20 Most Epic Character Introductions In Movies

9. Hannibal Lecter - Silence Of The Lambs (1990)

By the time the audience even meets Hannibal Lecter, there is already a sense of trepidation surrounding him due to forewarning from other characters. Rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling's boss Jack Crawford has already explicitly warned her about letting Lecter use any information to get inside her head, while the prison director also labels the man a monster. When Clarice finally comes face to face with Hannibal he is standing resolutely still, as if his eyes can see through to her soul.

In just a few minutes of dialogue, Anthony Hopkins creates a fully-formed and quietly intimidating character. Despite being locked in a cell during their face-to-face, it quickly becomes clear that Lecter holds the power over the FBI trainee. He is most definitely a psychopath, but also a disarmingly charismatic and intelligent one that seizes control of the conversation within seconds and begins to delve into Clarice's psyche. An unforgettable introduction to cinema's favorite cannibal, Hannibal Lecter's first few minutes of screen-time establish the character's complex nature and brilliant mind, as well as deepening the intrigue and mystery surrounding the man himself. Expertly written and superbly acted, Hopkins instantly turns the character into a fascinating combination of charming and terrifying.
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