With a psychopath named Buffalo Bill murdering women and believing it takes one to know one, the FBI sends Agent Clarice Starling to enlist the help of the infamous Dr. Hannibal “the Cannibal” Lecter to gain insight into the mind of another killer.

As Clarice Starling, Jodie Foster subverts classic gender dynamics and gives one of the most memorable performances of her career. As her foil, Anthony Hopkins is the archetypal antihero—cultured, quick-witted, and savagely murderous—delivering a harrowing portrait of humanity gone terribly wrong.

A gripping police procedural and a disquieting immersion into a twisted psyche, The Silence of the Lambs swept the Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actress, Actor) and remains a cultural touchstone.