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Anthony Hopkins’ $351M Horror Sequel From ‘Alien’ Director Finds a Free Streaming Home Soon

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6 days ago

1 December 2025

Anthony Hopkins' $351M Horror Sequel From 'Alien' Director Finds a Free Streaming Home Soon

Sir Anthony Hopkins became synonymous with the name Hannibal Lecter after the release of The Silence of the Lambs in 1991. Though Brian Cox had already notably played the role in Michael Mann‘s 1986 film Manhunter, it was Hopkins’ chilling performance as the cannibal that would earn him an Oscar and ascend to immortality, being endlessly referenced and parodied, and remembered among the most iconic film characters. When the time came to direct author Thomas Harris‘ sequel novel, Hannibal, then, it was obvious who would once again be playing the title role, though he’d have a different co-star with Julianne Moore taking over for Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling. Now, the big-budget follow-up is set to begin streaming for free on Tubi to kick off the month of December.

While The Silence of the Lambs had B-movie filmmaker-turned-critically-acclaimed director Jonathan Demme at the helm, Hannibal landed Alien legend Ridley Scott to steer the sequel with nearly five times the budget at his disposal. Directing from a screenplay penned by David Mamet and Steven Zaillian, Scott’s film takes place ten years after Dr. Lecter escapes from custody, taking the criminal to Europe. Starling, now a disgraced FBI agent following a botched drug raid that she took the blame for, is put on the case to find and recapture the cannibal. However, her involvement is all part of a greater plan by one of Lecter’s vengeful former victims, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), who is determined to lure the man out and kill him for disfiguring him years ago. The hunt becomes a tense race against time, highlighting the unique dynamic between Starling and Lecter as another criminal looms over them both. Notably, though, it doesn’t fully engage with the gothic source material that ends with Starling and Hannibal fleeing to Argentina together.

Scott’s sequel isn’t nearly as beloved or as important in most viewers’ eyes as Hopkins’ first appearance as Lecter, earning a lackluster 30% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics. It did, however, thrive at the box office with a $351.6 million haul and was followed by a Red Dragon adaptation in 2002 with Hopkins returning and Ralph Fiennes as a chilling Francis Dolarhyde. The starring trio of Hannibal can’t get much better either, with all three of Hopkins, Moore, and Oldman bringing Oscar-winning resumes to the table. They were also joined in the film by late Goodfellas star Ray Liotta, alongside Frankie R. Faison, Giancarlo Giannini, and Francesca Neri.

Will There Ever Be More Stories From Hannibal Lecter’s World?

Despite its legacy, Hannibal the movie isn’t even the most popular on-screen project in Harris’ universe with that name. That honor instead belongs to the Mads Mikkelsen-led psychological thriller series, which has only developed a greater cult following with time. Taking elements from Harris’ various novels, it revolves around the deepening relationship between FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), who is haunted by his ability to empathize with serial killers, and the forensic psychiatrist Lecter (Mikkelsen), who, himself, is a cannibalistic murderer working to influence the FBI from within until his fascination with Graham takes over.

The Hannibal series ended after three seasons despite critical acclaim, meaning it never got the chance to explore The Silence of the Lambs or anything after it, and left both Lecter and Graham on a quite literal cliffhanger. Creator Bryan Fuller has been open about his desire to continue it in some way if given the chance, though, recently voicing his interest in having Zendaya take on the role of Starling in a potential retelling of Silence of the Lambs with Mikkelsen. It would certainly require a sizable investment to make it happen, though, leaving hope slim for a return of the twisted doctor.

For now, Hannibal will arrive on Tubi starting December 1. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the biggest titles coming to and leaving streaming throughout the year.