Production note The film was the first and only horror film to win Best Picture, and it won the Big Five Oscars.
Production note Hopkins appears for only about 24 minutes and 52 seconds.
Production note The film grossed about $272.7 million on a $19 million budget.
Production note The movie was largely shot in Pittsburgh even though it is set in Baltimore.
Production note Ted Levine's Buffalo Bill was inspired by Ed Gein, Gary Heidnik, and Ted Bundy.
Production note Brooke Smith reportedly gained 25 pounds for the role of Catherine Martin.
Production note The Lecter mask was made by Ed Cubberly, a New Jersey goalie-mask maker.
Production note William Goldman suggested cutting the disciplinary hearing sequence, and the cut improved the film.
True crime podcasts Used as a comparison for Clarice's outsider-investigator energy and the film's influence on modern true-crime fascination.
CSI Mentioned as part of the rise of crime-entertainment TV after the film's era.
OJ trial Referenced as a pop-culture turning point in the rise of crime obsession.
Darth Vader Used as a shorthand for rooting for an iconic villain.
The Joker Used to illustrate another instantly recognizable villain character.
Thelma & Louise Referenced as part of an early-90s wave of strong female characters.
Misery Referenced as another early-90s film with a memorable female lead.
Jaws Used as an analogy for a movie with a visible villain and an obstructive local authority figure.
Poltergeist Referenced in a discussion of other films with an obvious non-supernatural human villain.
The Shining Mentioned as another grounded, prestige-adjacent scary movie that the speaker likes.
Manhunter Discussed as the earlier Lecter adaptation and a great companion double feature.
Heat Used when discussing Ted Levine's later casting and the desire to break him out of Buffalo Bill typecasting.
JFK Referenced in the Oscar discussion and as the movie that affected Best Actor/Best Picture outcomes that year.
Philadelphia Referenced as the film Demme made after Silence and as a possible reason for his regret about the film's controversy.
The Father Used in a hot take about Hopkins' best performance.
