If you’re a fan of horror, you should definitely check out Bryan Fuller’sHannibal, starring Mads Mikkelsen as the titular cannibalistic serial killer. Hannibal Lecter first appeared in Thomas Harris' novelRed Dragon,which also introduced several other characters who appear inHannibal,including Will Graham (Hugh Dancy).
In the1986 filmManhunter, which adaptedRed Dragon,Brian Cox portrayed Hannibal, but it was Anthony Hopkins' Oscar-winning performance inThe Silence of the Lambsthat cemented the character as a fixture of popular culture. In NBC’sHannibal,Mads Mikkelsen offers a different, but equally unsettling, take on Hannibal Lecter. Mikkelsen’s Lecter is charming and appreciates the finer things in life, but occasionally, glimpses of his rotten core seep through.
In its three seasons,Hannibaldelivers dark and unexpected humor, beautiful cinematography, and compelling performances from everyone involved, making it a must-watch for horror fans.The show centers on the relationship between Hannibal and Will Graham,but also includes a large roster of fascinating secondary characters.
Hannibal Is One Of The Best Horror TV Shows Of All Time
NBC’s Hannibal Remains Captivating From Start To Finish
At first,Hannibal’spremise sounds like that of any other procedural – FBI criminal profiler Will Graham sets out to investigate a series of brutal murders in Minnesota. When the investigation starts to take a toll on Graham’s mental health, his boss, Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne), recruits forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter to supervise Will.
ButHannibaldoesn’t follow the formula of a television procedural,and focuses more on Will’s psyche and his relationship with Hannibal than it does on solving murders.Hannibalis a fascinating character study, but it also delivers some of the most beautiful cinematography on television despite its chilling subject matter.
Hannibalseason 1 has a critics' score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, while seasons 2 and 3 both sit at an impressive 98%. As a whole, the series scored 93% with critics and 94% with general audiences.
Hannibalfeels and looks more like prestige television than a network drama, andit delivers an incredibly intelligent and haunting look at the human mind.With captivating performances and shocking twists,Hannibalis as entertaining as it is contemplative, for those who can stomach the violence and gore.Mads Mikkelsen’s performance is truly chilling, but he makes it impossible to look away, no matter how dark things get throughoutHannibal’sthree seasons.
How NBC’s Hannibal Compares To The Hannibal Lecter Movie Adaptations
Hannibal Has Many Of The Same Characters & Story Elements As The Films
TheHannibaltelevision series has a lot in common with the films in terms of plot, but it changes the timeline a bit. The television series acts as a prequel detailing the relationship between Will and Hannibal prior to and eventually including theevents ofRed Dragon.
The show incorporates plot elements from the novels,Red Dragon, Hannibal,and, to a lesser extent,Hannibal Rising.NBC’sHannibalalso focuses more on Will Graham and alters his characterization,giving him an intense sense of empathy that allows him to see things from a killer’s perspective.
Peter Webber
July 12, 2025
Hugh Dancy’s Will Graham struggles with social interactions, and he is particularly susceptible to Hannibal’s manipulation. In the films, Hannibal’s obsession with Will is one-sided, whereasDancy’s Will Graham finds himself inexplicably drawn to Hannibaland the darkness that surrounds him.
The show also plays around with some of the characters, making journalist Freddie Lounds (Lara Jean Chorostecki) a woman, for example, and giving her movie death to the character of Frederick Chilton (Raúl Esparza), who actually survives.
Whereas the novelHannibalfollows Clarice Starling in her pursuit of Hannibal, it’s Will who follows Hannibal throughout Italy during the show’s third season. In the show, Hannibal is joined by his psychiatrist,Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson), a character who was invented for the series.
Hannibal’s third season also features Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage), a serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy, introduced inRed Dragon.Creator Bryan Fuller had plans to adapt thestory fromThe Silence of the Lambs,but Hannibal was canceled before he could acquire the rights to that particular novel.
10 Years Later, Hannibal’s Cancelation Is Hard To Accept
Hannibal Ends On A Literal Cliffhanger, As Hannibal & Will Fall Off Of A Clifftop Together
Despite receiving critical acclaim,Hannibalwas canceled by NBCafter only three seasons. With its dark subject matter, extreme gore, and surreal elements,Hannibaldid not fit the mold of a network drama,which may have contributed to its low viewership numbers.
Although the show developed a cult following, it wasn’t enough to save it from cancelation, and the show ultimately failed to find another home. Even thoughHannibalseason 3 ended on a high note, it left the door open for future stories and definitely left viewers wanting more.
Fuller, Mikkelsen, and Dancy have expressed interest in returning to that world at some point, but nothing has ever been confirmed. As more time passes,it becomes increasingly less likely thatHannibalwill return, but many fans, myself included, would love to see more of Hannibal and Will’s story.
