Now Playing Presents: The Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter Movie Retrospective Series Now Playing Podcast

Pixar films including Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo, had been smash hits. But could this success that worked on toys, fish, bugs, and beasts, work for a movie starring a roster of human characters? That was the risk they took with The Incredibles -- Pixar's first superhero film. The gamble worked and Pixar had another hit, but how does this film hold up more than 10 years later? Join Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob to find out!

The Fast and Furious franchise started off as low budget racing films, but has risen to be one of Hollywood's most bankable action franchises. In anticipation of the upcoming Furious Seven, Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob are living their life one quarter mile at a time and reviewing each film in this series!

After Red Dragon's success more Lecter films were guaranteed, and to keep with author Thomas Harris' original vision this time the movie was not just based on one of his novels--the Hannibal Rising screenplay was written by Harris in conjunction with the new novel telling of Hannibal the Cannibal's early years. Can this film provide a future for the series without Anthony Hopkins, and does Gaspard Ulliel's Hannibal rise to the occasion? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob's final review in the Hannibal Lecter series to find out!

Quickly after Hannibal hit theaters production began on yet another installment of the Hannibal Lecter franchise, and this time instead of looking forward to Harris writing another Hannibal story they looked backwards to Red Dragon, Harris' first novel featuring the caged cannibal. Already made into a film in the 80's, Manhunter, now the story is retold in an adaptation more faithful to the original novel and with Hopkins again reprising the role that he is best known for. With an all-star cast and director Brett Ratner at the helm, was this film a needed update or a desperate cash-grab? Listen to Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart's review to find out!

When Silence of the Lambs was received with critical acclaim and box office success, audiences waited with baited breath for the reunion of the cannibal and the agent -- Hannibal and Clarice. But despite audience anticipation, author Thomas Harris did not complete the sequel novel Hannibal until 1999, and upon its release many of the talent associated with the original film declined to return. But with new director Ridley Scott, fresh off his Oscar for Gladiator, behind the camera and Hopkins returning to chew up the scenery and his victims, could this film live up to the last or is it too much for audiences to swallow? Listen to find out!

It's iconic. Fava Beans and Chianti. Quid Pro Quo. Goodbye Horses. Based on Thomas Harris' second novel, Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, and director Jonathan Demme came together and made a picture that captured both the pop culture imagination and swept the Academy Awards. Now, continuing their Hannibal Lecter series, Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie watch and review this seminal crime horror film. Does it hold up two decades later? Listen to find out!