The Silence of the Lambs

Release date: February 14, 1991

The Pitch:

To catch a serial killer, FBI agent Clarice Starling must work with the notorious Dr. Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter.

Why You Need It:

Director Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs single-handedly launched the serial killer craze in Hollywood, ably assisted by Anthony Hopkins' star turn as Hannibal Lecter. Seething with menace, Lecter is scary not because of anything he does but rather for his air of sheer psychosis. And when he does break out and start killing, it's almost like a release from all the tension. Oh, and there's also the other killer, Jame Gumb, who's a creepy little troll in his own right. Expertly written, directed and acted, Lambs is one of the few horror films in history to win the Oscar for Best Picture (and several other Oscars, at that).

Talent:

Jonathan Demme (director), Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Frankie Faison, Kasi Lemmons, Brooke Smith.