The Ring

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The Ring

Released Jan 31, 1998

1h 36m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When her niece is found dead along with three friends after viewing a supposedly cursed videotape, reporter Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) sets out to investigate. Along with her ex-husband, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), Reiko finds the tape, watches it -- and promptly receives a phone call informing her that she'll die in a week. Determined to get to the bottom of the curse, Reiko and Ryuji discover the video's origin and attempt to solve an old murder that could break the spell.

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Critics Consensus

Ringu combines supernatural elements with anxieties about modern technology in a truly frightening and unnerving way.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

Its strength is in its simplicity and its cultural purity.

Sep 16, 2022

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Alan Stanbrook

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Almost nothing terrible is shown: the real horror lies in the viewer's anticipation.

Sep 16, 2022

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Andrew Pulver

Guardian

A most artfully creepy piece of work.

Sep 16, 2022

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Decades on, it remains one of the great works of horror cinema.

Rated: 10/10

Aug 25, 2024

Full Review

Keri O'Shea

Warped Perspective

On occasion, a film comes along which makes an almost immediate, indelible mark. As soon as it appears, it disrupts what came before it; it can be difficult to even remember a time before it, so quickly do its characters and archetypes take hold.

Rated: A

Apr 14, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The mystery is effective enough but it’s the texture of the experience that gets under your skin.

Oct 29, 2022

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Ale C

the original is better FOR SURE. it was one of those films that hunt you forever if you watch it as a kid. pure genius

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/04/25

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Ian H

Dark, disturbing but not super terrifying relying more on building pressure than jump scares

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

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Lau S

Great Japanese movie! I little bit outdated, but I liked it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

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Kai K

Honestly one of my favorite horror movies ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 36 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Japanese and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Miranda S

Personally, I did not find this movie as scary as everyone told me it would be. Maybe it's because of the lack of jumpscares or any startling moments. However, I did enjoy the plot. It is a pretty iconic horror movie that you must wtach if you are into horror.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

Full Review

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Hideo Nakata

Director

Nanako Matsushima

Reiko Asakawa

Hiroyuki Sanada

Ryuji Takayama

Miki Nakatani

Mai Takano

Yuko Takeuchi

Tomoko Oishi

Hitomi Sato

Masami Kurahashi

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Synopsis

When her niece is found dead along with three friends after viewing a supposedly cursed videotape, reporter Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) sets out to investigate. Along with her ex-husband, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), Reiko finds the tape, watches it -- and promptly receives a phone call informing her that she'll die in a week. Determined to get to the bottom of the curse, Reiko and Ryuji discover the video's origin and attempt to solve an old murder that could break the spell.

Director: Hideo Nakata
Producer: Takashige Ichise, Shinya Kawai, Takenori Sento
Screenwriter: Kôji Suzuki, Hiroshi Takahashi
Distributor: Golden Scene [hk], Potential Films, Califórnia, Primer Plano Film Group S.A., Anolis Entertainment, Toho Company Ltd., Kadokawa Shoten Pblshg, Haut et Court
Production Co: Omega Project, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co.
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2019
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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