While the franchise's on-screen future remains uncertain, an underrated Hannibal Lecter the adaptation is getting a new streaming home. Based on Thomas Harris' four novels centering on the cannibalistic serial killer, the character's on-screen journey began in 1986. Hunterwritten and directed by Michael Mann and starring Brian Cox as the iconic killer. Based mainly on the first novel Red DragonThe film failed at the box office and initially received mixed reviews, but became considered a cult classic.
Arguably, the adaptation that put the franchise on the map was led by Anthony Hopkins The Silence of the Lambsone of the few horror films to achieve Oscar recognition, winning all five major awards and being nominated for two more. Hopkins would continue the role of Lecter in the 2001 sequel Hannibalwhich was a commercial success despite its critical rejection, and the 2002 prequel Red Dragonwith the final film adaptation being the 2007 prequel Hannibal's Risewhich was a critical and commercial disappointment. The franchise would later find new life with the Hannibal TV show starring Mads Mikkelsen in the titular role.
Red Dragon is coming to Peacock in January
The film is popping up on streaming sites
The 2002 thriller Red Dragon marked an interesting point in the Hannibal franchise's life cycle, with Ridley Scott's 2001 sequel almost alienating viewers and creatives with a focus on violence rather than suspense. Marking the second adaptation of the novel, the film shifted its timeline to the late 1980s, focusing on FBI profiler Will Graham as he attempts to stop a serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy, turning to Hopkins' Lecter. for help. Also starring Edward Norton and Ralph Fiennes, Red Dragon It was not as financially successful as its predecessor, but it was much better received.
Now, just over 22 years after the film hit theaters, Red Dragon is coming to a new streaming home on Peacock (through CBR). The film will arrive on the NBCUniversal platform on January 1st, taking a leap forward from its current positioning on Netflix. This will continue the separation of the franchise in streaming, with only Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal sharing one platform on Tubi, while the rest exist elsewhere.
Why You Should Watch Red Dragon On Peacock
Hopkins' consistently haunting performance as Hannibal matches a good script
While it may not be the best of the franchise, nor of the various adaptations of Harris' 1981 novel, there are actually a number of reasons why Red Dragon It's still worth watching when you jump over to Peacock. One of the biggest is that the 2002 prequel was a welcome return to the seriesprobably thanks in large part to the return of writer Ted Tally, who wrote the screenplay for The Silence of the Lambsbut didn't write Hannibal. His return brought with it a more suspense-based approach, especially with the mental chess games between Lecter and Will.
The other big reason why Red Dragon remains worth watching even after 22 years, and the character being recast twice is Hopkins' performance as Hannibal. Mikkelsen was indeed a worthy successor to Hopkins, and in some ways better, but even with two films behind him, Hopkins found new layers for Lecter to play with in Norton's will and with the audience, which, combined with a better script, creates an effective trilogy. capper, even if unintentional.
What TelaRant Said about Red Dragon:
However, the heart of the film is the relationship between Graham and Lecter, to which Ed Norton and Anthony Hopkins add great nuance. Red Dragon is a solid thriller, but when compared to different adaptations like Bryan Fuller's Manhunter or Hannibal, which delve deeper into the characters, it sometimes falls flat. It's a fun and engaging film, but it doesn't do justice to the uniquely gray morality of Harris's original story.
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Red Dragon Facts |
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Budget |
US$78 million |
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Box office |
US$209.2 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
69% |
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Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
74% |
Where to stream the other Hannibal Lecter titles:
- The Silence of the Lambs (Tube)
- Hannibal (The Roku Channel, Tubi)
- Hannibal's Rise (Fubo)
- Hannibal Seasons 1-3 (Prime Video, Shudder, AMC+)
Source: Pavão (via CBR)