The Ring (2002 film)

The Ring
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Gore Verbinski
Screenplay by	Ehren Kruger
Based on	Ring by Hiroshi Takahashi Ring by Koji Suzuki
Produced by	Walter F. Parkes Laurie MacDonald
Starring	Naomi Watts Martin Henderson Brian Cox
Cinematography	Bojan Bazelli
Edited by	Craig Wood
Music by	Hans Zimmer
Production companies	MacDonald/Parkes Productions BenderSpink, Inc. Vertigo Entertainment
Distributed by	DreamWorks Pictures (Worldwide) Asmik Ace (Japan)
Release date	October 18, 2002 (2002-10-18)
Running time	115 minutes[1]
Country	United States[2]
Language	English
Budget	$48 million[3]
Box office	$249.3 million[3]

The Ring is a 2002 American supernatural horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and written by Ehren Kruger. Starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, and Brian Cox, the film focuses on Rachel Keller (Watts), a journalist who discovers a cursed videotape that causes its viewers to die seven days later. It is a remake of Hideo Nakata's 1998 film Ring, based on the 1991 novel by Koji Suzuki.

The Ring was theatrically released in the United States on October 18, 2002, by DreamWorks Pictures. It was a box-office success, grossing $249.3 million worldwide on a $48 million budget, making it one of the highest-grossing horror remakes of all time. The Ring received mixed-to-positive reviews, with critics in particular praising the atmosphere and visuals, Bojan Bazelli's cinematography, Verbinski's direction and the performances of the cast (particularly Watts). At the 29th Saturn Awards, the film won in two categories: Best Horror Film and Best Actress (for Watts).

The film is the first installment of the American Ring series, and is followed by The Ring Two (2005) and Rings (2017). The success of The Ring inspired American remakes of several other Asian and Japanese horror films, including The Grudge (2004) and Dark Water (2005).