Red Dragon (2002 film)

Red Dragon
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Brett Ratner
Screenplay by	Ted Tally
Based on	Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Produced by	Dino De Laurentiis Martha De Laurentiis
Starring	Anthony Hopkins Edward Norton Ralph Fiennes Harvey Keitel Emily Watson Mary-Louise Parker Philip Seymour Hoffman
Cinematography	Dante Spinotti
Edited by	Mark Helfrich
Music by	Danny Elfman
Production companies	Universal Pictures[1] Imagine Corporation[1]
Distributed by	Universal Pictures[1]
Release date	October 4, 2002 (2002-10-04)
Running time	124 minutes[2]
Countries	Germany[1] United States[1]
Language	English
Budget	$78 million[3]
Box office	$209.2 million[3]

Red Dragon is a 2002 psychological thriller film based on the 1981 novel by Thomas Harris. It was directed by Brett Ratner and written by Ted Tally. It is the third film of a series produced by Dino De Laurentiis Company including Manhunter (1986) and Hannibal (2001), the last film of the series distributed by Universal Pictures, and the last film to star Anthony Hopkins as Lecter. Set before the events of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Hannibal (2001), it was followed by Hannibal Rising (2007) which depicted Lecter's youth. The film sees FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) enlisting the help of serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to catch another killer, Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes). Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman also star.

It is considered the fourth of the five released films regarding Hannibal Lecter. The novel was previously adapted into the film Manhunter (1986). Both films feature the same cinematographer, Dante Spinotti. After turning down the Silence of the Lambs sequel, Hannibal (2001), The Silence of the Lambs screenwriter Ted Tally returned to write Red Dragon. It was released on October 4, 2002 to generally positive reviews from critics, who deemed it to be an improvement over Hannibal, but inferior to The Silence of the Lambs. It was a box office success, earning $209 million worldwide against a $78 million budget.

An origin story, titled Hannibal Rising was released in 2007.