape in an ambulance. Even to this day, that sequence remains unimaginably terrifying and grotesque. That's the true Hannibal Lecter.
Dragon: The Action & Mystery
The Silence of the Lambs does mystery well, but it's more of a character drama than anything else. On the other hand, Red Dragon is more of a "detective" piece, and it arguably makes the story itself more interesting. The focus isn't on Hannibal Lecter or Clarice's development into a full-fledged and respected FBI agent.
Instead, the movie primarily focuses on the action, the chase, and the mystery. Depending on the audience's expectations, some may find Red Dragon to be more "interesting," story wise, than The Silence of the Lambs.