'Manhunter' vs. 'Red Dragon' - Watch a Side by Side of These Hannibal Lecter Classics

If we're talking about the greatest character ever put on screen, then Hannibal Lecter has to rank near the top. Lecter has been portrayed by a few different actors over the years, with the first two by Brian Cox in Manhunter and then Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and its third installment, Red Dragon.

Many people do not realize that Manhunter was actually an adaptation of the Thoman Harris novel Red Dragon. Michael Mann directed Manhunter, then, almost two decades later, Brett Ratner directed Red Dragon. 

It's interesting to see how these two different perspectives and two different actors took on these roles from the same source material. 

Check out this video from ItsJustAwesomeDOTcom that shows the same scenes side by side, and let's talk after.

I loved watching these two scenes and seeing how different artists can be with their interpretation of the material.

The scene depicts the first time that Will Graham goes to ask for help from Lecter. William Peterson and Edward Norton play Graham in each of their movies, while Brian Cox and Anthony Hopkins play Lecter in theirs.

On the top is Michael Mann's Manhunter (1986), and on the bottom is Brett Ratner's Red Dragon (2002). 

Another thing that stood out to me was the performances. Cox and Hopkins each take on a different aspect. Cox plays an emotionally tortured genius, while Hopkins plays cold and calculated.

Each is terrifying. Norton and Peterson are similar to detectives. But the way they are shot frames them differently. Peterson seems to have more control over the situation, whereas Norton is barely holding on.

What were your main takeaways?

Let us know in the comments.