The Silence of the Lambs is one of the most iconic psychological horror films, bringing the fatally charming and charismatic psychiatrist-turned-cannibalistic serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter into the spotlight. Anthony Hopkins' raw portrayal of Lecter mesmerized audiences with his chilling intellect, grisly acts of violence, and cleverly woven dialogue that hinted at the depth of his calculating brilliance. Hopkins' performance breathed life into one of the most memorable and terrifying villains in cinematic history, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
The film offered an unprecedented look into the inner workings of a serial killer's mind and curiosities about his life, leaving audiences fascinated. To everyone’s delight, the franchise went on to have several films and TV series that explore his past, the psychological depths of his dark mind, and even the lives of the FBI agents that he manipulated along the way. But with so many adaptations and back-and-forth timelines, the Hannibal universe can be tricky to navigate.
Whether you prefer watching in release order or following the character’s life chronologically, JustWatch’s streaming guide below will make it easier to figure out how and where to watch every chapter of this dark, psychological saga online.
How to watch all the Hannibal movies and TV series in chronological order
For fans who prefer a more linear storytelling experience, here’s a breakdown of all the Hannibal movies and TV series in a chronological following Hannibal’s story from his early days to the events that lead to his eventual capture, and subsequent events:
Hannibal Rising
The most recent addition to the Hannibal film series, Hannibal Rising, explores Lecter’s traumatic past during World War II, and gives a deeper understanding of all the events that led to him becoming a cannibalistic serial killer.
Hannibal (TV series)
While the TV series blends elements from various parts of Hannibal’s life, it primarily takes place between Red Dragon and Hannibal Rising. The show deep dives into Hannibal’s life before his capture, and explores the complex relationship between Hannibal and Will Graham.
Red Dragon or Manhunter
Both the films are adaptations of the same book and explore what happens before The Silence of the Lambs. You can choose either of the two here: Manhunter is the first official film in the franchise, with Brian Cox playing the role of Hannibal Lecter. However, if you’d like to maintain consistency with Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of the character, then Red Dragon would be the better choice.
The Silence of the Lambs
The most popular film in the franchise, The Silence of the Lambs, serves as the next major chapter, with Lecter now in custody and providing insight to FBI agent Clarice Starling. Their conversations set the tone for Hannibal’s mesmerizing yet terrifying presence, and their chilling interactions still remain as some of the most intense scenes in cinematic history.
Clarice
Set only a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs, this spin-off tv-series focuses on the life of FBI agent Clarice Starling, as she deals with the aftermath from her interactions with Dr. Hannibal Lecter. While this series doesn’t directly feature Hannibal, it does provide an interesting perspective from Clarice’s point of view, and shows how far she’s come as a detective as she continues to take on more challenging cases.
Hannibal
Taking place years after Hannibal’s interactions with Clarice, the movie follows Lecter after his escape and shows the repercussions of his freedom as he finds new victims to wreak havoc on.
How to watch all the Hannibal movies and TV series in release order
If you're new to the Hannibal franchise, we recommend following the original order of release to experience the story in the way it was originally intended. Scroll down below to see all the Hannibal films and TV series in order of release, and click on the individual titles to know more about where to buy, stream, or rent them online in India.
