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‘Silence of the Lambs’: 25 years of cannibalizing Oscar trends

Jason Fraley | jfraley@wtop.com

February 17, 2016, 2:41 AM

Oscar host Billy Crystal dons a Hannibal the Cannibal mask, left, in the audience with Anthony Hopkins at the 64th Annual Academy Awards Monday, March 30, 1992 in Los Angeles. Hopkins is nominated for Actor in a leading role for his portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs." (AP Photo/Craig Fujii)
Introduction Valentine’s Day likely kept you so busy that you missed a major movie milestone. While you were sniffing flowers and munching chocolates, did you have a craving for some fava beans and a nice Chianti? “The Silence of The Lambs” just celebrated its 25th anniversary, having debuted on Feb. 14, 1991. So as the Oscars approach, we’re “having an old friend for dinner” with a love note to a movie masterpiece that devoured every Oscar rule to become the ultimate Academy anomaly. Or, as Clarice Starling put it, “Most serial killers keep some sort of trophies.” Hannibal Lecter replies, “I didn’t,” to which Clarice says, “No, you ate yours.” You can say the same about the film with the Oscars. Here are 10 unwritten rules cannibalized by “The Silence of the Lambs.” (Photo: Oscar host Billy Crystal, left, dons a Hannibal the Cannibal mask to embrace “Silence of the Lambs” star Anthony Hopkins, right, at the Academy Awards on March 30, 1992 in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Craig Fujii) (AP/Craig Fujii)
AP/Craig Fujii
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Oscar host Billy Crystal dons a Hannibal the Cannibal mask, left, in the audience with Anthony Hopkins at the 64th Annual Academy Awards Monday, March 30, 1992 in Los Angeles. Hopkins is nominated for Actor in a leading role for his portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs." (AP Photo/Craig Fujii)
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December 5, 2025 | (Jason Fraley)

Jason Fraley

Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.

jfraley@wtop.com

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