The Greatest Horror Movie Of All Time Returns With New Release

Published Sep 25, 2026, 4:39 PM EDT Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour. One of the best horror films is getting a new release in time for Halloween. Horror is a very popular genre, and remains so to this day, as evidenced by the success of Backrooms and Obsession. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Exorcist, Psycho, Carrie, Halloween and The Shining regularly make the cut for the best horror flicks ever. Another classic in this genre is 1991's The Silence of the Lambs, based on Thomas Harris' novel of the same name. Jodie Foster stars as FBI Academy student Clarice Starling, who investigates a serial killer and finds herself aligning with infamous murderer Hannibal Lecter as a way to catch her suspect. The film earned overwhelmingly positive reviews and won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins) and Best Actress (Foster). On October 20, The Criterion Collection will release The Silence of the Lambs on 4K Blu-ray to celebrate its 35th anniversary, according to Blu-ray.com. The film is being restored in 4K, courtesy of director of photography Tak Fujioto. The three-disc package contains several special features, including an audio commentary with director Jonathan Demme, screenwriter Ted Tally, Foster, Hopkins and former FBI agent John Douglas; interviews with critic Maitland McDonagh, Foster and Demme; deleted scenes; four documentaries with cast and crew interviews; a behind-the-scenes featurette; and storyboards. There will also be an introduction by Foster in the set, as well as essays by critics Amy Taubin, Willow Catelyn Maclay and Caden Mark Gardner; and author Harris discussing how he created Hannibal Lecter. The Criterion Collection will be releasing Christiane F., Frankenstein, The Shout, Welcome II the Terrordome, Eclipse Series 5: The First Films of Samuel Fuller and The Complete Kubrick throughout the month of October as well. All these years later, The Silence of the Lambs remains one of the most iconic films ever and has spawned an entire cinematic franchise, which includes the films Hannibal, Red Dragon and Hannibal Rising. In 2013, NBC and Bryan Fuller debuted the series Hannibal with Mads Mikkelsen as the titular character and Hugh Dancy as Will Graham. While only airing for three seasons, it has gained a strong cult following. Fuller has expressed a desire to continue the story in some way, but current legal issues over the adaptation rights are preventing him from moving forward at this time. Six years after Hannibal ended, CBS attempted its own Silence of the Lambs series called Clarice, but it only lasted one season amid low ratings and negative reviews. Shows like Clarice have come and gone, but The Silence of the Lambs remains alive and well thanks to its status as the most iconic installment in the entire Hannibal Lecter franchise, and soon fans can experience the horror story all over again when The Criterion Collection releases the film on 4K Blu-ray next month. Release Date February 14, 1991 Runtime 119 minutes Director Jonathan Demme The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she is tasked with interviewing Dr. Hannibal Lecter, an incarcerated psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, to gain insight into an ongoing investigation. Her interactions with Lecter form a chilling narrative at the intersection of crime, psychology, and justice. Writers Ted Tally, Thomas Harris Producers Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt Main Genre Thriller Executive Producer(s) Gary Goetzman