The Ring

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1:28

The Ring

PG-13

2002

1h 55m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

214 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

It sounds like just another urban legend -- a videotape filled with nightmarish images leads to a phone call foretelling the viewer's death in exactly seven days. Newspaper reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) is skeptical of the story until four teenagers all die mysteriously exactly one week after watching just such a tape. Allowing her investigative curiosity to get the better of her, Rachel tracks down the video and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery.

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Critics Consensus

With little gore and a lot of creepy visuals, The Ring gets under your skin, thanks to director Gore Verbinski's haunting sense of atmosphere and an impassioned performance from Naomi Watts.

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Keith Phipps

AV Club

07/25/2014

B+

Gore Verbinski creates an air of dread that begins with the first scene and never lets up, subtly incorporating elements from the current wave of Japanese horror films along the way.

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David Edelstein

Slate

07/25/2014

The filmmakers have wisely stayed close to the original's mood, which is somber and flat, with quick (near-subliminal) inserts and a soundtrack full of watery-grave groans and murmurs.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

07/25/2014

An edgy, watchable film, but one that makes you feel more squeamish than screamish.

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Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

Oct 22

3/5

The Noah death scene is worth the price of admission but it takes its sweet time getting there...It's a cool movie but is a bit of a chore to get through.

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Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

Oct 22

3/5

It has a few iconic horror scenes and a very specific vibe. But it left me with far more questions than answers and I'm not sure I care to learn what they are...A bit of a frustrating watch despite looking pretty cool.

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David Day

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 23

9/10

The tone of The Ring is deadly serious, and it lands just right in the quiet of your darkened home on a Friday night. It feels morose and hopeless and creepy beyond compare.

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Rebecca

10/24/2022

One of my favorite horror movies! I was excited to see it again in the theatre:)

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J H

@UpstateNYThriller Jul 22

7/10 American version of the ring Don't watch the video tape or answer the phone. American version pretty good I think. Haunted video , suspense, supernatural

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Christopher C

@RT39836430 Jul 18

One of my favorite horror movies of all time! I love the unorthodox movements

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Michael R

@Michael_Ramirez Jul 16

In the top three of my favorite horror movies of all time. I loved the mystery aspect of it and Naomi Watts.

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diogo13 T

@Tua_mera Jul 11

The movie is good and manages to build a very tense and heavy atmosphere from start to finish. The whole story about the videotape that leaves people with their days numbered hooks you right from the first few minutes and keeps you curious to find out what's going on. The main issue is the pacing. From the middle onward, the movie drags a bit and focuses so much on the journalistic investigation that it loses some of that initial horror energy. Plus, the script tries to explain too many details and ends up breaking some of the mystery. Ultimately, it’s worth watching because it delivers some good scares, but it’s not amazing.

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Timothy S

@TJSubject Jul 4

The Ring succeeds as an exceptional exercise in psychological horror, sustaining an atmosphere of unease from its opening sequence to its final revelation. Rather than relying on gratuitous shocks, the film cultivates suspense through meticulous pacing, haunting cinematography, unsettling imagery, and a narrative that continually invites the audience to question its assumptions. Each revelation deepens the mystery, rewarding careful attention while preserving an enduring sense of dread. The screenplay balances intellectual intrigue with emotional tension, compelling viewers to remain fully engaged from beginning to end. Its haunting symbolism and memorable conclusion linger long after the credits roll, demonstrating why it remains one of the most accomplished, influential, and enduring horror films of its generation.

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Gore Verbinski

Director

Naomi Watts

Rachel Keller

Martin Henderson

Noah

David Dorfman

Aidan

Brian Cox

Richard Morgan

Jane Alexander

Dr. Grasnik

The Ring: Official Clip - Samara Comes to You

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The Ring: Official Clip - What Did You Do To Her?

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The Ring: Official Clip - Into the Well

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The Ring: Official Clip - You Will Die in Seven Days

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The Ring: Official Clip - The Tape

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The Ring: Official Clip - Nose Bleed

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The Ring: Official Clip - Ferry Accident

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The Ring: Official Clip - Nightmare

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The Ring: Trailer 1

1:28

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Synopsis

It sounds like just another urban legend -- a videotape filled with nightmarish images leads to a phone call foretelling the viewer's death in exactly seven days. Newspaper reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) is skeptical of the story until four teenagers all die mysteriously exactly one week after watching just such a tape. Allowing her investigative curiosity to get the better of her, Rachel tracks down the video and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery.

Director: Gore Verbinski
Producer: Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald
Screenwriter: Ehren Kruger, Scott Frank, Kôji Suzuki
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Disturbing Images|Some Drug References|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $128.6M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)