The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

It may have had an enormous amount of OTT hype when it was released in 1991, but thankfully this powerful psychological thriller - adapted from Thomas Harris's best-selling novel - really delivers. And it famously brought us one of the all-time great screen anti-heroes in Dr Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter, played here with relish - and some fava beans and a nice chianti - by Anthony Hopkins (pictured).

Jodie Foster plays Clarice Starling, a promising female trainee FBI agent who is seconded by Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) in the hunt for horrific serial killer Buffalo Bill. To understand the workings of the killer's diseased mind, Crawford suggests that Starling talks to cannibalistic serial killer Lecter, currently serving time at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Starling forms an edgy, disturbing relationship with the psychotic yet urbane Lecter, and, piece by piece, the clues to Buffalo Bill's identity begin to emerge.

Directed with great verve by Jonathan Demme, the film stormed the Oscars. Hopkins picked up Best Actor, Foster won Best Actress, and the film won additional Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.