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The Ring

Play trailer 1:28 Poster for The Ring PG-13 2002 1h 55m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Ring

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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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Critics Reviews

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Keith Phipps AV Club 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. Rated: B+ Jul 25, 2014 Full Review David Edelstein Slate 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. Jul 25, 2014 Full Review Richard Schickel TIME Magazine An edgy, watchable film, but one that makes you feel more squeamish than screamish. Jul 25, 2014 Full Review Justin Brown Medium Popcorn 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. Rated: 3/5 Oct 22, 2025 Full Review Brandon Collins Medium Popcorn 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. Rated: 3/5 Oct 22, 2025 Full Review David Day Horror Movie Talk 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. Rated: 9/10 Sep 23, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rebecca One of my favorite horror movies! I was excited to see it again in the theatre:) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/24/22 Full Review TheMovieSearch R The Ring was a lot more impressive than I expected. Going in, I thought it would be one of those standard horror films that’s all style and scares but makes little sense and leaves you feeling confused or bored. Instead, it turned out to be genuinely unsettling and surprisingly well-constructed, with a screenplay that held a consistent thread throughout. It’s not flawless, but the story stays coherent enough to keep you engaged, which is more than you can say for a lot of horror films in this genre. The consistency of the screenplay is key here. Because the story is structured thoughtfully, the director and cinematographer have the space to bring their vision to life. The tension builds carefully, the visuals are haunting, and the narrative never feels like it’s wandering aimlessly. You can see the thought behind each scene, from the pacing to the framing, and it all serves the story rather than just throwing in jump scares for cheap thrills. The film also nails some genuinely creative horror elements. The cursed videotape, the eerie atmosphere, and the way suspense is built through anticipation rather than constant shocks make the scares feel earned. There are moments that stick with you — the creaky ladders, the glimpses of Samara in unexpected places — that feel uniquely chilling, rather than relying on overused horror tropes. While there are a few minor things that could have been adjusted for smoother storytelling or slightly more logical explanations, these are small quibbles in an otherwise effective horror experience. The movie succeeds because it balances atmosphere, tension, and story cohesively, giving the audience a reason to care about the characters while still being terrified. And then there’s that image of the girl from the TV — Samara. She’s haunting, unforgettable, and has essentially become an iconic figure in horror, even if her name isn’t instantly recognized by everyone. That kind of visual impact is rare, and it’s a testament to how well the film combines story, mood, and imagery. Overall, The Ring is a standout in early 2000s horror. It’s creepy, compelling, and smartly executed, managing to create a lasting sense of dread while still delivering a story that makes sense. It’s more than just a scary movie — it’s a well-crafted psychological and supernatural thriller that lingers long after the credits roll. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/26/25 Full Review Michael A The best part about The Ring is keeping that mystery alive. It's spooky, it's thrilling, and yes, at times, heart wrenching. Just hope your phone doesn't ring right after. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/22/25 Full Review Jerry S Absolutely recommend this, this movie grabs you right off the hop. Creepy, tense, this is a well crafted movie for horror fans. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/13/25 Full Review Johny B I don't know why this movie doesn't get much credit . I love it because it was one of the very first horror movies that traumatized me. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/08/25 Full Review Riley S. “She never sleeps.” The Ring is one of those horror movies that lingers in your head long after the credits roll, not because of jump scares, but because of its atmosphere. The cursed tape feels like a piece of forbidden media you shouldn’t be watching, and the way the dread builds is genuinely unnerving. Naomi Watts sells the mystery and desperation perfectly, and the film’s muted, washed-out color palette makes everything feel cold and cursed. That said, it does run a little long, and once you know the twist, the rewatch loses some of that punch. Still, the image of Samara crawling out of the TV is burned into horror history—and my nightmares. Creepy, stylish, and just unsettling enough to make me double-check any static on my screen. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Ring

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The Ring

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Movie Info

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)
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