11 of Our Top 10 Portrayals of Hannibals On Screen
In which we set out a Selection of Movies, Television Series and Datelines showing female (mostly) Psychopaths and their Behavior
The Thing About Pam 2022
TV Mini Series, based on a true story, starring Renee Zellweger. Pam and Hannibal have many twinning moments. Pam is from Missouri. Gas-lighting, insurance scams, big gulps with straws (a Hannibal staple) plus the puffer jacket in black and the exact snow-boots Pam is wearing in the series. Pam and Hannibal share the same chicken fat blonde hair color. It’s all about the money, money, money . . .
Watch trailer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13984270/?ref_=fn_t_1
Dateline With Keith Morrison: The Real Thing About Pam 2019
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/watch-dateline-episode-real-thing-about-pam-now-n1294561
The Bad Seed 1956
This may not be a true story but it feels like you are watching Hannibal’s childhood. “Rhoda dear”. One of the original stories about bad people who are born not made. This story started as a book, then was a play, then was a movie. So, the movie version feels like a filmed play.
Watch trailer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048977/?ref_=fn_t_1
The Bad Seed 2018
A reboot of the original 1956 version, but with Rob Lowe! Lifetime Feature. Rob Lowe and his daughter — who unfortunately for him is a full on psychopath — demonstrating full suite entitlement, no emotion, and vindictiveness, all in the tiny form of an otherwise lovable looking child. This feature is also a good representation that you can not change or improve the behavior of a psychopath. They lie with ease.
Watch trailer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4823992/?ref_=fn_t_2
The Bad Seed Returns
A&E + Lifetime demonstrates the next phase of The Bad Seed. So it is a sequel. Also, with Rob Lowe, but a few years advanced. The first Bad Seeds show a pre-K Hannibal. This time the Hannibal person — i.e., Rob Lowe’s daughter — is older and in elementary school. So, therefore, bigger and more dangerous. The Hannibal in this sequel shows not only how psychopaths continue to manipulate on through early teenage years, but how they get better at it with more practice. Speaking of which, the practicing in front of the mirror is classic. Psychopaths mimic traits they admire in others to pass off that they are normal.
Watch trailer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16030222/?ref_=fn_t_1
The Silence of the Lambs 1991
Starring Anthony Hopkins as the original Hannibal. OK, not a female psychopath, but since this is were I got the Hannibal moniker for my mom, I had to include it.
Watch trailer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102926/?ref_=fn_t_1
Single White Female 1992
Remember Andrea from Stratford? The one Hannibal stalked. Well, Jennifer Jason Leigh could’ve learned a few lessons. Is all I’m sayin’!
Watch trailer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105414/?ref_=fn_i_1
Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes 2001
Based on a true story. One of the best, if not the best, examples of a psychopath mom and her son. Sante is originally from Arkansas. One of our favorite friends knows Kenny from his university years. This is classic Mommy’s Little Man Syndrome.
Dateline with Lester Holt: The Devil Wore White 2025
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/preview-the-devil-wore-white-keith-morrison-reports-the-story-of-sante-kimes-friday-dateline-230394437548
Sex and Lies In Sin City: The Ted Binion Scandal 2008 (based on a true story)
Mena Suvari plays an excellent Sandy. Sandy reminds me of Hannibal in her early 20s. It’s all about the money, money, money . . . and then more money while they’re at it.
Dateline with Keith Morrison: What Happened In Vegas 2022
https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/dateline/9060582955933764112/seasons/30/episodes/what-happened-in-vegas-episode-12/1df53d2c-b542-3d67-8bc6-72889e99d866
If you need a Hannibal-lite introduction to female psychopathy, start with any Lifetime shows starring Josie Davis. Especially the ones written and/ or directed by Doug Campbell. He really gets evil mommies, and other females.
Mommy Meanest 2024
Based on a true story, Lifetime has Lisa Rinna starring as Mommy Meanest. Bad moms are simply cruel. Watching this show reminded me of when Hannibal would insist that I park far out in certain parking lots so my car would not get dinged. Instead my car would get keyed. Hannibal would then say “wow, someone really does not like you.” It turns out Hannibal was the person keying my car.
Bad Monkey 2024
A dark comedy drama starring Vince Vaughn. The female character Eve, she is a Hannibal. Conniving. Lethal. Everything that is yours is hers. There are 10 episodes. Each is entertaining and shows that one bad female, with a husband that goes along with her greed, can harm several generations of islanders.
