The lambs haven’t stopped screaming for those of us who’ve watched the 1991 thriller classic The Silence of the Lambs. Mostly because the film was so memorably disturbing, but also because Thomas Harris’ source material has had a decent amount of adaptations in the years since.
Streaming every piece of media inspired by Harris’ nasty novels is tricky, with each title appearing on a different streaming service or on demand platform. Here’s how New Zealand viewers can see each Hannibal Lecter tale of horror, whether it’s on Netflix, Prime Video, TVNZ+, or is only available to rent or buy.
Firstly, let’s not forget the tremendous Michael Mann thriller Manhunter, in which Brian Cox’s Hannibal “Lecktor” is merely a side dish to the main meal of Will Graham’s hunt for a bold new killer. Only available to rent or buy on Apple TV, it’s still not to be missed.
The most famous appearance of Harris’ cannibalistic psychopath, though, is undoubtedly Anthony Hopkins’ brief, chilling performance in The Silence of the Lambs—his icy glare at first meeting Jodie Foster’s Clarice is unforgettable.
In fact the film would make Oscars history as the first horror film to win Best Picture, and the third film to win all five major categories (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay). You can check it out on demand via Google Play or Apple TV.
Hopkins’ 2001 return to the role in Hannibal can be seen on those same platforms, as can his collaboration with Edward Norton as the empath agent Will Graham in 2002’s Red Dragon. The best part of the 2000s prequel trilogy, Red Dragon is also available on Netflix.
With the late French actor Gaspard Ulliel playing an even younger Lecter, Hannibal Rising is the last of Harris’ cinematic adaptations yet. It’s only available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
Instead of watching that limp prequel, though, we highly recommend Mads Mikkelsen’s debonair take on Lecter in the truly disgusting Hannibal TV series, which can be watched on Netflix and TVNZ+. It’s three seasons of gorgeous gore and psychological drama, a small-screen masterpiece that the Washington DC-set TVNZ+ exclusive Clarice series struggled to live up to.
Now then. If you feel informed enough about Thomas Harris adaptations on your streaming screens, you’ll have to excuse us: we’re having an old friend for dinner…
