Screen baddie Hannibal Lecter has been voted the definitive movie villain.

The psychopathic cannibal serial killer, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins in 'The Silence Of The Lambs', topped a poll of more than 17 000 film fans.

Lecter beat out 'Star Wars' villain Darth Vader and 'Goodfellas' gangster Tommy DeVito, who came in second and third respectively.

Hopkins won an Oscar for his performance in 'The Silence Of The Lambs', which won an Academy Award that same year.

Apparently it's Lecter's wit that appeals to movie audiences, with a spokesperson for Only-Movies.com saying: "People love Hannibal's one-liners".

Hopkins reprised his role in the 2001 sequel, 'Hannibal', which saw his legendary character come out of hiding.

Other villains on the list include Javier Bardem's character Anton Chigurh from 'No Country For Old Men' — which got fourth place — and Alan Rickman?s Hans Gruber from 'Die Hard'.