Hannibal Lecter is one of cinema's scariest villains, but his movies and TV shows have made his timeline confusing. Here's how to watch.
Summary
- Dr. Hannibal Lecter's story has been depicted in multiple movies and TV series since Anthony Hopkins' iconic portrayal in "The Silence of the Lambs."
- To watch the Hannibal Lecter movies in chronological order, the recommended order is: "Hannibal Rising" (2007), "Hannibal" (2013-2015), "Red Dragon" (2002), "Clarice" (2021), "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991), and "Hannibal" (2001).
- "Hannibal" (2013-2015) is a TV series that takes place between "Hannibal Rising" and "Red Dragon" and focuses on the relationship between Hannibal and FBI profiler Will Graham. Fans eagerly await news of a potential Season 4.
Dr. Hannibal Lecter, turned into one of cinema's most charismatic villains when played by Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, has been a feature of films and television series ever since Hopkins' 1991 performance. Through dialogue between characters, viewers get acquainted with his grisly acts of violence, his chilling intellect, and his criminal history. Dr. Lecter was created by author Thomas Harris, whose books about the serial killer have now all been adapted into series and movies with an increasingly confusing timeline, and to make matters worse, some actors appeared in multiple Hannibal Lecter movies playing different parts.
The combined popularity of the novels along with Hopkins' Oscar-worthy portrayal inspired further onscreen depictions of the cannibal's origins. As more movies and series followed, a breakdown was necessary to understand and separate the release date from the chronological unfolding of events in Hannibal Lecter's life. For fans interested in the series kicked off by The Silence of the Lambs, this is the way to watch the Hannibal Lecter movies in order.
How To Watch Hannibal Lecter In Chronological Order
- Hannibal Rising (2007)
- Hannibal (2013-2015)
- Red Dragon (2002)
- Clarice (2021)
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Hannibal (2001)
How To Watch Hannibal Lecter In Release Date Order
- Manhunter (1986)
The first adaptation of Harris's work (in this case Red Dragon) was Manhunter in 1986, directed by Hollywood legend Michael Mann, and starring Succession's Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecter (spelled Lecktor in the film).
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Hannibal (2001)
- Red Dragon (2002)
- Hannibal Rising (2007)
- Hannibal (2013 - 2015)
- Clarice (2021)
The Best Order To Watch All Hannibal Lecter Movies & TV Shows
- Hannibal (2013-2015)
Despite taking place in modern times, this series is set between Hannibal Rising and Red Dragon and intimately explores Hannibal Lecter's pathology. At this point, Dr. Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) is a consultant to FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) while he tracks serial killers in Minnesota, ignorant to the fact that he speaks to one every day. Beautifully shot and incredibly well acted, it's one of the best representations of (and introductions to) Harris's universe, and while it's debatable Hannibal became a Hannibal and Will love story, it's a perfect lead-up to Anthony Hopkins' performance in The Silence of the Lambs.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The most famous Hannibal Lecter movie in the series, The Silence of the Lambs grossed $272.7 million worldwide and won Oscars in all five major categories it was nominated. In the film, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) has been imprisoned for being a serial killer, and young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who is mentioned at the end of Red Dragon needs his help tracking down serial killer “Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine). Hannibal Lecter's best quotes come from The Silence of the Lambs' iconic script as Dr. Lecter takes an interest in her and the two form a fascinating partnership, becoming strained when Lecter makes his bloody escape.
- Red Dragon (2002)
Set in 1980, Red Dragon takes place whenHannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) is an established forensic psychiatrist helping FBI profiler Will Graham (Edward Norton) hunt serial killers through to Hannibal in the sanatorium under Director Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald) where Clarice Starling finds him. Graham has to ask for Lecter’s help in finding the “The Tooth Fairy" (Ralph Fiennes)who, unbeknownst to Graham, Lecter has been in contact with, pitting the two men against each other. It's a condensed version of the third season of Hannibal, and while passable, doesn't come close to The Silence of the Lambs
- Hannibal (2001)
A decade after Silence of the Lambs Hannibal Lecter is still on the run, and Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) is haunted by her inability to catch him. When she's contacted by Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), the only man to survive one of Lecter's attacks, she's unknowingly used as bait to lure Hannibal into being captured, and in the process is injured. Hannibal shows some compassion for Clarice and rescues her from being a casualty of Verger's plans before once again avoiding police custody, a significant change from Harris's book ending, which sees Clarice join Hannibal in Europe as part of a bizarrely toxic relationship.
- Hannibal Rising (2007)
Set in 1944 Lithuania, Hannibal Rising is first in the chronological Lecter timeline and series as an origin story for Lecter’s taste for human flesh. Eight-year-old Hannibal loses his family in the fallout between retreating Nazi forces and a Soviet tank in front of his house, and later as an adult Lecter (Gaspard Ulliel) hunts down the soldiers who held him and his sister captive before brutally killing her. While interesting for Hannibal fans, "seeing how the meat is made" isn't necessary to enjoy his madness, and the material is covered better in the Hannibal series.
- Clarice (2021)
Clarice is a continuation of Clarice Starling’s (Rebecca Breeds) storyline after the events of Silence of the Lambs but before the plot of Hannibal. Between the two films, Clarice had a lot of ground to cover in a single season, and is really only worth watching for fans of her character. Hannibal Lecter is only mentioned, so even completists may decide to skip it.
