1991 Film, Turned Down by Robert De Niro, Ranked Among Greatest Thriller Movies of All Time
- Robert De Niro was offered the role of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs before Anthony Hopkins, but had to decline due to a scheduling conflict.
When Anthony Hopkins said "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti" in The Silence of the Lambs , there was something horrifyingly believable about his delivery. His entire performance in The Silence of the Lambs is so deeply ingrained in movie history that Lecter and Hopkins are practically inseparable. But before Hopkins took the role, director Jonathan Demme approached one of Hollywood's most acclaimed actors: Robert De Niro.
Had De Niro said yes, one of the most recognizable movie villains of all time could have looked very different.
Robert De Niro Was Offered Hannibal Lecter
De Niro was already one of the most respected actors in Hollywood when Demme came calling. According to Far Out Magazine , the actor was asked to play Lecter but ultimately couldn't make the film because of a scheduling conflict.
De Niro explained to The New Yorker that Demme had been calling him about the part, but he had to make a decision regarding another project. Rather than hold up the production, Demme moved on and ultimately cast Hopkins.
The timing is particularly interesting because De Niro was also preparing for another psychologically intense role around the same period. He had just wrapped Goodfellas before The Silence of the Lambs began shooting in November 1989, and he subsequently made Backdraft and Cape Fear .
De Niro ended up starring as the terrifying Max Cady in Cape Fear , a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination . Meanwhile, Hopkins' brief but unforgettable appearance as Lecter earned him the Oscar for Best Actor .
So, in another universe, De Niro could have been competing against himself for the same Oscar.
The Movie Is Considered One of the Best Thrillers Ever
The Silence of the Lambs became one of the defining psychological thrillers of the 1990s, with Hopkins' chilling performance becoming one of the most celebrated villainous turns in cinema. Jodie Foster stars as FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who seeks Lecter's help while investigating a serial killer.
StudioBinder currently ranks The Silence of the Lambs No. 3 on its list of the 25 best thriller movies of all time, placing it behind Jaws and Psycho . The publication specifically praises Demme's combination of horror and crime and credits Hopkins with elevating the film beyond a conventional thriller.
That ranking makes the De Niro casting story even more fascinating. We're not talking about a forgotten movie or a role that disappeared into the background. Lecter became one of the most iconic characters in movie history, and Hopkins' performance helped make the 1991 film a classic.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Sep 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
