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

213 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

Jul 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

Jul 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

Jul 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, 2025

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, 2025

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, 2025

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

2 days ago

The best ever

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Rebecca

Oct 24, 2022

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

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Dustin G

@RT15429247 22 hrs ago

As a child, it scared me. As an adult, it’s still scary.

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Alex B

@AlexBioni 4 days ago

7 Days This movie is a classic and gives me nostalgia. As a kid, I was terrified of this concept, and it's still effective. You watch a tape, and in 7 days, you're donezo. The colors and tone are amazing. The grays, blues, and greens feel dreadful, while the red in a tree stands out. The atmosphere is mysterious and very Silent Hill. The tape is full of disturbing imagery, but as Rachel unravels the mystery, it starts making sense. The horror is subtle, from quick shots of victims to feeling someone is watching you. Naomi Watts is iconic, and Brian Cox is great in his small role. The suspense works because Rachel is racing against time. The direction, cinematography, and sound design are excellent. I know it's an American remake, but it's great. Gore Verbinski is an underrated director. The little girl gave me nightmares like The Grudge. The VHS tapes and landlines make it a product of its time. My only complaint is Aidan's actor, who feels a bit wonky.

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Chirag P

@trini Oct 23, 2026

Still remember being more scared watching this movie at home than in theaters

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Dominic T

@Dom2Chilly Oct 13, 2026

9.2/10. This suspenseful horror was super entertaining. It has some confusing moments, but the story was fantastic. The ending and the twists were surprising and incredible. A great first watch and could be rewatched for sure.

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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

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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)

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