The Ring

Name: The Ring
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: October 18, 2002
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Brian Cox, Martin Henderson, Naomi Watts

2002

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 430 Ratings

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4.5

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4.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 430 Ratings

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The Ring

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Movie Details & Credits

DreamWorks Distribution | Release Date: October 18, 2002 | PG-13

Starring: Brian Cox, Martin Henderson, Naomi Watts

Summary: In this remake of one of Japan's biggest box office hits, Naomi Watts plays a journalist who discovers a mysterious videotape that is connected to several deaths.

Director: Gore Verbinski

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 115 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

C.W. Nevius

So good it's scary. Read full review

Peter Travers

The pickings are slim for scares this Halloween season (Ghost Ship, Below), so The Ring wins first prize by default. Read full review

William Arnold

The Ring, is going to be this year's version of the "Blair Witch" and "Sixth Sense" phenomenon. Read full review

Michael Sragow

What we have here is a suburban-legend movie stripped of rough edges and cut off from any depth that might have made it insidiously haunting. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Certainly acceptable. But no one seeing it is going to feel as spooked as executive producer Roy Lee. To make an audience feel that intensely, you need a different kind of director and a different kind of film. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Has its creepy moments, but also its cliches. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

It's an utter waste of Watts; there's not a trace here of the talent on display in Mulholland Drive, perhaps because the script doesn't bother to give her a character. Read full review

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User Reviews

Thegodfatherson

Apr 9, 2013

It's a real horror thrilling film with actual goosebumps raising on your arms. And it holds a perfectly gripping story- very horrific and violent though. The film is effective on the mind and is visually brilliant through horror and graphic. The tape is very scary as Gore Verbinski has madeIt's a real horror thrilling film with actual goosebumps raising on your arms. And it holds a perfectly gripping story- very horrific and violent though. The film is effective on the mind and is visually brilliant through horror and graphic. The tape is very scary as Gore Verbinski has made it. Very gripping and a masterpiece from start to Finish. Now, a normal sensitive person wouldn't watch this movie because its very very scary movie but if you look it by thriller it's very intense and gripping. The tape is very unusual and weird telling the horrific story of Samara Morgan the main focused part of the movie- the villain and the controller of the tape. You wouldn't get the climax and you would with Samara creaking out of the tv that the camera guy is watching.… Expand

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

Jivko

Nov 30, 2007

Excellent movie.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

teddywyman

Jun 10, 2017

I'm perplexed by all of the negative ratings this movie has received. First, the design of the movie is spot on. It's dreary and rainy and everything seems tinted blue, which gives the film an aura of dread and discomfort throughout. This is good though, because it complements the storyI'm perplexed by all of the negative ratings this movie has received. First, the design of the movie is spot on. It's dreary and rainy and everything seems tinted blue, which gives the film an aura of dread and discomfort throughout. This is good though, because it complements the story really well and so it puts you in the right mood for the film. Next, I found the story to actually be really interesting. It follows Naomi Watts as she does some investigating into the inexplicable deaths of some kids (one of whom she knows), and so you find out the twists and turns of the plot just as she does. While it obviously has supernatural elements, it operates in a realm that is plausible, where the characters make intelligent decisions, and where there aren't any cheap scares. You actually care about the main characters and you feel as curious as they do. I also like how, as opposed to the original, there isn't a lot of unexplained exposition. Rather, Watts actually has to SEARCH to put her story together, and added plot elements I think clear the story up and make it more compelling. In terms of scares, it doesn't have many, but that doesn't mean it isn't a scary movie. Again, the scares come from how the film is. It just feels creepy and chilling, and so instead of multiples scares with breaks of comic relief, it's just one long drawn-out scare. You still see Samara out of the corner of your eye when you're home alone at night, and you still jump when the phone rings. One of my favorite horror movies. Chilling, smart, entertaining, and well made.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

AaronM

Jan 30, 2009

I'd say it's more of a Mystery/suspense than a horror movie. It was interesting finding out what all of the weird stuff was about. Not particularly "scary" but the video is freaking creepy.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JJ2FAS4U

Jan 4, 2022

----------------------------------7.4/10-----------------------------------

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Mel

Nov 11, 2005

Let's face it, this movie is not scary. It draws you in because you wonder what happened to the little girl and why she wants to hurt people, but sleepless nights? I don't think so! 'White Noise' gave me sleepless nights and is far scarier. This is just an interesting Let's face it, this movie is not scary. It draws you in because you wonder what happened to the little girl and why she wants to hurt people, but sleepless nights? I don't think so! 'White Noise' gave me sleepless nights and is far scarier. This is just an interesting supernatural thriller.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Kaangamer

Jun 10, 2020

All I gotta say is how is this movie got a pg13 rating and not r that’s all you need to know

11 of 14 users found this helpful113

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15	#15 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
24	#24 Most Shared Movie of 2002