7. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the main reasons why The X-Files came to be, due to creator Chris Carter being a big fan of the film. The film’s influence on the series is paramount, especially when it comes to Dana Scully. Obvious parallels can be seen between Scully and Clarice Starling, especially in the episode ‘Beyond the Sea’. Even to the point that FOX were afraid of how similar the episode was to the film.
Other than being a direct inspiration to the series, the film is referenced several times throughout the show. One of the most memorable being in the episode ‘The Truth’, in which an imprisoned Mulder mimics Hannibal Lecter when Scully comes to visit him, greeting her with the line “I smelled you coming, Clarice”.
Gillian Anderson was even considered to play the role of Clarice in the 2002 film Hannibal after Jodie Foster declined to reprise the role, but was soon dropped after discovering that due to her contract to The X-Files, she was prohibited from portraying another FBI agent.
The Silence of the Lambs – directed by Jonathon Demme – is based on the 1988 novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. The story follows a young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) who is given the task of interviewing the famed cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, with the hopes of finding insight into the pursuit of another serial killer nicknamed “Buffalo Bill”.