The Ring movies in order The Ring Marathon
Page Last Modified:
28 December 2025
Most Recent Release:
Rings - 2017
Total Runtime:
714 Minutes
Total Items:
7
Average User Score:
(6)The Ring movies in order
This marathon isn't just a journey through creepy VHS tapes and ghostly figures in white dresses; it's a deep dive into the heart of J-horror and techno-horror. Whether you've been haunted for years by the iconic TV crawl scene or just discovered there's more to it than the Naomi Watts version, this chronological viewing order brings clarity to the chaos. Grab your blankets, turn down the lights, and get ready for a movie night you won't want to spend alone.
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1
Ring Movie 96 min. 1998A mysterious video has been linked to a number of deaths, and when an inquisitive journalist finds the tape and views it herself, she sets in motion a chain of events that puts her own life in danger.USER SCORE 7 -
2
The Spiral Movie 97 min. 1998A young pathologist seeks answers to the mysterious death of a friend and soon comes into contact with the same cursed videotape that caused the death of the friend's wife and son, which is haunted by the curse of Sadako, a relentless spirit.USER SCORE 5 -
3
Ring 2 Movie 95 min. 1999While investigating the horrifying death of her boyfriend, Mai Takano learns about a videotape haunted by the spirit of a disturbing girl named Sadako, which kills anyone who watches it exactly one week later. When her boyfriend’s son, Yoichi, starts to develop the same psychic abilities as Sadako, Takano must find a way to keep the boy and herself from becoming the next victims.USER SCORE 6 -
4
Ring 0 Movie 99 min. 2000Taking place thirty years before the events of Ringu, Ringu 0 provides the shocking background story of how the girl on the video became a deadly, vengeful spirit.USER SCORE 6 -
5
The Ring Movie 115 min. 2002Rachel Keller is a journalist investigating a videotape that may have killed four teenagers. There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. Rachel tracks down the video... and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery of the Ring so she can save herself and her son.USER SCORE 7 -
6
The Ring Two Movie 110 min. 2005After the ordeal with Samara, Rachel and Aiden move to a rural town. But soon Rachel learns about the death of a girl in a similar fashion. To save Aiden, she must dig into Samara's past even further.USER SCORE 6 -
7
Rings Movie 102 min. 2017Julia becomes worried about her boyfriend Holt when he explores the dark urban legend of a mysterious videotape said to kill the watcher seven days after viewing. She sacrifices herself to save her boyfriend and in doing so makes a horrifying discovery: there is a "movie within the movie" that no one has ever seen before.USER SCORE 5
Ring (1998)
We're kicking things off with the Japanese classic that started it all: Ring, directed by Hideo Nakata. This film set the standard for the J-horror genre, making the fear of VHS tapes a global phenomenon. Sadako Yamamura, the iconic ghost girl with long black hair, makes her debut in this super intense thriller. The story follows journalist Reiko Asakawa, played by Nanako Matsushima, as she investigates a series of mysterious deaths linked to a cursed videotape. The mood is pure dread, mixing horror with a bit of a paranormal detective thriller. This is where the infamous seven-day curse begins.
The Spiral (Rasen, 1998)
Believe it or not, The Spiral, also known as Rasen, was released at the same time as Ring, yet it feels like a whole other world. This direct sequel, based on Koji Suzuki's books, leans more towards medical-scientific horror than supernatural suspense. Consider things like autopsies, viral theories, and the idea that the curse might be biological. The film offers a different take on the cursed video mythology, but it was poorly received and often overlooked by fans. But to really get what's going on with Sadako, you've got to know about the psychic experiments and how she came to be this thing.
Ringu 2 (1999)
Since Rasen didn't do so hot, director Hideo Nakata came back with Ringu 2, which is officially a sequel to Ringu. Mai Takano, played by Miki Nakatani, is taking the lead on this one, digging deeper into the mystery of Sadako. This film looks at Sadako's psychic powers more and adds to the lore around the deadly video. The tension slowly builds, and the haunting of the well takes on a more intense meaning. The pace is a bit slower, but the atmosphere is chilling — perfect for a late-night viewing where every creak in your house suddenly seems suspicious.
Ring 0: Birthday (2000)
Prequels can be tricky, but Ring 0: Birthday, directed by Norio Tsuruta, is an underrated gem that shines a light on Sadako's tragic past. Here, we see her as a young woman, portrayed by Rie Ino'o, before the murder, the tape, and the well. The movie shows how her supernatural abilities mess up her life and the lives of the people around her. It's a bummer, but in a good way. It's got more drama than horror, and it gives a fresh take on Sadako as a character. If you ever felt sorry for the ghost with long black hair, this is when it happens.
The Ring (2002)
Fast forward to the American remake that launched the J-horror boom worldwide. Gore Verbinski directs this stylish retelling, with Naomi Watts as Rachel Keller and David Dorfman as her son Aidan. The VHS tape is back, but this time it's got a cool Pacific Northwest vibe and some spooky island lighthouse scenes. Samara Morgan replaces Sadako, a child with a dark past that makes the cursed well scenes way more traumatic. The film brings the viral curse horror concept to a new audience, with the famous TV crawl scene becoming a pop culture moment that people still talk about.
The Ring Two (2005)
The Ring Two picks up where The Ring left off with Rachel and Aidan's story, this time directed by Hideo Nakata, the same director of the original Ring. The film goes deeper into Samara's past and her creepy need for a "new body." Martin Henderson is back as Noah Clay, and the mood is more somber, with a focus on the psychological aspects of fear rather than relying on cheap jump scares. The Morgan family mystery gets deeper, making us think about parenthood, trauma, and the limits of motherly love. It may not be every fan's favorite, but it's a key part of the American Ring continuity.
Rings (2017)
Lastly, we have Rings from 2017, a modern take on the supernatural fear for the streaming generation. Imagine digital versions of the tape, YouTube-like distribution, and a university where students analyze the seven-day curse as a project. It's more chaotic and bombastic, maybe not as scary as the original, but it adds to the cursed video mythology. The film tries to bring the world of VHS and modern digital fear culture together. Not everyone's a fan, but if you're aiming to finish your marathon, this is the grand finale you've been looking for.
Are you ready for your own VHS Campout?
Whether you're into psychological thrillers, J-horror classics, or just want to relive that iconic TV scene, this The Ring movie marathon is an absolute must. Put your phone on silent, pull your hoodie over your head, and get ready to dive into the dark world of Sadako, Samara, and everything in between. And hey, if you suddenly get a voicemail with no sound afterwards, just ignore it. Most likely.