Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Infamous thriller has mature themes, violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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The Silence of the Lambs
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 33 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a classic psychological thriller and while it contains disturbing elements and some gore, many believe it's suitable for older teens if they are mature enough. The incredible performances by Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, along with a gripping plot, make it a must-watch for adults, but it may be too intense for younger viewers.
- classic thriller
- disturbing elements
- incredible performances
- suitable for teens
- must-watch for adults
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 138 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a dark and psychological thriller featuring intense themes and graphic content, with some viewers finding it disturbing while others deem it compelling and thought-provoking. Most reviews emphasize the importance of maturity for younger audiences, suggesting that the movie is best suited for teens aged 15 and older, as it contains strong language, violence, nudity, and unsettling psychological themes that may not be appropriate for children.
- dark themes
- strong performances
- intense content
- maturity needed
- psychological horror
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young, idealistic FBI trainee, is sent to consult on a case with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant but diabolical therapist who's also an incarcerated serial killer. Clarice is trying to get information on a mystery slayer known as "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine), whose victims mysteriously turn up partially skinned. Lecter won't cooperate with other FBI agents, but he tests Clarice by feeding her clues in exchange for personal details about her past. She must piece together his infuriating puzzles before the next victim turns up dead.
Is It Any Good?
Hopkins plays Lecter with magisterial authority, resulting in a box-office smash that won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The Silence of the Lambs may be more known for its visceral suspense and grisly police antics, but its lasting strength is in its resilient, sympathetic heroine (Foster, who also won an Oscar for her role) who interacts with the serpentine Lecter and then goes out to fight another human monster. All this takes place in environments heavy with male-oriented threat and authority (you could say the horrendous Lecter treats Clarice with more courtesy and respect than the so-called "normal" men around her). It's just one of the ways that The Silence of the Lambs has a complicated sense of virtue and evil coming to bargain with each other.
The movie may be mostly remembered for the character of Lecter, whose intelligence and odd displays of kindness toward Clarice have the potential to glorify him as villain, but the narrative does possess a moral center. Too bad you have to go through some disturbing autopsy scenes to reach it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Clarice in The Silence of the Lambs. What makes her such a memorable lead, and why do you think she fascinates Lecter so much? Do you think he respects her? How does he treat her differently than other people?
Do you think the movie glorifies a villain? How would you describe Lecter? Does he have any positive qualities? What do you think makes him such an iconic character compared to other on-screen killers?
Some of the film's violence is off-screen or implied, but there are still plenty of gory moments. Do you think it's too much? How else does the director create tension and a sense of danger during the film?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 13, 1991
- On DVD or streaming : August 24, 2004
- Cast : Anthony Hopkins , Jodie Foster , Scott Glenn
- Director : Jonathan Demme
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : restricted
- Awards : Academy Award - Best Picture Winner , Academy Award - Best Picture Nominee , Academy Award - Other Category Winner , Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Winner , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : May 5, 2026
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