Starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox and David Dorfman, the film follows Rachel Keller, a journalist who discovers a cursed videotape that causes its viewers to die seven days later.

The film received 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).

The success of The Ring inspired American remakes of several other Asian and Japanese horror films, including The Grudge (2004) and Dark Water (2005).

Teenage girls Katie and Becca discuss an urban legend about a cursed videotape that causes whoever views it to die in one week.

Rachel discovers that Anna had adopted a girl, Samara, who possessed the ability to psychically etch images onto objects and into people's minds, tormenting her parents and their horses.

Returning to the Morgan home, Rachel finds a fake birth certificate proving that Samara is not the biological child of Richard and Anna.

Gore Verbinski was initially inspired to do a remake of Ring after Walter F. Parkes sent him a VHS copy of the Japanese film, which he described as "intriguing", "pulp" and "avant-garde".

Several high-profile actresses were offered the lead role, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Connelly and Kate Beckinsale.

[5] The Ring was filmed in 2001, primarily in the State of Washington in numerous locations, including Seattle, Port Townsend, Whidbey Island, Bellingham, Monroe and Stanwood.

[14] All music is composed by Hans Zimmer, Henning Lohner and Martin TillmanTo advertise The Ring, many promotional websites were formed featuring characters and places in the film.

Physical VHS copies were also randomly distributed outside of movie theaters by placing the tapes on the windshields of people's cars.

Roger Ebert gave the film "Thumbs Down" and felt it was boring and "borderline ridiculous"; he also disliked the extended, detailed ending.

[22] Jeremy Conrad from IGN praised The Ring for its atmospheric set up and cinematography, and said that "there are disturbing images ... but the film doesn't really rely on gore to deliver the scares".

[26] Several critics, like Miami Herald's Rene Rodriguez and USA Today's Claudia Puig,[27] found themselves confused and thought "for all the time [the film] spends explaining, it still doesn't make much sense".

[28] The success of The Ring paved the way for American remakes of several other Asian and Japanese horror films, including The Grudge (2004), Dark Water (2005), Shutter and The Eye (both 2008).

Bloody Disgusting ranked it sixth in their list of the "Top 20 Horror Films of the Decade", with the article saying that "The Ring was not only the first American 'J-horror' remake out of the gate; it also still stands as the best".