Ring (1998): Cast, Box Office, Plot & Where to Watch
Ring is a 1998 horror thriller directed by Hideo Nakata, starring Yuko Takeuchi as Tomoko Oishi, Kiriko Shimizu and Hitomi Sato. It is based on Ring by Kōji Suzuki and Glynne Walley. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $364,839 worldwide. Stream it on AMC+ and ARROW, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Hideo Nakata
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- KADOKAWA Shoten
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Ring About?
The premise of Ring without spoilers, adapted from Ring by Kōji Suzuki and Glynne Walley. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A cursed videotape spreads death to anyone who watches it, and a determined journalist uncovers the mysterious reel. After viewing it, she launches a frantic week‑long race to discover a cure before the same fatal fate catches up with her, confronting the tape’s origin and unraveling the haunting legend behind it.
Ring Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- videotape
- vhs tape
- ghost
- well
- telephone
- japanese horror
- cursed videotape
- haunted videotape
- watching a videotape
- copying a videotape
- cursed object
- investigation
+38 more Show fewer
- ghost girl
- fear
- phone call from beyond the grave
- mystery from beyond the grave
- telephone terror
- warning from beyond the grave
- message from beyond the grave
- journalist
- psychic
- television as portal
- female protagonist
- telephone call
- long hair
- asian horror
- single mother
- crawling out of a tv set
- horror icon
- romanization of title
- transliteration of title
- ex husband ex wife relationship
- teacher student relationship
- teenage girl
- little boy
- grindhouse film
- midnight movie
- title same as book
- child in jeopardy
- female journalist
- mysterious telephone call
- chopsticks the eating utensil
- family in jeopardy
- serial murder
- criminal investigation
- man killed
- coming out of a television
- folk horror
- friend
- volcanic island
Where to Watch Ring
Stream it on AMC+ and ARROW, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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AMC+ Amazon Channel 
ARROW 
AsianCrush 
BFI Player Amazon Channel 
Cineverse 
Kanopy 
Philo 
Shudder Amazon Channel 
Shudder Apple TV channel 
Tubi TV 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Ring Cast & Characters
Yuko Takeuchi leads the cast as Tomoko Oishi, with Kiriko Shimizu as Ryomi Oishi and Hitomi Sato as Masami Kurahashi. Directed by Hideo Nakata; 34 actors are credited in all.
- Director Hideo Nakata
- Yuko Takeuchi as Tomoko Oishi
- Kiriko Shimizu as Ryomi Oishi
- Hitomi Sato as Masami Kurahashi
-
Nanako Matsushima as Reiko Asakawa
Also Starring in Ring
· 30 more- Katsumi Muramatsu Koichi Asakawa
- Rikiya Ôtaka Yoichi Asakawa
- Hiroyuki Sanada Ryuji Takayama
- Yôichi Numata Takashi Yamamura
- Masako Shizuko Yamamura
- Rie Ino'o Sadako Yamamura
- Miwako Kaji Kazue Yamamura
- Toshihiko Takeda Yamamura
- Daisuke Ban Dr. Heihachiro Ikuma
- Yutaka Matsushige Yoshino
- Hiroyuki Watanabe Hayatsu
- Miki Nakatani Mai Takano
- Yûrei Yanagi AD Okazaki
- Makoto Kakeda Kanrinin
- Yûko Ôshima Reiko's Aunt
- Kanehiro Ri Komiya kameraman
Show all 34 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Keiko Yoshida Student
- Shinkichi Noda Member of the Press
- Masahiko Ono Okazaki
- Kiyoshi Risho Omiya
- Orie Izuno Sadako Yamamura
- Asami Nagata Student
- Yoko Kima Student
- Yoshiko Matsumaru Student
- Yoho Naose Student
- Maki Ikeda Yoko Tsuji
- Takashi Takayama Takehiko Nomi
- Chihiro Shirai Young Sadako
- Mantarô Koichi President
- Kazufumi Nakai Member of the Press
Ring Plot Summary
What happens in Ring from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
During a sleepover, high schoolers Tomoko Oishi, Yuko Takeuchi and Masami Kurahashi, Hitomi Sato, dive into a chilling urban legend about a cursed videotape that dooms anyone who watches it to die in seven days after a foreboding phone call. Tomoko reveals that last week she and her friends watched a mysterious tape and then received an inexplicable call. As Masami heads to the bathroom, Tomoko witnesses the TV switch on by itself and is suddenly killed by an unseen force, leaving a creeping sense of dread in the room.
Full summary
The whole story of Ring, scene by scene
Ring Box Office
Ring grossed $364,839 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$364.8K
- International
- $363.3K
Ring Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 3 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer 20th Anniversary Trailer [Subtitled]
- Trailer Vintage Theatrical Trailer
- Featurette Mark Kermode reviews Ring (1997) | BFI Player
How Well Do You Know Ring?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the journalist that investigates the cursed videotape?
Cars in Ring
12 cars on screen, including the 1989 Toyota Corona EXiV and the 1994 Nissan Sunny.
-
1989 Toyota Corona EXiV Main role -
1994 Nissan Sunny Important role -
1996 Toyota TownAce Noah Minor role -
unknown Minor role
Seen Ring?
Movies Like Ring
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Ring, Ring and Rings.
Ring FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Ring, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Ring?
Ring runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Ring released?
Ring was released on January 31, 1998.
Who directed Ring?
Ring was directed by Hideo Nakata.
More films by Hideo Nakata Who is in the cast of Ring?
Ring stars Yuko Takeuchi as Tomoko Oishi, Kiriko Shimizu as Ryomi Oishi and Hitomi Sato as Masami Kurahashi, among 34 credited actors.
Where can I watch Ring?
In the US, Ring is streaming on AMC+, ARROW and AsianCrush and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Ring make at the box office?
Ring grossed $364,839 worldwide.
Is Ring based on a book?
Yes. Ring is adapted from Ring by Kōji Suzuki and Glynne Walley.
Does Ring have a post-credit scene?
No. Ring has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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