For decades, Hannibal Lecter has terrorized film fans and become synonymous with actor Anthony Hopkins, who has portrayed the cannibalistic psychiatrist since 1991. The Hannibal Lecter Quadrilogy of films began with The Silence of the Lambs, based on Thomas Harris's novel of the same name, and the success of this first installment spawned three more films.
While the series does not necessarily contain a connected plotline, Lecter himself is the string that ties everything together, providing a unique foil for his protagonist counterparts. Meaning while not necessary to watch in a specific order, there is a certain rhyme and reason to the Hannibal films, despite being released out of chronological order. At the end of the day, each title in the Hannibal Quadrilogy stands just fine on its own, but a gruesome yet satisfying finish occurs when the films are viewed in the following order.
Hannibal Rising Focused on a Young Lecter
The most recent installment in the Hannibal Quadrilogy is also the only entry on this list that does not feature Hopkins in the titular role. Serving as a prequel, Hannibal Rising dives into Lecter's backstory, from growing up in a castle in Lithuania before suddenly finding himself an orphan alongside his sister to becoming the youngest person in France admitted to medical school in the 1950s. The late Gaspard Ulliel (Moon Knight) played the role of a young adult Hannibal in this installment, expertly balancing Lecter's traumatic upbringing and using it as a reason for the character's murderous tendencies. The 2007 thriller was by no means the most successful installment of the quadrilogy, receiving mostly negative reviews from critics and fans alike, and making just around $80 million at the box office.
Red Dragon Featured a Devilish Ralph Fiennes
2002's Red Dragon contains arguably the most star-studded cast of the Hannibal Quadrilogy, featuring Ed Norton, Ralph Fiennes and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The film begins with FBI agent Will Graham seeking advice from Lecter on a high-profile case, only to realize that the cannibalistic killer he's been searching for is right under his nose. A brief altercation ensues, ending with Lecter imprisoned in a facility for the criminally insane and Graham retiring to Florida. Years later, a new serial killer dubbed the Tooth Fairy is terrorizing families, forcing Graham out of retirement -- and back to Lecter for help. Red Dragon features a chilling, stellar performance from Fiennes as the Tooth Fairy, a seemingly unassuming man who works for a home video company -- and has an alternate, murderous personality. Grossing almost $210 million at the box office worldwide, Red Dragon is a solid thriller on its own or as part of this quadrilogy.
The Silence of the Lambs Made Fava Beans Famous
The most famous film in the Hannibal Quadrilogy, this was Hopkins' first outing as Lecter, playing the brilliant, imprisoned foil to fledgling FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), securing Hannibal Lecter as a terrifying horror villain and producing some of the most iconic lines of dialogue in film history. Though this was the first film released theatrically of the quadrilogy, it's more satisfying watching The Silence of the Lambs after viewing Red Dragon and Hannibal Rising to get a better sense of why Hannibal is contained in a cell.
Hannibal preys on Starling's naivety, toying with her akin to a cat with a mouse, leading her on a wild goose chase as she tries to solve her first and most prolific case in the bureau. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) is considered one of the most influential films of all time by the United States Congress. It grossed over $270 million worldwide and was the first horror film to receive Best Picture at the Academy Awards. And with Oscar wins for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress, The Silence of the Lambs is one of only three films in history to sweep the "Big Five" categories.
Hannibal Reunites Dr. Lecter and Agent Clarice Starling
To round out the Hannibal Quadrilogy, viewers should end with 2001's Hannibal. Directed by Ridley Scott and serving as an immediate sequel to The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal picks up where the previous film left off: with Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) hot on Hannibal Lecter's trail. Once again, Lecter is calling the shots, a theme that follows him throughout the four Hannibal Lecter films. The most violent of the quadrilogy, Hannibal saw major success at the box office, earning over $350 million worldwide, but received mixed critiques, with many claiming that it did not hold up to its predecessor in favor of an overuse of gore. Hopkins is excellent as Lecter once again, playing the slippery psychopath with nuance and ease, making audiences love to hate him: the ultimate horror villain.
There is another film based on Thomas Harris's Red Dragon, Manhunter, which was released in 1986. While technically an installment featuring the character of Hannibal Lecter, Anthony Hopkins does not portray the nefarious killer, leaving many fans to exclude Manhunter from their Hannibal Lecter viewings. While Hopkins is not in the role of Lecter in 2007's Hannibal Rising, either, the fact that this film serves as a prequel with a younger version of Hannibal makes it a bit more palatable for viewers.