On This Day

The Silence of the Lambs released

February 14th 1991

07:39 14 February 2024

'The Silence of the Lambs' opened in theaters across the U.S. on this day in 1991. Jonathan Demme's adaptation of Thomas Harris' 1988 novel stars Jodie Foster as FBI agent Clarice Starling, seeking advice from imprisoned cannibalistic serial killer and brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in her pursuit of serial killer "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine).

The movie was a big hit with critics and audiences, going on to gross $272.7 million worldwide on a $19 million budget. It became only the third film after 'It Happened One Night' (1934) and 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (1975) to win Academy Awards in all five major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.